The average family schedule includes work, school, sports practices, scouts, meetings and birthday parties throughout the week. Trying to figure out what to cook at meal time is often a challenge. Planning meals ahead of time offers a solution for busy families when dinner rolls around.
Benefits
A family meal plan requires some work ahead of time, but the menu saves you time throughout the week. You won't have to search for something to cook when everyone is already hungry and tired after a busy day. Having a meal plan in place can also help you avoid the temptation of hitting the drive-through every night, according to the Meals Matter website. This means you feed your family healthier food --- and sit down to a meal together each night.
Components
Your family meal plan involves a menu that outlines the food you plan to serve each day. A calendar-style layout works well for recording the daily meals. Photocopying your calendar offers you a free menu form for planning meals. A list of meals your family likes to eat is a useful reference for meal planning. Refer to the list as you fill in the menu so you don't have to come up with meals on your own.
Balanced Meals
A meal plan allows you to create balanced, nutritious meals for your family even when you're busy. The Iowa State University Extension recommends dividing the plate, with a quarter reserved for proteins, a quarter for grains or starchy foods and the remaining half for vegetables that don't fall into the starchy category.
Shortcuts
Use shortcuts to simplify your meal planning. A meal in the slow cooker or leftovers from a previous night allow you to get dinner on the table faster. Preparing some of the week's meals during the weekend and throwing them in the freezer allows you to simply reheat the dinner on a weeknight when you don't have as much free time. If grilled chicken is on the menu, cook extra and save the leftovers for chicken salad or chicken tacos the next evening.
Scheduling
Your family's schedule influences your meal plan. Keep a copy of your family's upcoming commitments and activities as a reference when planning meals. On days when you have lots of commitments, schedule meals that are fast and simple. Keeping the meal plan flexible is also a convenient trick for busy families. If you have all of the ingredients on hand at the beginning of the week, you can easily swap out the days you plan to serve each dish. When an unexpected commitment pops up, replace that night's meal with something easier, such as leftovers.
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