Here is the background to the monthly meal plan …
Last year, we did weekly meal plans. Well we did weekly meal plans most of the time. I say most of the time because some weeks we forgot to plan. Life got busy, school work was out of control, the preschool business started, the family all got sick. You name it, life happens. When I suggested a Monthly Meal Plan late last month, I was sure my husband would declare me nuts for good. BUT … he was on board. He was on board so much he tried to find a monthly meal planner online. There were none to be found that worked for what we wanted though. So being the Excel junkie that he is, he made a calendar he could fill in a meal for each day. Part of my accountable in doing this is posting our Monthly Meal Plan each month.
I didn’t like last month’s graphic. I am thinking that might work better in the new blog design but as you can see that design isn’t here yet so I am trying to keep it simple this month.
Friday, July 1 English Muffin Pizzas
Saturday, July 2 Smoked Chuck Roast
Sunday, July 3 take-out Mexican
Monday, July 4 Butterflied Chicken
Tuesday, July 5 Spaghetti
Wednesday, July 6 Grilled Shrimp
Thursday, July 7 Chicken + kale + cooking cream
Friday, July 8 Shrimp Stir-fry
Saturday, July 9 Chuck Roast skewers
Sunday, July 10 Chicken Fried Steak
Monday, July 11 Leftovers
Tuesday, July 12 Sloppy Joes
Wednesday, July 13 Pasta Night
Thursday, July 14 Chili (frozen)
Friday, July 15 Fajitas
Saturday, July 16 Matthew’s 2nd Birthday Party (Pepperoni Rolls + Hog Dogs!)
Sunday, July 17 Sandwiches/Subs
Monday, July 18 Enchiladas
Tuesday, July 19 Breakfast
Wednesday, July 20 Chicken + pasta + cooking cream
Thursday, July 21 Homemade pizza
Friday, July 22 Leftovers
Saturday, July 23 Leftovers
Sunday, July 24 on-the-road
Monday, July 25 Beach Week Challenge
Tuesday, July 26 Beach Week Challenge
Wednesday, July 27 Beach Week Challenge
Thursday, July 28 Beach Week Challenge
Friday, July 29 Beach Week Challenge
Saturday, July 30 on-the-road
A few notes …
- This month we just planned dinners. Breakfast is a free for all and everyone just eats what they want that day anyway. Lunch is divided up too. I generally take leftovers or a salad to work. The kids eat what my husband whips up and sometimes he eats that or ventures off on his own.
- The dinner ideas are once again inspired by our freezer. I wanted pork chops for some crazy reason but we don’t have them so they aren’t on the menu. Such is life.
- What is up with that Beach Week Challenge? It isn’t a cheat. I promise! We are headed to the beach that week. Funding for the beach week vacation is very, very tight so we are going to see what we can do while at the beach. Watch for recipes, etc to go up that week as we blog our way through Beach Week … the family with three kids under age 5 version of Beach Week that is!=P
If you are looking for answers on monthly meal planning, ask the questions you have! I don’t know that I have the answer for you but I will look for them!
If you want the empty Excel spreadsheet formatted like a calendar, let me know and I will send it you via email. Just send me an email at simplybudgeted at gmail dot com.
Have you tried monthly meal planning? How did it go? Any tips or suggestions?
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