September is just around the corner and  meal planning is on my mind.  Who am I kidding…. meal planning is always on my mind!! Meals are so important to my family.  It’s a time to sit and connect with my family.  One of my biggest sources of joy every day is yelling to my kids that it’s time to eat and watching them run into the kitchen and get into their chairs. My two year old is especially excited and yells to her brother it’s time to eat as she runs into the kitchen. 

Meal planning has become a hobby of mine and a passion. Ask any member of my family,  it’s something I can’t shut up about.  I’m trying to convert the non believers in my life and get them to give into the power of a menu. Earlier in August I actually sat down and planned out my dinners and lunches for September.  I’m actively trying to continue to trim our budget and to do that I have to be very conscious of the meals I plan.  Health is a big factor two…. I’m two months postpartum and somehow I’ve gained weight… I have been great about planning dinners but fell short planning lunches and I’ve eaten more peanut butter sandwiches then I’m proud to admit in the last few weeks. I’m currently dairy free so even more planning has been required.

 I’m currently revising my current menu and my menu for September.  I’m going through August and tweaking things based on the items that I have left over in the fridge, freezer, and cabinets. I’m going over September and seeing if there are any adjustments to be made.  I’m trying something new this month.  All dinners are mostly kid friendly. I want my kids to eat a healthy meal, but I’m realistic about what that are willing to eat.  I want a variety of things, but I’ve found that while the idea of having a variety of things every night is great,  it’s not always practical. At 530/6pm I’m getting tired and I’m just happy to eat. So for dinners it’s things like chicken pot pie, meatballs, and meatloaf.  For lunches I’ve usually done leftovers or something else I keep on hand.  But lately that hasn’t been working as well as it could.  My oldest is going back to school next week and will be at his request taking Flatbread sandwiches.  My daughter is two and her lunchtime appetite varies . For myself and my husband (and anyone else in my house that wants to have some) I have created a lunchtime meal plan. 

(Sorry it’s sideways couldn’t fit the whole menu in otherwise!)

I may be a bit obsessive but I’ve planned the days that I cook the lunches and the days that we are eating them.  I am currently planning to make a meal then eat it for two lunches.  If we find that doesn’t work or we don’t like it I’ll switch up things a little.  After I cook the meals I’m going to portion the meals into lunch size containers. Heating up a meal will be easier than making a pb&j. For my husband I can simply throw it in a lunchbox and he can take it with him.  My son is slowly but surely becoming a more adventurous eater so who knows maybe by the end if the year he’ll be taking a serving in a thermos to school 😃. My daughter will have the option of the meal I’m eating or some of her lunchtime favorites like turkey meatballs or chicken nuggets.

Meal planning is one of the best ways to save money.  It’s not the only way but for us it works. Before my meal planning days we over spent on groceries AND take out. I’d go buy groceries then end up getting take out some days due to a lack of planning and prepping ahead. I’m proud to say that even with the addition of a new little one into the house we have not been surviving on Pizza delivery or the drive thru window, all because of careful  planning.