Menu planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Just do it and it will fall into place. This second blog on Menu planning will give you menu lists for the seasons and more Tips to get started. How to Start Menu planning part two- Menu lists.
How Did Menu Planning Go?
Did you get started? Feel overwhelmed? Maybe Both. It’s okay- it’s like riding a bike the more you menu plan, the better you get. It may not be fun like it is for me, but it will soon be a good habit. If you missed the first blog on menu planning- here is the link on How to start Menu planning.
A Good Habit to Continue
Yes- I menu planned for my family of five when they all lived at home and I am still menu planning for my husband and me. The best part is when you have guests over for a meal or someone stops by you can offer them a meal because you have a plan and you usually have leftovers.
Organized to Invite Guests
Last month we wanted to invite a pastor over and it was only him since his wife couldn’t make it. I said, “here are three things I am making this week.” I sent him my menus and let him choose. I am so glad I did because- He was a meat and potatoes plain food kind of guy.
He chose from a Quesadilla meal, spinach- egg- bacon- salad meal, and pulled pork sandwiches, beans, and watermelon. I made the pulled pork one month ago and froze half of it. So I just pulled it out of the freezer, heated it, put it on a bun, made a quick coleslaw salad, warmed canned beans, and had the watermelon I had cut up. Easy peasy and he loved it.
Menu Lists
Here are some menu idea lists to help you with menu planning. These are just a start. More ideas can be added as you make them your own. Type up your list to keep near your menu plans or just keep a list on paper in a notebook
Seasonal Meal Ideas-
Summer – which are mainly no heat the house meals.
Grilled- fish tacos, burgers, brats, foil Dinners, grilled veggies, pizza on the grill, grilled meats, kabobs.
Salads- See Summer Salad Supper Blog- taco salad, chicken salad, spinach salad, chef salad, crab salad, tossed salad, broccoli salad, coleslaw, asian salad, strawberry salad, pasta salad, and quinoa salad.
Other main dishes- Paninis, Quesadillas, Nachos, Crockpot Lasagna, Spaghetti, Pasta in one pot, Chow mein, Stir Fry, Quinoa bowls, BLTs, and Tacos.
Produce from the garden, Zucchini meals- see Zucchini blog for recipes, spaghetti squash, Kale and Spinach
Breakfast for dinner- which opens up many possibilities like Panakuken, Korean Egg Bread.
Keep in mind -you won’t heat the oven but you can make some of these in any season.
Fall, and Winter Menu Planning Ideas
Crockpot meals and air fryer meals- There are recipe books on this. Mashed potatoes in the crockpot. Shredded meats in the crockpot.
Soups- I have 3 blogs with soup recipes. Soups on the Table, Two More Soups and More Soups. Soups- Chili, Chicken noodle soup, Taco Soup, Lasagna soup, Cream soups, Wild rice soups, Bean soups, Lentil soups, etc.
Pasta meals on the stove, Chow mein, Stir Fry- check out some of the summer lists
Oven– Sheet pan dinners= roasted in the oven. Meat, potatoes, and veggies- with EVOO, seasoning cooked on one pan at 375-400 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Pizza, Lasagna or hot dishes in the oven, enchiladas, wild rice hotdish, Tator tot hotdish, Tuna noodle, Scalloped potatoes with ham, Meatloaf, any roasts, large chickens, turkey, salmon, or fish baked in the oven.
Menu Planning Before and for Vacation
Before you go on vacation- plan two weeks of menus. The week before you go on vacation plan foods you need to use up in the frig so your food doesn’t spoil. Eat up all your leftovers or freeze.
Plan your vacation food- if you need to cook on vacation, make a menu for a few meals that you can alter as the week plays out. You could plan four meals for the week knowing you may go out to eat, and eat leftovers for a few meals. If you want some ideas on vacation food see these blogs. Vacation menu ideas.
Plan the first few days you get back from your vacation- remember you may not have food in your frig. So think ahead. If you have eggs you could have egg salad sandwiches or omelets, or a frozen pizza until you get to the store.
If your menu is all planned for the week you come home– take your grocery list and order your food online to be picked up as you arrive in town. Then you are ready to get back into life again with a menu for the week and groceries on hand.
Menu Planning Questions
If you have questions feel free to email me or put them in the comments. If I have enough questions- I can answer them in a future blog or in a video. Enjoy your new menu planning habit. Thanks for learning how to menu plan. How to Start Menu Planning- Part Two Menu lists
Here is a Fall Menu-
Sunday- Chili and Mashed potatoes in the crockpot. (my family eats chili on mashed potatoes), Raw veggies, and saltines.
Monday- Salmon, sliced sweet potatoes roasted in the oven, and apple slices.
Tuesday- Chicken veggie Chow mein, brown Rice, Sauteed Green beans, and mushrooms see the veggie blog.
Wednesday- leftovers.
Thursday- Black Bean chowder, Broccoli Salad, and fruit and yogurt breadsticks- recipes in blog links.
Friday- One-pot pasta meal and leftover veggies/salads or fruits from above meals.
Saturday- Homemade BBQ pizza- see recipe for BBQ pizza, Coleslaw Salad.
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