Family Friendly Weekly Meal Plan

Many families in American do not plan weekly or even daily meals. The Food Marketing Institute found that 28 percent of people polled had no idea what they would eat just two hours before it was time for dinner. Planning weekly meals does not have to be difficult or time consuming. Taking a few minutes each week to plan your family's meals is good for your health and your family relationships.

Financial Considerations

The average family in America spends 49 percent of its food dollars on restaurant meals, according to the National Restaurant Association. Planning your meals ahead of time enables you to avoid spur-of-the moment visits to sit-down or drive-through restaurants. If you spend $100 a week on groceries and restaurant meals, put some of the restaurant money aside in savings for a family vacation. Eating planned meals at home teaches your children that going out to eat is not a necessity.

Nutritional Benefits

Planning weekly meals gives you the opportunity to carefully examine the nutritional qualities of your food. Rather than serving fried chicken nuggets and french fries, serve family friendly and healthy baked chicken and roasted potatoes. A 2009 study published in the "Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior" and led by Teri L. Burgess-Champoux, Ph.D., found that children who ate regular family meals when they were young were more likely to have healthy food habits five years later. Feeding your family healthy meals most nights of the week can help all of you maintain a healthy weight.

Strategies

Begin planning your weekly meals using a calendar, a sheet of paper and grocery store circulars. Look to see what specials your store offers on meats and vegetables. Plan your main dishes based on the sale items to save money. In each calendar block, write down the meal for the day. Write your grocery list as you plan your meals. Choose easy to prepare dishes that your family likes, such as pasta, tortillas and beans, baked chicken and hamburgers made with lean beef. In addition to favorite meals, try one new dish a week. When you return from the grocery store, cook and freeze the meat and chop the vegetables.

Self Sufficiency

Allowing your child to watch you plan and prepare weekly meals helps him develop into a self-sufficient adult. Eventually, your small child will grow up and be responsible for feeding himself. Allow your young child to assist you when you make your weekly meal plan, cut up soft vegetables and set the table. Give him more responsibility as he matures. Teaching him meal planning and cooking skills will help him later and strengthen your family bond.

Dynamic Family Time

The website Meals Matter says, "Family meals should be dynamic--an exchange of ideas, conversation and feelings." Sitting down to eat homemade meals you have planned in advance gives your family the opportunity to share details about each person's day, talk about upcoming events and reminisce about fun family times. The memories you create while eating together will last a lifetime.