Sunday, Sunday… Planning the Weeknight Menu

Every Sunday I have a list of things I need to get done; send out menu proposals to my regular clients, send my virtual students their shopping lists for the week’s lessons, share a recipe with my recipe testing group, plan my household’s weeknight menus and place the first of my grocery orders for the week.  Planning the meals for my household ahead of time was something I began doing when I had littles at home, it has helped me to keep my sanity juggling a crazy schedule, kids and work throughout the years.  As my children grew it also was a great way to get them involved in meal prep.  By having a planned menu in front of me writing a grocery list / order is much easier as well.

         I generally start by knowing what I have on hand in my freezer and pantry and build from there.  Knowing what your family likes to eat is also key.  The way we eat, and our preferences have changed over the years but keeping the menus from week to week you build a collection of meals you can rotate and insert into future menus.  Once I have my basic menu written I make the grocery list.  I go through the menu and list all of the proteins, grains & pastas, fresh veggies and condiments in that order.  If I need other supplies those are next.  Being that I shop from home these days I then divide my list into what I will order from where.  Different stores have different items so rather than placing one huge order from one location I place a few orders from multiple locations.  It took a bit of getting used to and it definitely means being flexible and knowledgeable of the products different stores carry because some things might be harder to find or unavailable from one store.  I also tend to stagger my orders.  One order arriving on Monday another on Tuesday.  

         Here is this week’s menu, of course recipes are available; just drop me a line if you want them.

Week of February 7 - 11

Sunday:

Shabbat Leftovers

Meatless Monday:

Felafel w/ Israeli Salatim Bar

Tuesday:

Sesame Chicken Bowls

Wednesday:

TikTok Tomato & Feta Sauce over Whole Wheat Pasta

Leafy Green Salad

Thursday:

Soup & Salad (my husband will probably have boxed pizza)