Planning meals for a food menu will give you the ability to prepare healthy meals for your family. A menu works as a plan for what your family will be eating and it enables you to shop ahead of time so healthy food is always available. Jennifer Silate, author of "Planning and Preparing Healthy Meals and Snacks: A Day-To-Day Guide to a Healthier Diet," says well-balanced meals that incorporate a variety of different foods will make a healthy and delicious menu.
Step 1
Make a list of the foods you and your family enjoy eating so you can base your menu planning around things everyone will eat. Jamie Novak, author of "The Get Organized Answer Book," recommends asking your family members what they would like included on the menu to get ideas. You can also flip through recipe books and do online searches to gather more ideas of menus or food you would like to try.
Step 2
Make a list of meals that you would like to include in your menu. Novak suggests writing down all your ideas, even if you eventually decide the ingredients are too expensive or the recipe is too complicated. Jessica J. Mudry, author of "Measured Meals: Nutrition in America," recommends listing several different main dishes and side dishes so you have a large selection of options when making your final menu.
Step 3
Check your list of menu ideas to see if any of the recipes have similar ingredients. Novak writes that you can save time and money by preparing meals that use the same ingredients because you can use up all of what you buy and do some preparation steps ahead of time. A package of ground hamburger can be used to make tacos one night and spaghetti the following night, says Novak. You can also cook large batches of foods like pasta to use throughout the week for different meals.
Step 4
Create a chart that includes each meal you plan to cook and then choose a main dish and side dishes to include for each meal on your chart. Julia Ross, author of "The Diet Cure," recommends including a small portion of meat and large portions of vegetables and fruits. Ross also writes that most meals should include a small serving of carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice or pasta.
Separate your menu by days and be sure that each meal includes a meat or other protein source, fruits and vegetables, and a source of carbohydrates. Write your selections for each day so you can easily reference what ingredients you need for each day.
Step 5
Use your menu to create a shopping list so your choices can be easily prepared at mealtimes. A shopping list is an important accompaniment to a food menu, because having the ingredients on hand will enable you to cook and serve the meals you and family enjoy. Novak suggests make a menu that lasts for two weeks so you have a wide variety of menu ideas to choose from each time your family is hungry. Post the menu in a prominent place so you can easily reference it as you prepare meals.
Tips and Warnings
- Try new foods each time you make a new menu. You and your family may discover some new favorites.
- You should include eating out or ordering take-out on your menu if you cannot cook for every meal. Including restaurant food on your menu will help you stay organized and will help you plan a successful menu.
Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Paper
References
- "Planning and Preparing Healthy Meals and Snacks: A Day-To-Day Guide to a Healthier Diet"; Jennifer Silate; 2005
- "Measured Meals: Nutrition in America"; Jessica J. Mudry; 2009
- "The Diet Cure"; Julia Ross; 2000
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