I've been in the child care field my entire adult life---17 whole years. (quit doin' the math!) I've worked anywhere from large scale facilities, to Group Homes, Emergency Shelters, Family Drug treatment & rehabilitation facilities, to smaller non-profit & now, run my own private home daycare. One of the greatest things I've learned is how to menu plan in a healthy & nutritious way. The more (food) decisions you leave to the last minute, the greater the risk of making poor food choices---YOU know:
- When it's been a LONG day @ work and you're exhausted and/or your family is constantly reminding you how hungry they are.
- Maybe it's just you and you don't really care what you put in your mouth.
- Perhaps you have to drive 3 kids to 3 different places in 60 minutes etc.
It's so easy to reach for that box of processed food, pick up the phone for take out or hit up your favourite drive thru. But, by planning your meals ahead of time you'll be well on your way to successfully keeping yourself and your family "healthy" & more than likely save a few pennies too!
Once every few months I sit down and make not 1, not 2, but 5 weeks worth of rotational Menu plans. It includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Snacks have their OWN 5 week list--I'll post later). It takes the guesswork out of everything and I have to say--it's WONDERFUL!!
I sit at the kitchen table, with a nice cup of tea, my blank menu templates (which you can find here FREE MENU PRINTABLES ), my recipe books & magazines and jot things down.
I {heart} these templates because I can also create my grocery list!
This helps me stay focused while I'm shopping and NOT be distracted by all the tempting yummies "calling to me" & my children hehehe!
We have family favourites (OH Nacho-night I LOVE YOU) that I include throughout the weeks. I don't like to be repetitive so Nacho Night one week may be Burrito night another. I try to be creative and incorporate a good balance of "new" things with our "old"faves. I also get the family to give me their input...after all, I'm cooking for 4 people not just myself! My girls (10 & 4) enjoy flipping through magazines/cookbooks and finding delicious things to add to our meals. If my youngest REALLY likes something, she pretends to be eating the food right off the pages!
After all this "planning" I think it's important to note that I try to stay flexible--I mean, life happens--last minute lunch dates or birthday parties etc are inevitable.
I challenge you to get started with this (if you haven't already)---it makes your life SOO much easier & allows you a few extra minutes of family time---or, if you're like me---ME time! haha
