Meal Planning Made Easy

It’s 6:00 pm. Do you know what you are feeding your family for supper tonight? If not, you are probably feeling stressed right about now. Whether you are a homeschooling mom like me and must feed your crew three meals a day at home, or simply a wife and mother, meal planning is something we all have to think about.

In our house, I have at least 6 people (if not 7 – 15) to feed three times a day. On those days when I am caught without a plan, it can be exhausting just trying to figure out what to cook. We have very little food in our house that provides instant gratification. Most of our food must be prepared ahead of time.

The first step in being prepared for meal time is to set aside a time each week when you can sit down and plan your menu for the week. Some women prepare for an entire month! I just plan for the week ahead. I like to cook a variety of foods – comfort foods (family favorites) and I like to try out new recipes on a regular basis.

I was reading an article on Keeper of the Home about being good to our husbands with the food we prepare. I started thinking about my own cooking style. The last few years I have been cooking more and more ethnic meals which I love. In fact everyone in the family seems to enjoy them. But as I thought about it, I realized that those meals that get the most praise from my husband and children are the good old fashioned “meat and potatoes” kind of meals. That may sound a little funny considering we are a vegetarian family. However, they love for me to make my version of “meatloaf,” oatmeal patties with gravy, and mashed potatoes are always a hit. Casseroles are also a favorite. Tonight I made my vegetarian “chicken” and dumplings and tomorrow sweet potato casserole (with marshmallows) is on the menu.

These are the kinds of food I grew up eating! I struggle with desire to serve really healthy food and serving food we really love to eat. After reading Stephanie’s article on the subject, I decided I needed to find a healthy balance between the two.

I began to make a list of our favorite meals. I can now refer to this list when I am planning my menu. My list is really long (several pages).  I still want to try new recipes. You never know when you will come across a new family favorite!

You might want to make a list of your family’s favorite foods. You could even get really organized and make the list according to main dish, side dish, salad, soups, etc. like I did; or make the list according to main ingredient – broccoli, eggplant, pasta, etc.

On menu planning day, sit down with your list, your blank menu chart, and a few cookbooks or other recipe sources. Choose mostly from your tried and true favorites and then select a few new ones to try out.

Some other ideas for menu planning and some links to enjoy:

- Menu Plan Monday
- Dine Without Whine
- Menus 4 Moms
- $45 Emergency Menu
- All Recipes

Menu Plan Monday

Breakfast

S – Asiago Bagels with Cream Cheese

M – Asiago bagels with Cream Cheese

T – Cream of Wheat with Wheat Germ and Soy Milk

W – Pancakes, TVP sausage patties, applesauce

TH – biscuits and gravy, little links

F – yogurt and granola

S – Cereal with soymilk

Lunch

S – veggie dogs and sauerkraut

M – Taco Soup (leftover)

T – peanut butter and jelly, sliced oranges

W – tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

TH – sub sandwiches, pickles, and apple slices

F – egg salad sandwiches, chips

S – potluck

Supper

S – baked potatoes

M – spaghetti, french bread, salad, chocolate cake

T – cauliflower and dip, grapefruit, cheese and crackers

W – veg-all casserole, veggie burgers, potato skins, steamed asparagus

TH – chili rellenos, zucchini and onions, rice, corn tortillas

F – Potluck

For hundreds more ideas on how to plan your menu, visit Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday

After last week’s detox and not cooking anything at all… I am looking forward to some regular meals!

Breakfast

S – Yogurt with granola

M- leftovers

T – Berry Smoothie, Scrambled Eggs, toast

W – Yogurt with Granola

TH – grits, fried eggs, sliced oranges

F – Oatmeal with dates, soy milk, and sliced oranges

S – yogurt with granola, soy milk, cereal

Lunch

S – grapefruit, hot dogs, carrots

M – Sandwiches, chips

T - hummus, carrot sticks, leftover oatmeal “meatloaf”

W – black bean salad, crackers

TH – vegetable lo mein

F – macaroni and cheese, peas

S - Potluck

Supper

S – pizza, salad, tater tots

M – oatmeal meatloaf, steamed asparagus, honey carrots

T – cabbage, apples, and onions, steamed broccoli

W – chana masala

TH – “chicken” and dumplings

F – 15 bean soup, corn bread, tapioca pudding

S – leftovers

For hundreds of menu ideas, be sure to hop on over to Organizing Junkie today!

My Detox Journal: Day 1

I have suffered with severe systemic candida (a type of auto immune disease) since I was a teenager. In 2006, my immune system was so weak I was near death’s door. I improved some, but a year later was so over run with yeast I knew I had to make a change. I went on a very, very strict diet eating – meaning I ate no fruits, grains, mushrooms, vinegar, dairy, no sugar of any kind, no starchy veggies, etc. (I am a vegetarian if you didn’t know that already so I wasn’t eating meat either.) I pretty much ate green veggies, eggplant, some oatmeal, and goat’s milk for several months. It was HARD. But I got better. I was symptom free for over a year.

In January, I began breaking out in severe boils (something that used to happen with great frequency) which is a symptom of a weak immune system. I have had a painful boil on my chin the size of a half dollar for over a month now and smaller ones on my face and neck. It was not long before I began to break out in candida rashes again.I am not able to take ANY type of antibiotic because the yeast would over take my body and potentially be fatal. So, with a weakened immune system, I have to be very, very careful about being exposed to germs. Pneumonia could do me in along with a host of other illnesses.

I have been taking candida herbs, and acidophilus supplements, but have not seen much improvement. So, I am going on a detox program of my own design… using the knowledge I have accumulated about natural healing over the years.

I thought it would be fun to journal what I am doing over the next two weeks to purify my body naturally. Here is what I have planned for today:

Breakfast:

1 grapefruit – good for stomach, antioxidant, Vitamin C

8 kiwi fruit – helps remove excess sodium from body, antioxidant, Vitamin C, good respiratory system

Green Tea – steeped with 1/4 lemon, 4 drops Stevia, 30 drops of Kidney Cleanse Formula

Lunch:

1 sliced orange

Black Bean Salad (I ate the entire recipe below for my lunch)

Green Tea – steeped with 1/4 lemon, 4 drops Stevia, 30 drops of Kidney Cleanse Formula

Black Bean Salad

1 can black beans – cholesterol lowering fiber,  loaded with antioxidants (even more than oranges, grapes, or cranberries)

1/2 fresh avocado – antioxidant, improves skin, good for digestion

1 tomato – Vitamin C, supports liver health, improves skin

1/2 lemon juice – Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, good for liver, digestive system, bladder,blood purifier

2 tbsp. finely chopped onion – good for immune system

1 large clove garlic – helps build immune system

1/2 cup chopped parsley - loaded with Vitamin C, good for digestive system

* Note: whole kernel corn would make a yummy addition to this recipe!

Snack:

16 oz. Bolthouse Farms Vedge Juice – Our juicer died and we have a new one on order, for now, this will do.

Supper:

raw broccoli – cancer fighting, good for immune system, beta carotene, Vitamin C, calcium, folate

raw carrot sticks – good for eyes, cancer fighting, Vitamin A, beta carotene, Vitamin B6 and B12, calcium, and more

1 grapefruit – good for stomach, antioxidant, Vitamin C

Green Tea – steeped with 1/4 lemon, 4 drops Stevia, 30 drops of Kidney Cleanse Formula

Note: You may be wondering why I am not just juicing – I get very, very shaky if I do not eat. So, I decided to eat a natural, nearly raw diet as well as drink juices.

Valentine’s Day Menu

I love making my family feel special on Valentine’s Day. This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday which is perfect for celebrating all day long! Here is a free download of our traditional Valentine’s Day Menu. I hope you enjoy the recipes!

Download the .pdf version of this menu along with the recipes here.

Breakfast:
Heart Shaped Pancakes with fresh Strawberries and Maple Syrup
Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits
Orange Juice

Dinner:
Spinach Lasagna Béchamel
Tossed Salad with Strawberries, Green Onion, Feta and Raspberry Vinaigrette
Garlic Toast
Strawberry Lemonade
Heart Shaped Butter Cookies
Decadent Chocolate Cake with Strawberries and Cream

Menu Plan Monday

This morning, I turned on Tiny Tots for the girls before we started school. My littlest one, Laura, LOVES Tiny Tots. And wouldn’t you know it. It happened to be one of the programs that Laura was in! She was so excited to see herself on TV. She said, “This is the best day of my life!!” Tiny Tots comes on 3ABN, a Christian television station. If you have dish network it is channel 9710. We always DVR the program so we can watch it on our own schedule.

Here’s this week’s rather plain menu:

Breakfast

S – Cheese Grits and Toast
M – Granola with Soymilk
T – Fried Eggs, Grits, Toast
W – Pancakes with Homemade Apple Syrup
TH – Eggs Benedict
F – Cream of Wheat with Honey and Sweet Cream
S – Cereal with Soymilk

Lunch

M – Salad with Boiled Eggs and Homemade Dressing
T – Leftover Rice Stewed Tomatoes
W – Pasta and Bean Salad
TH – Chickpea Salad Sandwiches, Orange Slices
F – Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
S – Tacos

Supper

S – California Rolls and Ramen
M – French Lentils with Rice and Cornbread
T – Crockpot Potato Soup, Crackers
W – “Chicken” and Dumplings
TH – Falafels, Hummus, Tahini Sauce, Salad, Naan Bread
F – Sloppy Joes, Macaroni and Cheese, Steamed Veggies, Potato Skins
S – Leftovers

Snacks

M – Grapefruit
T – Kiwi
W – Celery with Peanut Butter
TH – Peanut Butter Crackers
F – Sliced Oranges

Baking

W – Feed Sweet Sourdough Starter
TH – Bake Sweet Sourdough Bread

For hundreds of ideas for your own menu planning, visit Organizing Junkie today!

Menu Plan Monday

It feels so nice to have a regular routine again. I thrive on routine! It comforts me. I have planned my menus off and on over the summer, but with 3 VBS programs, 4 days at minister’s meetings, 8 days at the Camporee, 4 days at 3ABN, and more… I have not had much time to plan a menu. Oh, wait. I did plan a menu for the Camporee! Anyway, here is this week’s menu.

Download the .pdf version of this menu.

Breakfast

S – Cereal with Soymilk

M -Granola with Soymilk

T – Steel Cut Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and raisins

W – Sweet Sourdough Bread, Fried Eggs and Cheese Grits

TH – Pancakes with Homemade Apple Syrup

F – Cream of Wheat with Honey and Sweet Cream

S -Cereal with Soymilk and Homemade Yogurt

Lunch

M- Pizza and Salad

T- Ramen with Cabbage

W - Leftover Oatmeal Patties, Steamed Veggies

TH – Steamed Veggies and Rice

F – Lentil Soup, Macaroni Salad

S – Potluck

Supper

S – Broccoli Salad with Raisins, Pecans, and Veggie Bacon

M - Cottage Cheese and Peaches

T – Oatmeal Patties, Broccoli Casserole, Homemade Creamed Corn

W – Oatmeal Meatloaf, Green Beans with Potatoes, Sunshine Salad

TH - Veggie Skallops, Steamed Broccoli, Veg-all Casserole, Homemade Tartar Sauce, Homemade Pickles

F- Crockpot Lasagna, Salad, Sweet Sourdough Garlic Toast

S – Leftovers

Baking

S - Sweet Sourdough Bread

T – Banana Bread

W – Feed Sweet Sourdough Starter

TH – Feed Amish Friendship Bread Starter

F – Bake Sweet Sourdough Bread

S -Potluck – Shoepeg Stew

For hundreds more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie!