This is hands down, the most useful thing I do in my home!!!
There is so much RESEARCH about how important family dinner is. Two books that made a HUGE difference in the meal planning arena for me...
The ladies who wrote these books inspired me to create a fun and practical dinner planning system that has transformed our family dinner time.
Each day has a theme, and THAT has made dinner planning so easy. Also, meal times are a million times more fun.
The principle of the themes can transform dinner for any family.
Each week as I plan our meals, I choose a meal from category for each day.
Mondays: Comfort Food
Tuesdays: Taco Tuesday (aka Mexican food)
Wacky Wednesday: Quick Meals or Pasta
Healthy Thursday: Fish, Chinese, Soup, or Salad
Friday night: Pizza Night
Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner
Sunday: Slow Cooker or Fun Food
(I usually omit one day each week, and serve left-overs instead).
*Not everything fits under only one category (you'll see that many meals fit several categories). Also, rules can be broken. If you feel like Mexican food every night, then do it. This just makes the planning easier.
Instead of dinner time being drudgery, I really look forward to cooking and serving my family. Now, it feels like such a creative outlet, and I feel so much happiness when people like what I cook.
**I HIGHLY suggest coming up with categories that fit your family, and...
Here are 150 family friendly meal ideas
(Many have links, but some do not. If you would like my recipe of that particular meal, email me.)
Comfort Food Monday:
Meatloaf Cupcakes by Six Sisters
Hot Dog Bar
Homemade Mac and Cheese Bar
Ravioli Lasagna
Chili and Cinnamon Rolls
Stuffed Meat Balls via The Food Nanny
Stroganoff
Tortellini Spinach Bake in Creamy Lemon Sauce by Our Best Bites
Chicken and Dumplings by Our Best Bites
Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches and Potato Salad
Taco Tuesday:(aka Mostly Mexican)
Sweet Pork Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw by Make it and Love it
Cowboy Quesedillas by Our Best Bites
Fruit Salsa, Cinnamon and Sugar Chips serve with Carne Asada
Taco Salad
Fajitas
Chicken Tortilla Soup by Our Best Bites
Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette by Our Best Bites
Huevos Rancheros {Mexican style Eggs} by Our Best Bites
Chicken Enchilada Ring by Food
Mexican Haystacks
Baked Tacos by Blog Chef
Chopped Taco Salad with Homemade Catalina Dressing by Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Mexican Bubble Pizza
Navajo Tacos
Nachos
Taquitos
Lots of Salsa and Chips Night
Lots of Salsa and Chips Night
White Chicken Chili
Wacky Wednesday (Quick Meals or Pasta):
The Yummiest Meatballs Ever over rice
Chicken Fingers (add steamed veggies and french bread)
Hamburgers
Spaghetti Pie
Ziti
Guiltless Alfredo Sauce and Fettuccine by Our Best Bites
Mulligan Stew
Kneaders Chicken Salad Sandwiches by Family Recipes
Cornbread Sloppy Joe Casserole by Six Sisters' Stuff
Apple Cinnamon Grilled Cheese by Our Best Bites
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Sloppy Joes
Suffed French Bread
Chicken Rolls
Peanut Butter Sandwich Bar (add honey, jelly, bananas, Nutella, Marshmallows, etc)
BLT Sandwiches
Veggie and Cheese Bagel by the Pioneer Woman
Healthy Thursday: Fish, Salad, Soup, or Asian:
Hawaiian Haystacks
Heavenly Salad with Homemade Ranch (add some grilled meat and whole wheat roll)
Bob Harper's Roasted Fish (add steamed veggies, a salad, and brown rice)
Shoyu Chicken over rice
Baked Potato Bar
Salad Bar
Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup (serve with bread sticks)
Antipasto Salad and Bread Sticks
Cobb Salad
Kung Pao Chicken by Allrecipes
Lettuce Wraps
Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken by Six Sisters Stuff
Thai Chicken Curry
Grilled Chicken & Strawberry Salad Wrap by the Pioneer Woman
Crab Cakes and Salad
Friday: Pizza Night
Homemade Pretzels (stuff with pepperoni and dip in pizza sauce)
French Bread Pizzas by the Pioneer Woman (amazing!)
Inside Outside Pizza
Lime Chicken and Corn Pizza by Design Love Fest
Bread Stick and Pizza Casserole by Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Papa Murphy's Copy-Cat Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza by Six Sisters
Barbecue Chicken Pizza by Food Network
Mexican Flatbread Pizza by the Pioneer Woman
Portobello Pizzas by Rachel Ray
My Favorite: Order in or Take Out
Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner
Chunky Monkey Pancakes by Our Best Bites
Crepes by Our Best Bites (The recipe I make the VERY MOST)
Chocolate Waffles
Blueberry Muffins
Breakfast Burritos
Belgian Liege Waffles (SOOO good! If you can't find pearl sugar, cut up sugar cubes)
Monkey Bread
French Toast
Gourmet Jiffy Muffins
Quiche
German Pancakes
Frittatas
Biscuits and Gravy
Scone Bar with Eggs and Sausage
Baked French Toast by the Pioneer Woman
Fruit Salad with Banana Bread or Zucchini Bread
French Toast Sticks
Slow Cooker Sunday or "Fun Food":
Fondue Night
Belt Buster Bread Dip add Grilled Chicken
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes by Make it and Love it (add some Turkey Roast)
Street Corn by Make it and Love it (add Grilled Steak or Chicken)
Poppy Seed Chicken, Strawberry Spinach Salad, and Green Beans
French Dip Sandwiches by Our Best Bites
Coconut Chicken with Apricot Sauce by Seeded at the Table {serve with rice}
Crock Pot Beef Stew by Butter with a Side of Bread
Chicken Cordon Bleu by Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Oven Baked Ribs by Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Twice Baked Potatoes and Grilled Meat
Funeral Potatoes and Ham
Roast Beef and Mashed Potatoes
Bruschetta by the Food Nanny (add some grilled meat)
Louisiana Style Braised Pork Loin by The Food Nanny
Sunday Beef Stew by Our Best Bites
Appetizer Potluck Night- everyone make your favorite
Salisbury Steak
Country Fried Steak
Brazilian Barbeque
How I plan menus: pick a meal from each category. Then write our menu for the week on the calendar.
Shop,
cook
and I'm done!
(Well, except for the clean up, and that's it's own bag of worms).
XO,
Nancy
Shop,
cook
and I'm done!
(Well, except for the clean up, and that's it's own bag of worms).
XO,
Nancy
Be sure to check out all of the other posts in our 31 Days of Feeding the Family Series
31 Days of Feeding the Family
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