Create Simple and Delicious Family Meal Plans
It’s easy to overlook the importance of creating family meal plans. However, the benefits of doing so far outweigh any excuses we can drum up. 
Enjoying a hot meal with my family is something I seldom take for granted.  I can remember not to long ago when I had to travel on business a week at a time. I would purposely look to stay in hotels that included dinner with the accommodations. My favorite extended stay facility would post a calendar on the refrigerator listing what would be served for dinner each night. It was a very clever idea. Likewise, it only takes a few simple steps to plan healthy and delicious meals your family will enjoy. And, once you’ve prepared a variety of them, you’ll be able to create your own calendar of meals. Here’s a few tips to get you started.
Find your recipe stash. Look for 7-14 recipes of meals you know how to cook and your family likes to eat. To get recipe ideas, watch television cooking shows. Leaf through cookbooks, bookmark recipes of interest and ask family members to share recipes in their collection.
Use what you have. Create an efficient meal plan that will incorporate ingredients you have on hand. Organize your refrigerator and pantry so you know when it’s time to stock up. Before you go shopping each week, take inventory. List any missing ingredients you will need on your grocery shopping list.
Find out what’s on sale. Read through your local paper and take advantage of store specials advertised for the week. You can save money by creating your weekly meal plan based on these sales. Save on meat products labeled “reduced for quick sale” and prepare or freeze these bargains the day of purchase. Stock up when you find really great deals on the items your family enjoys the most.
Make healthy food choices. Review the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Pyramid. There is now huge emphasis on increasing servings of whole grains, fruit, and vegetables. Use the guidelines to ensure your meal plan is well rounded. Add color and texture to your meals with fruit, veggies and various whole grains. Don’t forget to load up on nutrition in between meals with healthy snacks.
Take food requests. To ensure that your family enjoys the meals you have planned, ask for their food requests. Encourage their participation to create weekly meal plans or even monthly meal plans. If they are so inclined, allow family members to prepare one of the dishes as well.
Switch things up. No one likes to eat the same meals over and over again. Add variety to your meal plans by trying a new recipe once a week. Soon your family will have new favorites.
Create a calendar of meals. Create a calendar of weekly or biweekly meals (depending on when you do your grocery shopping). Post the meal plan on the refrigerator door for the family to see. Write out what you plan to serve each day of the week. This will eliminate the need for family members to ask, “What’s for Dinner?” If you find it helpful, include breakfast items and school or work lunch ideas on the meal plan as well.
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December 5, 2008
Tags: family meal plans, meal planning, what's for dinner Posted in: Food & Entertaining
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