Menu Plan Monday

Trying to cook for my family every week is hard.

As a working mom it's hard to find time to:

1. Pick up the kids

2. Get them home and in the door

3. Figure out what to cook

4. Prep everything (with a fussy toddler on my hip)

5. Actually make dinner

6. Get everyone together to the table
7. Be lucky enough to have made something everyone will eat

Now don't get me wrong.  I've tried many times.

And it usually ends up with the kids getting to bed at around 11:00.

Not ideal.

Then one day I decided to plan out my entire menu for the week.

This turned out to be one of the best ideas I've ever had.
Evidently I'm not alone in this - check out all these other geniuses who do the same thing!

Now every Sunday I put together my menus and then make my grocery list.

(Bonus - I don't usually have a lot of wasted groceries at the end of the week and my bill is actually less)

When I get home from the grocery store I prep as much as I possibly can for the week's meals.

-Wash and cut/chop produce

-Pound out chicken

-Prepare marinades

I've found that now, coming home and making dinner isn't that bad.

And I actually enjoy it most nights.

Another bonus is that if I'm running late, everything is ready so Marcus can start cooking.
That's right ladies, my husband cooks!

Here's my menu for this week:

Monday - Tacos with Spanish Rice

Tuesday - Blackened Salmon, Broccoli, Sauted Squash with Onions

Wednesday - Key Lime Chicken, Asparagus, Wild Rice

Thursday - Dinner at my parent's house

Friday - Leftovers/Takeout

Saturday - No plans yet :(

Sunday - Smoked Pork Chops, Green Chili Mac and Cheese, Salad