What's For Dinner?

Some of my friends make fun of me for my "planning". 

It is ok - I know I am a tad bit OCD.  But I have four children and my husband and I both have commitments outside of our family.  Trying to keep everyone on schedule for school, sports, church, birthday parties, doctor's appointments, hair cuts, and more is a daunting task.

I have a few tricks up my sleeve.  The first is this:

My "Weekly Family Calendar" created in Microsoft Publisher by me for us.  In case you can't read it - each person has a block for every day of the week.  Across the bottom I have a block for meals and miscellaneous.  That is where I jot down special functions/birthdays, etc.

Another trick is this - every Sunday night, I sit down with the older two boys' school folders and plot out who has what test/quiz/project due, when library books are due, what days we have PE (to make sure they wear tennis shoes) vs. Music, who has soccer practice, etc.

After that I make a note of any other activities during the week. 

Then I plan our meals.  I look at what days I will be busy during the day.  For instance, I typically work at school every Thursday.  On those days,  I try to make sure I have something already made up (lasagna, soup to be heated, meal in the crock pot) so I do not walk in the door at 5 or 5:30 and have to try to cook.  On Wednesday evenings we typically have church so I try to allow for sandwiches, leftovers, etc. that can be fixed with ease.  The boys have to eat earlier than normal to get to church on time.

Once I have planned our meals, I make a grocery list and go either on Sunday evening or Monday.  I try to plan ahead for school requests, special menu items (like donations to take to church or school), etc.  This helps minimize multiple trips to the grocery store throughout the week.  I have found when I go several times, we spend more money overall on groceries.  I try to match coupons to the deals of the week at Kroger.

All this being said - this is the IDEAL process.  There are weeks it simply doesn't happen.

Once I know what I am fixing, I will often buy double quantity of food.  For example, last week I was baking a lasagna.  I chose to double all the portions and make a second lasagna.  It is now in our deep freeze as a back up meal for a family in need or for a week when I don't want to make it, but need a meal for us.

I did the same things yesterday with my beef enchiladas.  The second pan can be thawed overnight or stuck straight into the oven when needed.

I often do this with several dishes.  Here are some items I make double portions of and freeze on a regular basis:
chicken pot pie
chicken and stuffing casserole
enchiladas
baked spaghetti
lasagna
chili
homemade pizza
potato casserole
chicken divan
meatloaf
Calzones

If I am making the dish already, doubling the portions does not take any longer and I get a meal for later to freeze!

Eating meals together at home as a family is a HUGE priority for me.  At least six out of seven nights a week we sit down together as a family and eat dinner.  That is when we teach table manners, discuss school/work/home, learn about our kids' and their friends, relax and talk about the next day.  I think it is so important to have this and if it takes a little prep work for me on the front end to ensure it happens, so be it!


What are some things you do to ensure your family eats at home?  How do you plan for meals and grocery shopping each week?  Share your favorite recipes that can be doubled or prepared ahead!