3 Months of Meal Planning

I have taken the time to organize our calendar for the next 3 months and here is a bit of what I have. :)

I have them all written on the calendar, including several that are 'new' to us. I'd be happy to share recipes for anything you'd like! :) I'm listing the meals and basically just know that I am rearranging them each month so that we only have *most* of them one time per month. (I say *most* cuz "Hamburger Helper" is on each month a couple times, simply cuz we LOVE it! LOL There's a particular flavor that my boys really like and it's a pretty cheap meal for us. :))

Each of these meals is written on a 3z5 card that is tucked away in a drawer. When I need to meal-plan, I just pull out this stack and randomly pull meals from the stack and stick them on a calendar. Then when it's time to grocery shop for that week, I look at what's on the menu and pull those cards out and write down what I need from the store for them. That way it serves 2 purposes: 1) I know I will have everything on hand when it's time to cook it and 2) shopping is much easier cuz I've taken the time to make a good list, therefore not as much impulse buying...saving me money! :)

Now, I was asked "what happens when you get to a meal and don't feel like cooking it that night?" No biggie. For me (typically) I will simply bump that night's dinner to another night that week ...and basically swap them. But I still have to cook that original dinner sometime that week. (I say typically, cuz for us right now these will be what HAS to be cooked for those particular nights due to schedule situations. If we're gonna be out all day, I will need a meal that is crock-pot-able. LOL)

Also, if it's a Crock Pot recipe or an item that I will use the Crock Pot for, I'm putting a "CP" by it....

Sloppy Joes
Stroganoff
Beef Pot Pie (homemade)
Turkey breast (CP)
Spaghetti
Foil Packets
Almond Chicken (CP)
Ravioli
Lasagna
Tater Tot Casserole
Creamy Broccoli Casserole
Cheesy Chicken (CP)
Cube Steaks
Ritzy Chicken
Pork Roast (CP)
Chicken Rice with Green Beans (CP)
Burritos
Taco Salad
Nacho Cheese Chicken (CP)
Aroz con pollo (CP)
Chicken Cacciatore (CP)
Italian Chicken Spaghetti (CP)
Beans and Cornbread
Pizza (frozen of course!) LOL
Breakfast

Now, some others that I have on cards that I am not including this time:

King Ranch Casserole
Fried Chicken
Burgers
Lasagna (regular)
Stir Fry
Pork Steaks
Veggie Soup
Chili
Ham
Gumbo

Any questions or thoughts please let me know! :)