Any tips for meal planning for a family?

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Any tips for meal planning for a family?

Postby Alycia 123 » Sat Aug 14, 2021 5:15 am

Any tips for meal planning for a family ?
Do you create a weekly meal plan ?
Alycia 123
 
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Re: Any tips for meal planning for a family?

Postby michaelswarm » Sat Aug 14, 2021 11:09 am

I cook for family of 5, including kids 5, 7 and 8.

Prepare foods the family enjoys.
Keep ingredients simple, and allow family to customize with sauces and condiments.

We have rough routine that repeats weekly.
Breakfast is oatmeal, pancakes, toast or cereal.
Lunch is leftovers.
Dinner depends on day of the week.

Here is my example. Of course, every family will have different favorites depending on ethnicity and tastes.
M: beans
T: shepherds pie
W: sushi
Th: bread
F: soup
Sa: pizza
Su: special

Bean day is pot of whole beans, typically make bean tacos, but could be tostadas, chili, etc. Extra beans are frozen.
When I make shepherds pie, I also make simple mashed potatoes for kids.
Sushi is cucumber and carrot, with optional green onion, chili or avocado,
Loaf of bread used through the week for sandwiches, toast, etc. Sometimes kids make their own bread shapes.
Soup is split pea, minestrone or tomato.
Pizza is whole wheat crust, and kids can decorate any way they want.

Routine is only guideline. Wednesday used to be spinach curry and baked tofu, and now it’s vegetable sushi. I might make a pot of beans as soon as the previous batch is gone. I might make bread rolls or a fancy loaf of bread at any time. I’m always making rice, which goes into burgers, loafs, curries, etc. Sauces are also made depending on main dish. I make batch of marinara with fresh tomatoes soon after shopping day. I make fresh salsa every couple of days.

I think in terms of making a main starch and sauce daily. For example, today I’m preparing whole wheat dough, and marinara sauce. (Will use thawed sauce from last week. The new sauce will cool and go in freezer.)

Make the food taste good, and find dishes most everyone enjoys.
Keep leftovers and extras in refrigerator-freezer.
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Re: Any tips for meal planning for a family?

Postby Alycia 123 » Sat Aug 14, 2021 3:17 pm

Thanks Michael
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Posts: 102
Joined: Wed May 08, 2019 6:34 pm


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