Meal Planning Made Easy

It's that time of the day again. It's almost six o'clock, you've been busy all day, the kids are rambunctious, and everyone's tired and hungry. There you stand in the kitchen, searching through your barren fridge and sparse pantry for something - anything - to have for dinner. Two-day old pizza? Saltine crackers with ketchup? How about a big bowl of cereal? No, those won't do. The next thing you know, you're scanning the take-out menus. And after you call in your order, you'll wait another 30-60 minutes for the food to arrive. Plus, you'll pay big bucks for the privilege and the not-so-healthy food.

Or maybe you'll stop at your local fast food or pizza place on the way home again. It's a quick fix, but aren't you getting tired of the expense and the unsatisfying food?

OK, so you're tired of the last-minute scramble for dinner. But what's a busy mom to do? Simple. Just remember this (sometimes dreaded) four-letter word: PLAN.

Now you might be thinking, "I don't have time for that!" But meal-planning doesn't have to be difficult or time-consuming. Spending a few minutes per week planning ahead can save you hours of time and aggravation over the next seven days. You'll also save big money by avoiding several nights of take-outs.

The key is to keep your family meal plan simple and flexible. Here are 8 ways to make dinner time at your house easy, enjoyable, and stress-free.

1. Ask for suggestions from the family. Who says mom has to come up with all the meal ideas? Let the kids and the hubs in on the game, too. Have each family member vote on their favorite suppers and write them down on a list. You'll be surprised at some of the original ideas they'll suggest. My own son has always loved "breakfast for dinner" - omelets with toast or bagels, or perhaps pancakes and ham. Throw in some fresh fruit, and he's a happy camper. My husband loves what he calls a "Mediterranean plate" - salad greens, tomatoes, tuna or anchovies, hummus, feta or provolone cheese, olives, nuts, fresh fruit, and whole-grain bread or crackers.

2. Create a menu / recipe library. We all have favorite meals that we like to eat over and over again. Likewise, when you try a new recipe, and the family likes it, you'll probably want to make it again. But rather than trying to remember the name of the recipe, and where it's located (in one of your cookbooks or on one of the many Internet recipe sites), create one central filing system for all of them. Some suggestions: an accordion-style pocket folder, divided into sections; a small file box with index cards; hanging file folders in a file drawer (if you have a desk in or near your kitchen); or even an electronic file system on the desktop of your computer.

3. Make a list and shop in advance. Nothing is more frustrating than starting to prepare a meal, only to realize halfway through preparing it that you are completely out of one or more key ingredients! Using your family-suggestion list and recipe library for ideas, you can jot down the ingredients you'll need for your weekly shopping list. Then everything you'll need for each meal will be at your fingertips. No last minute trips to the store.

4. Create a typical weekly menu template. One mom I know makes chicken or turkey every Monday and Wednesday, fish or seafood on Tuesdays and Thursdays, pasta on Saturday, and red meat on Sunday. On Fridays they take home pizza. Although the specifics vary from week to week, the general pattern simplifies meal planning, gives her a head-start on creating the grocery list, and lets her family know what to expect.

5. Search the Internet for new recipes and meal ideas. Let's face it. After a while, we all get tired of the same-old, same-old. To shake things up a bit, why not try something new once or twice a month? Recipes and meal ideas abound on the net. Check out some of my favorite recipe sites: www.southernfood.about.com, www.allrecipes.com, www.bettycrocker.com, and www.kraftfoods.com. For ethnic cuisine, do an Internet search on the specific type of foods, such as "Asian recipes" or "German recipes." Pressed for time? Let the kids get involved. They probably won't mind spending time on the computer, and you'll encourage them to try new foods.

6. Stock up on staples so you can be flexible. Sometimes plans change and that calls for a last-minute switch in the dinner menu. So stock up on the stuff you know you'll use over and over again. In my house, I always keep these items on hand: canned tomatoes and beans, canned mushrooms and olives, olive oil, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, chicken broth, pasta and egg noodles, pasta sauce, tortillas or wraps, potatoes, celery, carrots, onions, garlic and several varieties of shredded cheese. I also keep ground sirloin, boneless chicken breast, bread and sandwich rolls in the freezer. In a pinch, I know I can always whip up a quick supper of pasta, chicken or bean burritos, or hamburgers, because everything I need is in my pantry, refrigerator, or freezer.

7. Prepare once, eat twice. Several meals are just as great the second time around. Roast a chicken on Sunday, have chicken quesadillas or chicken salad on Monday. Have hot roast beef on Wednesday, and cold roast beef sandwiches on Thursday. Poach or bake salmon on Friday, and add some cold salmon in your salad on Saturday. Make a large tossed salad on Saturday, and eat the other half with dinner on Sunday. Plan the second night's dinner for those days when kids' activities require a quick meal, or when know you'll get home late and will need something fast and easy.

8. Create a heat-and-eat stash in your freezer. Some days the cooking bug gets you, or you have a bit more time to prepare some of your favorite comfort food. As long as you're making that pot of chicken soup or chili, make a double batch and freeze half. Do the same with baked ziti, meatballs, mac and cheese, chicken Parmesan, or your favorite casserole. Presto! Now you have several last-minute, no-hassle meals for those days when your nerves are frazzled, your energy is drained, and everyone's asking, "What's for dinner?"

Planning meals in advance - and having a food stash for those inevitable times when things don't go as planned - can make dinner time a lot less stressful and more enjoyable for the whole family. Who knows? Your local take-out restaurants and delivery drivers might even think you've moved out of the neighborhood.