Weekly Menu
This marker board, attached to the side of my fridge with magnets, is the source of much conversation in my kitchen. Friends are always asking about my menu-planning habits, what we eat on a regular basis, if we really stick to it, how this menu will be modified when we have kids (many of my friends with small children often scoff at my salads with goat cheese and spicy Asian food, muttering things about fish sticks and hot dogs).
I’ve always been a girl with a plan, and even if the plans don’t turn out just right (as often they don’t), filling this marker board on Saturdays helps give shape to our weeks through food. It also helps me to know when I’ve planned company-friendly meals (dishes that make more than could feed the two of us) and when we’ll have leftovers for lunch.
Of course, I don’t expect that any of you would want to follow my menu plans exactly, but in case you’re looking for a little marker board inspiration when you sit down to plan your own week’s worth of meals (if you do), I’ll try to post photos of my marker board on Sundays. Hopefully, it will also remind me which recipes I need to post about soon. If you see one that you can’t find on the site, don’t hesitate to let me know, and I’ll move it up the list of things-to-post.
In case you can’t tell, I’ve also always been a girl with a list. Or twenty.
Have a great last week of June, everyone!
Links
Monday: David’s Roast Chicken, The Contessa’s Parmesan Zucchini
Tuesday: Pad Thai with Chicken
June 25th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
I love being organized like this!! I’m not quite as good as you but I’m working on it.
June 25th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
i like to plan ahead also, it avoids confusion during the week. Like kaylyn said i don’t think im quite as organised as you though. Nice blog.
June 26th, 2006 at 6:26 am
I love this. I’m trying to be more organized about meal planning, too, so thanks for the inspiration.
June 26th, 2006 at 10:49 am
I do a menu plan too.And as for the people that scoff at what kids will eat….we have never prepared seperate dinners for our kids and they eat like we do.Kids learn to eat by what you feed them.One of my kids favorite foods is Sushi.And not California rolls.lol.
You’re menu sounds really good.
June 26th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Me too. A life without lists is not a life I’m interested in. I love your meal planning board, a girl after my own heart!
June 28th, 2006 at 6:08 am
I think that whole ’seperate menu for the kids’ thing is nuts. if you start off expecting them to try things and don’t make a big deal about non”kid food” they will just eat what you eat.
June 28th, 2006 at 9:25 am
I love hearing about your menu plans! While we don’t actually write down our menu for the week, we always formulate some sort of plan on Sunday as to what we’ll be eating during the week. As you pointed out it doesn’t always turn out that way. Things come up or sometimes you’re just too busy. But the point is that you start out with the best intentions and that’s a great way to approach eating. I think that’s what ensures that you’re eating a healthy diet and including all foods (in moderation) in your life.
As for the whole “kids” issue, you know when I was growing up, we ate what my parents ate. End of story. My mother NEVER and I mean NEVER prepared different food for us. (Ok … that’s not true. Once a year she’d make pig’s feet and cabbage for herself and my father so on that night we ate something different). IF we didn’t like what my mom had made … too bad! We learned to like it.
Your menus are fantastic! I’d love to have dinner at your house! (Hint … hint …)
June 28th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
I am SO glad to hear all of you say that kids will eat what you put in front of them. That has always been my philosophy for when I have children, but I have so many friends who cook separate meals for their kids (and you know, since I don’t have any, I can’t really consider myself an authority on the subject…!). Thanks for the encouragement from all of you moms.
Oh, and Ivonne, (and anyone else who’d like to come!): Of course you’re invited to dinner! You name the date!
July 4th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Hope you can stand another comment on the “kid’s menu.” Although expecting them to eat the family meal is a great idea, it doesn’t always work out that way in reality. I’ve got one picky eater and one who eats what we do. Even picky eaters can easily get all the nutrition they need (fortified bread, cereal, etc.) Sometimes it’s a phase, sometimes a power issue but it will last longer (in my opinion) if you turn it into a fight. Anyway, I don’t condider slapping together a pb&j for a 3 year old who will eat little else as making a separate meal. And of course, it’s organic p, reduced sugar j, on whole wheat b.
I’m sure you won’t have to worry about any of this anyway since everything you make looks so delicious, I doubt even the most fickle and unreasonable toddler could resist.
July 25th, 2006 at 1:47 am
I love the menu board idea. I have it on bits of pieces of paper around the house but that makes it nice and official. LOVE IT. I want to do this now. I really need help with OFFICIAL. I mean official helps me get things done.