What's for Dinner?
“What’s for dinner?” It’s a question I get asked every day, and it’s one that I used to never have the answer to. Typically, I would spend my days working and dinner wouldn’t cross my mind until the kids were hungry and demanding to know what I was fixing and most urgently, when it would be ready. I would then stop what I was doing and go to the kitchen to get started. Unfortunately, there was little dinner inspiration to be found in our refrigerator since the kiddos typically pilfered its contents throughout the day. Even days that I thought I had a dinner plan seemed to be a challenge. My teenagers would often see something yummy in the fridge, such as the marinated chicken I had actually thought to prep that morning, and when I wasn’t looking, they’d fix it for lunch. Ugh!
In an attempt to solve the daily dinner stress, I started planning out dinners for the week. I would then go to the grocery with a list in hand, and in theory, I would have everything I would need for a week’s worth of delicious dinners. The problem was that my new-found preparedness didn’t prevent my children from snagging stuff I needed from the fridge. Again, UGH!
My dinner-dilemma solution needed a step 2. Fortunately, step two was simple – I posted a weekly menu on the refrigerator. When my children would begin to raid, they could easily see what was off limits.
The weekly meal planning has greatly reduced my dinner stress, and it has also significantly helped our budget. Since I am making a comprehensive list each week, I’m not running to the store for odds and ends throughout the week. This is wonderful because I found that anytime I just popped into the store, I would not only pick up the one or two things I needed, but I would also grab a handful of other things. As a result, I was spending more money than necessary. Now, don’t get me wrong. I still have to make a quick run to the store now and then, but the frequency of those trips has greatly decreased.
In addition to spending less money, I’m saving time as well. Fewer trips to the store means less time in the car. Also, since I have all the ingredients I need ahead of time, I can pre-prep those ingredients when it’s convenient which makes fixing dinner each night a much quicker endeavor.
So, if you are anything like me and are tired of the what’s-for-dinner stress, give meal planning a try. And if you have any other meal planning strategies that have changed your world, please share those with us. We are always looking for ways to make life a little easier.
This Week’s Dinner Menu:
Monday: Grilled chicken, kale salad, and mixed berries
Tuesday: Turkey burgers, steamed broccoli, rosemary potatoes
Wednesday: Grilled cheese and salads
Thursday: Italian sausage pasta
Friday: Breakfast – sausage and potatoes, eggs, fresh fruit
Saturday: Leftovers or dinner out
Sunday: Homemade pizzas