Getting More Time in My Day....

Husband and I have planned to menu plan for months, yet we never made it a priority.  Until now.  For the last three weeks, we have planned out our meals for the entire week.  I sit down on Sunday and write out our schedule for the week.  Using this, we then plan our menu.  I look at crock pot meals, cooking from things I have frozen, and utilizing leftovers.  This week, we cooked full meals on Monday and Tuesday.  We used Monday's leftovers for lunches on Tuesday and are eating Tuesday's leftovers for dinner tonight.  By planning a leftover night, we have less waste.  Menu planning on its own has not given me a ton more time.  It has given me less stress when I get home from work and less last minute trips to the grocery store.

The other thing that has given me more time is preparing meals the night before.  So, on Sunday night, Husband created the casserole we were eating on Monday night.  When I got home, I added shredded cheese and threw it in the oven.  Done!!!  On Monday night, we put all of the dry ingredients into the crock pot, mixed the wet ingredients and placed them in the fridge.  Monday morning, we added the wet stuff to the dry ingredients and pushed Low. 

By preparing the meals the night before, when my little ones are in bed, I am giving them time before dinner.  Instead of them asking me to play with them and me saying, "I am making dinner", I get to say, "Sure."  We are also freeing up time and energy to try new things.  This week I made two additional snacks, where I usually don't get to that until Sunday.  On Monday, I made homemade granola.  It took less than 30 minutes, including cook time.  Tuesday night, I made homemade soft pretzels.  Everyone loved them and I will be making more tonight.  Before menu planning, I wouldn't think to cook or bake after dinner.  Now, I am looking for recipes to try out. 

The stress of finding something for dinner is gone.  Since we keep Kosher, we cannot drive through a fast food restaurant to grab dinner, and we are eating healthier.  It does require more planning on our part and a stash of quick foods to make!