TIme Saver: Meal planning

  With our busy schedule, I am always up for any way to save time. One way I have found to save time, is planning our meals for the upcoming week. Normally ever Sunday night instead of reading or watching TV while in bed, I do my menu plan. I first started to this when I got tired of having to try to come up with something for supper. I could never come up with anything and normally when I did I was always missing at least 1 needed ingredient. Since doing this, I know days in advanced what is for supper, and I always know I have everything to make a great nutritious meal. To make meal planning simple, and time saving I follow the follow system.
    1. First thing first purchase a Notebook or binder designated for Meal planning. Keep recipes, Meal ideas, Menu plans,  grocery lists, and other meal planning ideas in this.
    2. Purchase a white board for the kitchen. Each morning write down what is for supper that evening. That way everyone knows what's to look forward to. I also write down anything that can be prepped before supper (cutting, slicing, preheating oven), so that way if I or someone else in the house has time they can get stuff prepped ahead of time to cut down on prep and cooking time.
    3. On your designated menu planning day ( mine is Sunday) Sit down and write down Menu Ideas. Include main dishes, side dishes, and dessert if you like. Coming up with ideas can be difficult so search online and in cook books to get ideas. Also trying things you have never tried making or things you have never ate before to keep it new and interesting. I also keep a list in the front of my meal planning binder of meal ideas. If I come across a new recipe I want to try I either clip it out or write it down a put the recipe in my binder and write it on my menu ideas list.
   4. After coming up with menu ideas, Pick out a different meal for each night of the week.
    5. After picking out your meals for the week, Go over the recipes and decide what you need to pick up at the store and write it on a grocery list. Then pick a day or days  to pick up your items at the store. If you pick to go to the store more then one day a week, make sure to write a list for each trip.  Don't forget small things that you normally don't have like certain spices.
    6. Enjoy an easy meal planning and making experience.