Dinner plan for the week

On Saturday or Sunday, I figure out what we will eat each night, plus I always have quick things on hand because our schedule can be so variable, especially during baseball season. We don't have any "rules" about how many times a week we eat chicken or beef or whatever, although I do try not to eat the same meat more than two days in a row.

I try to make a menu up on Sunday for the week. Nights might not happen and we do something simple, but we try.
This week:
Sunday: Burgers, Fries & Corn on the cob.
Monday: Steamed cod, Jasmine Rice &grilled vegies.
Tuesday:Chicken Alfredo & Salad
Wedensday:Mississippi Mud Roast, parm potatoes &summer squash
Thursday:Pork Marsala,Pasta & Veigie (not sure we will check the farmers market)
Friday: Grilled chicken sandwiches, Mac & Chesse & vegie (see above)

We also will be making honey lemonade, strawberry kemonade, some muffins for breakfeast grabs & death by chocolate cake for hubbies bday.

I try to write it out and shop early Sunday morning, hit the Farmers Market on Wedensday & the grocery stores for on sale meat. Seafood is brought the day of, so I try to plan the seafood night on a day I know I will be in town.
It also helps I ask everyone to choose a meal and plan it into the menu. It helps that they want it so it's more of a push to help cook.
Hubby cooks on his days off with my help and the girls and I cook on his work days. With summer coming it will be nice to have a bit more flexibility with what time we eat dinner.

I have been working on my Bachelors for the past few years so I had to plan meals around my night classes. SO isn't much of a cook at all so I needed to make an easy night or two or else the boys would eat whatever. Monday is always crockpot day so that there is lunch for Tuesday. Tuesday nights were class nights so he made chicken tenders and fries in the oven. Wednesday was usually a meat, starch and veg. Thursday was a pasta night. Friday is tacos or homemade pizza. Saturday would be our big dinner day with enough for leftovers for Sunday and Monday lunches. Sunday would normally be dinner out or leftovers.

I am done with school now and starting a new job soon, so this will all change. I am working on new menus of meals that I have taught SO to make in my absence. The boys are getting better at cooking as well, but left to their own devices it will be the summer of Hot Pockets.

I don't plan by type of food, I just meal plan the week of dinners. Some things can be interchangable on what days I make them, but if I plan for hamburgers, I make those the day I shop because they are fresh from the butcher case and change color quickly. Ground beef can be used the day I buy or the next day. Chicken might be able to hold out three or four days depending on the sell by date and how frozen it still is when I pick it up. I make the list of things I bought groceries for on a chalkboard (small little red one from CTMH, love it) in the order that I planned them, but some things can be moved around if I don't have raw meat on a time table.

@leowife you have a recipe for the honey lemonade? I love lemonade and this sounds really good.

I hate to cook, so if anyone was cooking for me, I would be happy with anything! But I am a sahm, so I am in charge of cooking. I try to make the easiest meal too, so it's often spaghetti with sauce. I also don't like coming up with meal ideas, and my family is no help at all.

I can't wait to try the blogs recommended here!

I cook all my meals for the week on Sunday. I portion them out and have them in the fridge ready to go at lunch or the end of the day. I find this helps me with the "I don't know what to make and I don't feel like cooking" moments when I get home from work or the gym. I will plan 3ish meals on Saturday. I get my groceries and cook on Sunday. This works for me bc I don't mind the leftover process. It doesn't work for my sister bc she hates leftovers. I will also note that I live alone so it is easier when cooking for 1 (for me)

Before we go grocery shopping on the weekend I ask my sons and husband for meal ideas. Sometimes my sons suggest and prepare a couple of meals during the week and my husband will also contribute by grilling. We don't have designated meal days like Taco Tuesday. This week we'll be having grilled rib eyes, homemade pizza, Chipotle chicken bowl, ribs, fish tacos and spaghetti with meatballs.

Kind of.  I like to assign a theme to make it easier to meal plan.  

Taco Tuesday which can be any Mexican deliciousness 
pasta
new recipe
quick dinner
freezer meal
soup
fish
cheap night
out of the pantry
breakfast for dinner
on a bun
clone a restaurant 
chicken

it makes it a lot easier to meal plan.

I have an inexpensive calendar that i keep on the fridge that just lists the days of the week with open spaces. This thing was probably $1 atMichael's but is so helpful because DH can see it. If left to his own devices Dh would probably order pizza multiple times a week ( because he likes ...he's actually a good cook).

I write out a tentative plan...Friday we had chicken, yesterday we had pork, today was chicken again, tomorrow will be beef. I'm not rigid with the order but will eat chicken as soon as we get it and freeze any meat not being eaten within 24-48 hours.

We don't plan certain meals for certain days but when I go food shopping as well as getting the needed basics, I get ingredients with meals in mind and what will go with things I have in the freezer. So I have a few days meals sorted but can be flexible in use.

Thank you.

I shop with a seven day menu. Problem is DH will help make the list but then on his day to cook (usually a weekend day) he'll decide to make something not on the list and will go out to the store and buy a bunch of stuff. Then on grocery shopping day I still have ingredients for dinners that did not get cooked but no breakfast food, or stuff for the kids lunches and it throws everything off.