This must certainly be in the Top 5 of the most taxing questions ever asked. In fact, I can't think of a question that jolts my nerves more, other than "Have you seen my overdue library video?" or "Do you know where my shoes are?" Many, many years ago I resolved to eliminate this one stress in my life by creating a weekly menu and shopping according to this menu. I have been fairly consistent in keeping up with this system for years, but the weekly menu had a downfall: it required asking the question, "What would you like to eat this week?" before each grocery list could be made. Usually Randy would say something helpful like, "I can't think of anything right now; I'm not really hungry"; Laurel would say, "Beans and rice"; Jesse would say, "Steak"; and Duncan would say, "Candy."
This fall I got smart and made a list of all of our favorite supper choices. I keep this in my "menu" section of my 3-ring binder, right after the "grocery list" section. When it's time for grocery shopping, I pick out a few things myself, then hand the list to Randy for his picks. I don't necessarily pair a certain supper with a certain day of the week, except for those couple of days when I know I will need a crockpot meal.
And so, here is our list. With almost 50 choices, we're doing pretty well, but we add things to the list regularly as we remember old favorites or find new ones.
Grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and corn
Lasagna, bread, salad, broccoli
Beans and rice, tortilla chips, quesadillas
Chicken and vegetable kabobs with rice
Bread, cheese, and deli meat with salad
Chicken with mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, corn
Pasta salad with grilled chicken and french bread
Beef stew
Spaghetti and meatballs, veggie
Tilapia with rice and veggie
Fettucine Alfredo with bread and veggie
Chili over rice or Fritos, cornbread
Salmon, baked potatoes, veggie
Kung Pao Chicken
Hamburgers, baked beans, french fries
Jambalaya over rice, cornbread
Fried Rice
Grilled drumsticks, potato wedges, veggie
Home-made pizza with salad
BLTs, corn
Hawaiian grilled pork chops, rice, pineapple, corn
Smoked Turkey quesadillas
Tacos, rice, corn, Mexican layered dip
Fajitas, chips and salsa, rice, corn
Chicken piccata or marsala, mashed potatoes or pasta, veggie
Vegetable, bread, and cheese night
Fruit, bread and cheese night
Enchiladas, rice, refried beans
Pork chops and rice
Meatloaf and mashed potatoes
Chicken roll-ups
Shrimp on the grill
Baked ziti, salad, bread
Pork loin, applesauce, mashed potatoes
Roast beef, potatoes, carrots in crock pot
French onion soup with sandwiches
Baked potato soup with muffins
White chicken chili with chips
Chicken tortilla soup with quesadillas
And so this particular blog entry was prompted because I realized our refrigerator is empty and it's time to make a grocery list and head out for my least favorite task of all. I'd rather clean toilets than go grocery shopping....
Comments
Sunday, October 1, 2006 - As I said the other day...
Posted by TheMonkeyParade
What a great idea! I always shop with a list and a preplanned menu, and have I always felt frustrated by the "I don't know, I'm not hungry." reply to what do you want for dinner this week. It had just never occurred to me to let them pick something from my list of things we like. Duh. So thanks, and thanks again for reminding me.
Sunday, October 1, 2006 - mmmmmmm
Posted by kateyz
What time is dinner??? It all sounds so yummy, but tell me what baked potato soup is. I'm quite intrigued!
Kathleen
Sunday, October 1, 2006 - Awesome
That grocery list looks awesome!!! I should come over your house for dinner!!!
Edited by MrsChoco on Oct. 1, 2006 at 7:58 PM
Monday, October 2, 2006 - My system is similar...
Posted by eclecticityTia
but once a month I sit down and pick a few new things from magazines and cookbooks to try something new, and every three months I rotate the seasonal stuff; stews only in fall/winter, fresh tomato stuff only in summer, roasted root veggies fall-early spring, and so on. My menu sheet has the days of the week with a "3 meal" breakdown; breakfast every other day is a grain porridge followed by a bigger item (pancakes, waffles, fritata and so on). Lunches have become our dinner and dinners have become soups, sandwiches, or quiche.
Monday, October 2, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by hsmomof2
Great list! I always find it amazing that I've cooked thousands of meals but when it's time to plan I can't think of anything to cook. A list - so simple, what a great idea!
Monday, October 2, 2006 - Just popping in to say hi!
Posted by leastofthese
I just wanted to say thanks for stopping by and commenting at my blog.
Of course I also ended up spending more time than I should've reading!!! And I just have to say, I love this quote from a few posts ago.
"Give me paper and pen, a book, and a family, and I’ll be happy. How does a child verbalize this when asked that perennial question, “What do you want to be when you grown up?”
I thought that was very well-said and describes my to a "T"!!!! Glad to know I'm in good company! ;)
Love,
~Lori (leastofthese)
Monday, October 2, 2006 - Kewl beans!
Posted by KarlaKAkins
What a great idea! Thanks for posting. I am going to "borrow" it. I am just awful at meal stuff.
Karla
Monday, October 2, 2006 - personally....
Posted by jenmcintyre
I think you should have included the recipes with the list :)
I keep meaning to do something like this, but we are still in the process of eating out of the freezer so it is still "what needs to be eaten." If I can keep Nate out of the grocery store I might be able to do some menu planning. I have dreams anyway.
I need some new chicken recipes.
Wednesday, October 4, 2006 - It makes me crazy...
Posted by Blogless Leigh
to be asked "so what's for dinner?", I go INSANE!!! I am not always a plan girl and I feel as though it's an underhanded way of saying "boy, you are soooo not organized".(I am a little touchy) I don't know why it bothers me- the family always likes my food it just seems to come at inappropriate times, like during lunch when there are breakfast AND lunch dishes sitting around me. It is comforting to know you are also disturbed by this!!!
~L
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - What's for dinner?
Posted by Melanie Ellis
When mine ask, I usually answer, "Food." If they persist, they get "Nutritious food." >GRIN<
And somebody please tell me that I'm not the only one whose kids ask one after the other, usually only a couple of minutes apart, because the second one didn't know the first one had already asked!
Melanie
http://www.homeschoolhelpweb.com
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - Yeah I wish I could pull this off
Posted by opal
When ever I get asked I also answer food. Then they want specifics, what I hate is when I tell them and all I get is an aaaaahhhhh, or well I am not in the mood for that. I have told my husband that if he did not want it then he could cook. Our problem has always been that we try to plan, and then no one wants what we planned at all that week. I am at a loss. I have contemplated making a wheel with choices that work with what I have, and when asked I spin the wheel, like wheel of fortune. Let's see what we win tonight... (drum roll) tada! spaghetti! I wonder if it would work, or if it would turn into a mutiny on the bounty?
