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Menu Planning

I don't know about you, but it seems I am constantly in need of improving my meal planning.  Trying to consider what is on sale, what is in season, what we need to use up, what I'll have time to make, what various family members can/will eat, etc., and trying to somehow simultaneously come up with an idea of whether the food we have stored constitutes a year's supply-- well, it's enough to drive a girl crazy. 


I've made efforts in the past to be more focused and organized in this regard.  I've read books, attended classes, and tried various ideas.  Finally it struck me.  While planning is good, in order to get a real picture of what is working for our family, I should write down not only what I think we're eating for the week, but also what we actually end up eating. 


So, I will be attempting to use this blog to both plan and document our family's meals for the week.  I'll start just with dinners and maybe expand to lunches and breakfasts.  I'm planning 5 dinners, expecting that we'll probably have leftovers at least twice. 




*Romaine, Spinach, Watercress Salad with Fruit and Nuts    


*Dr. Fuhrman's Famous Anti-Cancer Soup 


Roast Beef with Winter Vegetables 


*Spaghetti Squash Primavera and
*Balsamic Mixed Greens with Chopped Apples


Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette




*Recipe from Eat for Health, by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.


I'll update this post with what we ate when, and write another menu planning post next week.

Update:  What We Actually Ate

Friday: Romaine, Spinach, Watercress Salad with Fruit and Nuts--A new favorite that everyone liked.

Saturday: Dr. Fuhrman's Famous Anti-Cancer Soup--Tasty to the adults; daughter was not impressed.

Sunday: Roast Beef with Winter Vegetables--Something for everyone, even with beet or meat avoidance.

Monday: Leftover Roast Beef with Winter Vegetables

Tuesday: Fried Eggs and Toast

Wednesday:  Leftover Dr. Fuhrman's Famous Anti-Cancer Soup and a Tossed Green Salad

Thursday: Spaghetti Squash Primavera and Leftover Tossed Green Salad



Thankful thought:  Thanks for food, and wonderfully creative individuals who dream up yummy ways to prepare it!




Comments

  1. ChristieJanuary 14, 2012 at 1:17 AM

    what a great idea. I have that same problem of figuring out what to make and buy. Both of my kids tend to say quite often, "there's nothing to eat" usually right after I have gone shopping. Of course they can't think of what it is they want to eat. They just know it isn't there. Maybe if I write down what they are eating, I can plan better for the future. Thank you dear sister-in-law for all of your good ideas :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. MindaJanuary 15, 2012 at 9:43 AM

    Leftovers? What are those? ;-)

    That butternut squash salad recipe looks delicious. I'm going to have to make it sometime soon. A lot of yummy new recipes have come my way lately, and since I only need recipes for three days a week (Michael cooks three nights and one night is homemade pizza), I mind myself in the unfamiliar situation of having to many ideas to choose from.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MARTHAJanuary 16, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    Looking forward to reading all your menu planning tips. I need help!

    ReplyDelete

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