Here are my girls on the first day of school...
They're both really busy with their schedules, too, so one way that I maximize our time is by using my DIY Menu Board. Hubs is usually the one who's at home to start dinner for everyone, and by having a menu board, I don't get the call late in the day of "What should I fix for dinner?" (Do you ever get that call?)
Last Saturday I had to go into work for a few hours, and I had my daughters to go with me. I asked them to create the dinner menu for the week. Then we took a trip to the grocery store to get what we needed for the week (using a shopping list is one of the best time-and money-saving tips!)
Can you read it? Lots of "kid" food on the menu, but Hubs knows how to adapt for the grownups in the house. For example, Sunday night the kids wanted tacos. They get beef tacos, Hubs and I bake Tilapia and have fish tacos. We also bake extra fish to have for lunches the next day(s). (We created "fish bowls" which are brown rice, corn, black beans, and fish on top. Yum!)
On Monday, lettuce instead of a bun with the burgers, and sweet potatoes instead of fries.
Thursday is volleyball game night, so we made it pizza salad night. Easy Peasy for us and quick when we get home from the games. For Hubs and me, we'll have leftover grilled chicken. All we'll have to do is cook some rice or quinoa and stir fry veggies while the pizza is in the oven.
Friday night's menu is salmon croquettes. I grew up eating these, and now my girls love them as much as I do. When we go visit my parents, the girls usually request this for dinner. Because I have an event to attend Friday night, I'll make these Thursday night and they can be reheated Friday night while I'm out.
Notice that there is something green on the menu each night. The girls did that, too. I guess my harping on them about eating vegetables really **is** sinking in!
By using the menu board, we can create our menu for the week, create a shopping list according to the menu, prepare extra for the next day's lunches, build in "easy" dinner nights, and cook ahead based on schedules.
Have a great rest of the week, everyone!
I'm sharing here
4 comments:
Great tip for helping you stay on track during the week! You've "trained" your girls well. That menu isn't half bad considering that it wasn't a full fledged adult that put it together!
Thanks, Suzy! I was pretty impressed by their choices - it could definitely be worse! :)
Planning ahead really saves time and money. I use to create a menu for the entire week. Now that it's just hubby and I it's more of a mental menu. I don't write it down, but in my mind I think out what I will fix for the week. Love having fresh produce right outside my door this time of year. We always buy a beef and pork so I have meat in the freezer. I pick up fish and chicken to have on hand. Your girls are darling and I think it's great that you include them in the planning. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup. Happy to be a new follower.
Hugs,
Jann
Thank you for sharing at Saturday Show and Tell. I hope you'll be back this week to link up again! Have a great weekend!
-Mackenzie
http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com
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