Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed when trying to decide what to make for dinner? What Ive learned from my years as a family dinner planning expert for
The Six OClock Scramble is that 6:00 is just too late to start thinking about your familys dinner. The key to maintaining our sanity around dinnertime, plus reducing waste and saving time and money, is to plan a few meals in advance (I usually plan 4 or 5), and grocery shop just once a week. Ive boiled down the weekly menu planning process to 7 easy steps, and Ive posted a week of recipes below to get you started:
1. Keep a grocery list somewhere prominent in your kitchen so that you and other family members can add to it during the week. When you use up an ingredient that you consider a staple, write it on your grocery list right away so youll be fully restocked after your next grocery trip.
2. Before you start to plan your meals, look in your refrigerator and see what ingredients you need to use up. Incorporate those items into your planned meals to avoid waste and save money.
3. Look at your calendar for the upcoming week. Note how many dinners you will need to make, and anything else youll need to shop for (i.e. dish for a potluck, school snack, etc.).
4. Using your favorite cookbooks, websites, or other sources, pick meals for every night but one (I like to get creative with leftover ingredients one night, to avoid throwing out food). Plan for some variety so your family wont be eating chicken or pasta every night.
5. Remember to keep weeknight meals simple with one easy main dish and one or two simple side dishes, such as bread or rice and a steamed vegetable or cut fruit.
6. Update the grocery list with everything youll need for the meals youve selected, plus a few side dishes, breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. The goal is to go to the market just once each week, and, over the course of the week, to use up everything you purchase.
7. Keep the freezer stocked with a few easy side dishes, frozen vegetables, and a backup healthy meal or two in case an evening doesnt go as planned.
To get you started on weekly dinner planning, Ive picked 5 popular recipes from Kitchen Explorers for you to cook for your family next week. Id love to hear how it goes!
Chicken and Nectarine Salad
Chili Rubbed Salmon
Fusilli with Prosciutto and Kale
Crispy Vegetable Tacos
Amazing Zucchini Pie
