Will I waste my time making a menu?

Let's talk about menus.  Some people are really good at coming up with meal ideas.  They make a variety of meals and are very creative.  I have not always done very well at that.  In fact, one of my biggest annoyances is trying to come up with a dinner idea.  I do believe I have even used the word "hate" in reference to coming up with dinner ideas.  Gasp! It got to the point that when someone asked me, "What's for dinner?" I would get quite annoyed.  Sigh. Not the best response. 

Over the years I have gone back and forth with using a menu and not using one.  My conclusion...I spend WAY too much money when I don't use a menu. Plus, when I spend the time to create one I reduce my stress...and I don't have to answer that pesky little question anymore.  So...

What kind of menu do you use?  

-Menu Cards: At one point I had a stack of menu cards. They were index cards that I cut in half. Each card had a meal on it.  I would sort through these cards every other week and choose the meals I would make.  That worked for a while, but then I got bored.  What I didn't realize is that I needed more variety.  With variety this idea can work.

-Meal Idea list: It's a fabulous idea to have a list of the meals that your family enjoys.  I used to have a list on my cork board that was hanging in the laundry room.  Why the laundry room? I didn't want the paper clutter in the kitchen. You could hang the lists and recipes on the inside of a cabinet door.  Or put your list and recipes into a binder with your cook books.  The list helped me with variety.  I don't have it on paper now, but I have a running list in my notes app on my phone.  That way, no matter where I am, I can always add to the list when I think of something.  

-Calendar menu: You can purchase a planner to write your menu in or a wall calendar would work too. It's handy to have where the entire family can see it. You can also print free blank calendars from the internet. I found a chalk board calendar at Walmart that I was going to use for a family calendar.  It sat on my dresser for weeks before I decided I wanted to use it for a menu/meal calendar instead.  I used command strips and stuck it on the front of the stainless refrigerator.  It came with a chalk pencil and it has a little tray for the pencil in the frame.  

At first I was writing in a meal for every night except one.  After a few weeks we realized that we needed to have nights designated for left overs.  Otherwise the fridge is busting at the seams with left over food.  And then the food goes bad.  And I hate wasting food.  

Yesterday I filled out the calendar with a little help from my husband.  I purposely left 3 days a week blank.  If we don't make a meal one day I circle it so that I know that I can use that meal later. Some days we end up with no time to make dinner and everyone eats left overs, cereal, toast or nachos. I circle the meal or write it else where. Once the meal is used I put a line through it.  

Once I get the month's menu filled out I start a grocery list.  I check to see what ingredients we already have on hand and which ones we need.  I make sure to put snacks, fruits, veggies and other necessities on the list as well.  I also have some foods that come on a Subscribe & Save shipment each month from Amazon.  A couple of the meals this month require chicken broth.  I was starting to fret about the fact that the shipment won't come until the 1st of the month and my husband suggested we swap a couple meals around so that the meal requiring the broth would be made after the delivery.  I had a "DUH" moment! Hahaha! I'm not sure why I didn't think of that, but he reminded me to simplify.  Todd to the rescue! 

When I plan ahead and take the time to create a menu and a detailed list of items needed I save my family hundreds of dollars each month.  Yes, you read that right.  Hundreds.  But remember...we have 8 people to feed.  No matter your family size you will save money by creating a menu and following it. 

I also remind my kids that the food I buy has to last for a month...except for milk, eggs, cheese, bread, and fresh fruit and veggies.  And when they're gone, they're gone.  They won't get more until the next month. If I buy 10 bags of chips, which I don't, they would eat every one of them just because they are in the house.  I buy 2 boxes of regular chocolate chip granola bars at the local whole sale club.  That's 120 bars for the month.  If I purchased more boxes they would eat them all, but there are plenty of them for the month when I buy just 2 boxes.    

We've also found a way to use the calendar to mark the dates that my husband works. I write a small "w" in the bottom corner for "work". This way we can have the meals that he enjoys on the nights that he will be home, and make the meals he is less fond of on the nights that he works.  

So, no, making a menu isn't a waste of your time.  Time is money.  And you'll save a bunch my writing out and sticking to a menu. What are your favorite meals?

#menu

#mealcalendar

#mealcards

#mealidealist

#savingmoney

#reducestress

Stress reducers and relaxation

Everyone is being bombarded with all kinds of stress in their lives.  Too many bills, not enough income.  Food costs too much.  Tragedies occur. Car repairs.  Dental bill.  Things come up that we weren't expecting.  No matter the stress causers in my life, I have had to come up with stress reducers to help me cope.  Without which...I might be...admitted to an institution...

 I am deficient in magnesium when I don't supplement because my body does not like to absorb it well.  Therefore, I take magnesium  along with my multi-vitamin on a daily basis.  Magnesium deficiency can cause many symptoms.  Here is a website that explains it well.  I have anxieties as well and have found that taking a daily dose of a good form of magnesium is very helpful in reducing my stress and anxiety.

I recently heard about the book called The Miracle Ball Method from my sister-in-law.  I tried out a couple of the exercises in the book while we were visiting them.  I was amazed at how relaxed I felt after I completed it.  It may not work for everyone, but it could be something that truly helps you.  This book also contains helpful information about deep breathing.

One of my good doctors, whom I respect, taught me how to use deep breathing to help reduce my anxieties.  It is wonderful!  If you can MAKE the time to do it, it can help you feel very relaxed.  Below is more info about deep breathing.

Quote about deep breathing:

Have you ever noticed how you breathe when you feel relaxed? The next time you are relaxed, take a moment to notice how your body feels. Or think about how you breathe when you first wake up in the morning or just before you fall asleep. Breathing exercises can help you relax, because they make your body feel like it does when you are already relaxed.

Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.¹

Key points

• The way you breathe affects your whole body. Breathing exercises are a good way to relax, reduce tension, and relieve stress.
• Breathing exercises are easy to learn. You can do them whenever you want, and you don't need any special tools or equipment to do them.
• You can do different exercises to see which work best for you.

For more info about deep breathing go here. Another set of instructions are posted here.

If you are the scripture reading and praying type of person, then here is an idea for you.  I can't take credit for it. I got the idea from a dear friend a few years ago.  She said that if you "book end" your day with scripture reading, it will make a huge difference!  And she is right!  I am not good at keeping up the practice all the time, but when things get really crazy, I start reading once in the morning and once at night.  Along with that, make sure you are having your morning and evening prayers.  

Another idea...get a notebook and before going to bed write down everything that is running through your mind.  Keep the notebook and pen or pencil handy so that if you wake up and can't shut off your mind you can write down what you are thinking about.  This will help you to clear your mind; shut off the chaos, and go to sleep.  

Now...go find what works for you, get relaxed, and find you Zen place.