Menu Plan 3/28/11: Do you follow your plan to the letter?
One thing that always stopped me from doing menu planning was the feeling that I was locked into whatever I had decided - that a menu plan didn't allow for any changes.
But then I figured it out - it's okay to make a mid-week change.
Here are some reasons I might not stick to my menu plan:
- Unexpected schedule changes - a child might have an activity that I hadn't planned on, or I lost a lot of time during the day and wasn't able to do the prep work for a planned meal. In these cases, it's good to have a short list of quick meals that you can make without an extra trip to the store. (I'll have a list of these next week.)
- Unexpectedly running out of an ingredient - one week I had planned for salads later in the week, but used up all the lettuce earlier. Instead of buying more and making an unplanned trip to the store for it, I changed the plan.
- Getting new ingredients - I love the loss-leader produce at ALDI, so sometimes I will buy something unexpected. I don't want it to go to waste, so I will change my menu plan to fit the new ingredients.
- Boredom - occasionally I'll look at the menu plan and say, "Oh, no, not that again!" So I'll try something different instead, maybe using the same ingredients, but cooking it in a different way.
Monday - chicken breasts, pasta with garlic and oil, salad
Tuesday - poached salmon fillets over salad
Wednesday - pepper pizza on whole wheat pizza dough, fruit
Thursday - spaghetti and meatballs, salad
Friday - chicken stir-fry over brown rice, challah
Saturday - vegetarian chili over pasta
Sunday - takeout!
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Check out Menu Plan Monday for more menu plans!
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3 comments:
I totally agree. Sometimes I have a great shopping trip mid-week, and can't wait to use the items in the kitchen! I always say that the great thing about meal planning is not necessarily following it, but knowing that you have enough food in your kitchen to get you through the week!
I don't make a menu plan because of all those things! We just look at what's on hand and make what sounds tasty. I keep enough staples and extras to always be able to make something without having to go to the store. It might not make sense, like chicken nuggets and stuffing with a salad, but sometimes thats what we're in the mood for!
I menu plan obsessively, but rarely make it through the week without changes. This time of year, my biggest reason for changing is the weather! I optimistically plan to grill any night I think we can get away with it, but then have to modify when I've been overly optimistic!
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