Menu Planning Project Test
I have had a menu planning system that has been in constant evolution for about 3 years. I am finally coming to the point where I’m happy with what I have and where it’s simple enough to use easily, with little on-the-fly thinking. Over the last 3 years, the amount of brain power I’ve had for on-the-fly thinking has greatly decreased, so the system has been simplified and simplified and simplified.
Here’s a sample. If people find this useful, I might end up making it into an e-book. Early reviewers and faithful readers would, of course, get free copies. ;)
Looks good. The only thing is how do you decide what to serve with the beans? Bread? Veggies? Rice? Do you have a “beans on Monday, such-and-so on Tuesday…” kind of schedule?
I do like having multiple directions on one page.
I have a loose schedule like that, but not one I’ve really nailed down. It’s more like I have 5-7 different sorts of meals (beans, soup, pizza, stirfry, pasta etc.) and I don’t repeat one type during the week.
When I menu-plan I think in threes: main dish, starchy side (bread, cornbread, potatoes, or rice), and vegetable or salad. When I’m ambitious I try to do a vegetable and a salad. Usually any vegetables in the main dish don’t count as that dinner vegetable unless it’s all-in-one like stirfry (where the vegetables are bulky and disguising how little meat is actually there).
When I’m finished with it, each of those categories — the different types of main dishes, and starches and vegetables and salads — will have their own sheets. Plus, I have a pared down pantry list that I’ve been using for about two years now. One way I simplified was by not even keeping recipes that use an ingredient not on my pantry list. I break that still sometimes for special occasion dishes, but for the most part I no longer need to coordinate grocery-list generating and menu-planning. Anyway, I’ll explain it more as I get closer to completing the project. I’m rather sick of it at this point, but it has been useful and saved me a bunch of time and mental energy, so I’m starting to blog about it now to keep up the push to finish. :)
Oh, uh, the short and easy answer is: Usually I serve either rice or cornbread with beans.
Consider me a subscription
Early reviewers, faithful readers, and — of course! — family get the pre-release special. :)
Hi,
I just recently came across your blog and I’m visiting here for the first time over the past few days. I admire and appreciate all you are doing, your homeschooling philosophy is similar to my own.
My youngest daughter, the last of two, graduated high school from our homeschool this past June. So as my homeschooling years of formal education have come to an end, I hope to be “educating” along side my daughters in a whole new way as they venture out on their own with their lives and a family of their own some day.
Even though my home educating is different now I hope to stay involved with homeschoolers. I’ll always be interested in education. It’s so much a part of me and my life. I wish I would have come across your blog sooner. I have enjoyed your blog and have linked your blog in my side bar of my personal art blog. I love to promote others of similar homeschooling style. I hope that is ok. :-)
God’s blessings in your learning journey. DeeJae (Deb) altered heART works Let a Woman Learn Seven Pillars Book Nook
Yes, that is fine with me! :) Welcome to my little corner of the internet. Make yourself cozy. :)