Menu Planning – Simple Menu System

Simple Menu Planning System

This menu planning system is great for busy parents that want a simple way to menu plan!

Steps To Create Your Menu System

1. Make a list of meals you like to make

2. List main ingredients to step #1 recipes – This is a quick reminder of what I need in order to make this meal. For example, under Tuna Casserole I would list tuna, noodles, soup, and peas (omitting pantry items to save on time). The goal is to check what I need quickly.

3. List out the price ($,$$,$$$) – So I can look at my budget to see what can fit best that week. (If a $$$ dish sounds good, then I try to add a $ dish to the menu that week. If our budget is tight that week, then we skip the $$$ recipes!)

• Example of $ – meal under $1/ serving: Tuna Casserole
• Example of $$ – meal under $1.50/ serving: Parmesan Chicken
• Example of $$$ – meal over $1.50/ serving: Citrus Salmon

4. Make an abbreviation of items that help plan better (CREATE your OWN to work for your family or use mine). This helps me decide what meal will work for our schedule.

• CP – Crock Pot
• F – Freezer
• H – Husband can make
• K – Kids like to help
• Q – Quick

Before I Make My Menu

• I check my budget to see how much we have to spend that week.
• I take out my calendar first to determine:
  • what we have going on for the week
  • how many meals we need
  • note if we need quick meals or if my husband will need to cook
• I look in the pantry and the freezer to see what we can use from our stockpile.
• I check the sales advertisement to see what is on sale.
  • I try to plan my menus around what is on sale and what we have on hand.

Tip: Once I have my menu list (see below), I make copies so I can use them each week and simply highlight the meals we will have!

Simple Menu List: 

• Baked Penne Pasta ($, F)
  • mozzarella, ricotta, spinach, whole wheat pasta
  • **can add ground turkey ($$)
• BBQ Chicken ($$, H)
  • bbq sauce, chicken
• Broccoli Fritter ($, K, H)
  • broccoli, cheese, eggs
• Burritos ($$, F)
  • beans, cheese, sour cream, wraps
• Citrus Chicken ($$, K)
  • lemon, oranges, orange concentrate, whole chicken
• Chicken Teriyaki ($$, CP)
  • chicken, pineapple, teriyaki
• Chili ($, H, Q)
  • beans, sauce, tomatoes
  • **add ground turkey ($$)
• Lasagna ($$$, F)
  • mozzarella, parmesan, ricotta, sauce, spinach, whole wheat noodles
• Meatloaf ($$, F)
  • bread crumbs, ground turkey
• Pancakes ($, F, H, K)
  • whole wheat flour
  • **add in extra items on hand (bananas, blueberries, walnuts, etc.)
• Parmesan Chicken ($$)
  • bread crumbs, chicken, sauce, whole wheat noodle
• Pizza ($$, F, K)
  • dough, cheese, sauce, vegetables
• Shrimp Stir Fry ($$$)
  • broccoli, brown rice, sauce, shrimp
• Smoked Salmon ($$$, H)
  • salmon
• Spaghetti with Meatballs ($)
  • ground turkey, sauce, whole wheat noodles
• Stuffed Shells ($$, F)
  • cottage cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, sauce, shells, spinach
• Sweet and Sour Chicken ($)
  • brown rice, chicken, peas, sweet & sour sauce
• Szechwan Shrimp ($$$)
  • brown rice, shrimp, soy sauce
• Tacos ($$, H, Q)
  • black beans, cheese, refried beans, spinach, wraps
• Tilapia – Grilled ($$$, H, Q)
  • tilapia
• Tofu Stir Fry ($)
  • brown rice, peas, teriyaki, tofu,
• Tuna Casserole ($, F, H)
  • noodles, peas, soup, tuna

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