While I had been menu planning over the last couple of months, I hadn’t been as organised as I like to be. Doing a couple of weeks here, repeating older plans there and I hadn’t been printing out the menu plans and putting them up on the fridge.
I was pondering recently why I was finding dinner time a little frustrating. The kids were asking me what’s for dinner while I was cooking it, even though it seemed pretty clear to me what I was cooking. There had been complaints about not liking this and that.
On the weekend I realised that the problem was stemming from my disorganised menu planning. As a consequence of menu planning in a similar way for so many years, the kids were used to it and my changed approach without warning was obviously throwing them a little.
Weekly menu plans
So I decided it was time to get things back on track:
- I sought the input of the kids once again for their meals to include on the menu plan.
- I factored in after school activities for term four.
- I factored in a casual Friday meal where I cook a “take away” style meal.
- I factored in baking for school lunch boxes on the weekend (that is why you will see multiple recipes for those days).
- And I printed the menu plans for the month for all to see!
The kids were very happy to see the menu plans go up on the fridge. I had thought now that the kids are older, I might not need to worry about this step, but it is still important especially for the 5, 8 and 10 year olds. If there is a meal on the plan that they do not really like, they take heart in seeing a meal they love being on another night. They complain less and just get on with the meal knowing that there is something better (in their mind) coming next.
Here are the menu plans for the next month. You will note there are a couple of repeat meals. We have a rule that a meal can be on the menu plan twice in a month at a maximum, to make sure we have variety in the meals we eat.
Day | Week Commencing 20th Oct |
|
|---|---|---|
| Mon |    | Slow cooker shredded beef and rocket salad Sweet potato gratin Green veggies |
| Tue |  | Sweet chilli chicken wraps |
| Wed |  | Mexibake |
| Thu |  | Slow cooker beef stroganoff |
| Fri |  | Gluten free meatballs |
| Sat |  | Sang choy bow |
| Sun |    | Roast chicken and vegetables Chicken schnitzel/ (for the kids' school lunches) Banana and Oat Muffins |
| Shopping List | Weekly menu plan shopping list 141020 | |
Day | Week Commencing 27th Oct |
|
|---|---|---|
| Mon |  | Slow cooker chicken noodle soup |
| Tue |  | Souvlaki |
| Wed |  | Chicken lasagne |
| Thu |  | Creamy chicken and sweet potato stew |
| Fri |  | Home made hamburgers and salad |
| Sat |  | Homemade pasties |
| Sun |   | Slow cooker roast lamb Choc banana muffins (gluten, dairy and nut free) |
| Shopping List | Weekly menu plan shopping list 141027 | |
Day | Week Commencing 3rd Nov |
|
|---|---|---|
| Mon |  | Slow cooker butter chicken |
| Tue | | Sweet chilli chicken wraps |
| Wed |  | Fried rice |
| Thu |  | Moroccan minted beef |
| Fri |  | Sushi |
| Sat |  | Zucchini Slice |
| Sun |   | Spicy Slow Cooker Lamb Slow Cooker Lemon and Coconut Cake |
| Shopping List | Weekly menu plan shopping list 141103 | |
Day | Week Commencing 10th Nov |
|
|---|---|---|
| Mon | | Slow cooker beef stroganoff |
| Tue |  | Tacos |
| Wed |  | Pan fried chicken and salad |
| Thu |  | Spaghetti and Zucchini Bolognese |
| Fri | | Gluten free meatballs |
| Sat | | Chicken schnitzel and salad |
| Sun |   | Slow cooker shredded beef and rocket salad Easy BLT Gluten free choc chip cookies |
| Shopping List | Weekly menu plan shopping list 141103 | |
Resources on menu planning
If you are new to menu planning or want a refresher on how to go about it, these posts will help:
- Why Menu Plan?
- Menu Planning Process
- Bulk Monthly Menu Planning
- How To Menu Plan For A Month In 35 Minutes!
- Menu Plan Monthly Template (including kid’s input table)
- Monthly Menu Planning Time Again, This Time With Added Video!
- Family Menu Planning FAQ and Monthly Menu Plan
How have you been going with your menu planning?
Family friendly meals
If you are looking for recipe inspiration, check out my complete list of Family Friendly Recipes. You might like to also check out Planning With Kids Menu Planning App.
The kid friendly menu planning app allows you to:
- Create weekly menu plans quickly, choosing as many meals per day as you would like to plan for.
- Generate the shopping list for all the meals selected.
- Modify the shopping list to check off items you already have at home.
- Email the shopping list to yourself and/or others.
The most popular recipes from the blog have been included and more will be added on a regular basis. The app will notify you when new recipes have been added, so you will be able to deliver plenty of variety in your family’s menu plans. Each recipe lists the ingredients required, easy to follow instructions and a photo from the blog.