Are you a list maker?
I am an incessant list maker. My lists tell me who to call, where to go, what to do, to buy, to pack, to make, and to think. I guess my brain is just too small to hold it all.
The best lists I make are the hardest ones to come up with. I guess I'm just not a decision maker, but making a week's menu and corresponding grocery list take me at least an hour. I have to take into account
I am an incessant list maker. My lists tell me who to call, where to go, what to do, to buy, to pack, to make, and to think. I guess my brain is just too small to hold it all.
The best lists I make are the hardest ones to come up with. I guess I'm just not a decision maker, but making a week's menu and corresponding grocery list take me at least an hour. I have to take into account
- who will be eating
- what they can eat
- what time they need to eat
- what's on sale
- what I still have on hand
- how much time I'll have to make it
- how many will be eating
- would it work for reheating for lunches the next day
- is there enough variety?
- is there the right nutrition?
And most important:
- does it sound good to me?
One thing I've noticed--I hardly ever do a whole week's menu as I planned it. Seems like something always comes up to change things, I wasn't able to get an essential ingredient, there were so many leftovers I decide to do something with them, our non-resident vegetarian comes for a meal so I switch things up, or something.
Here's a recent menu of main meals I labored over for well over an hour--and the changes I ended up making: (I start on Wednesday because that's the day I do my grocery shopping.)
Wednesday - Salmon, baked potatoes, green beans
Thursday - Mexican skillet rice, salad
Friday - Hot turkey sandwiches, coleslaw; Jim and I were alone so we had a shared steak, baked potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli and sweet peppers
Saturday - (our oldest son, his wife and their baby are here for the weekend)
lunch: hamburgers, broccoli salad, potato wedges; fan potatoes
supper: pasta with white sauce, salad; bruchetta (breakfast and lunch were late so we just needed a snack before going to a play)
Sunday - (Jim's away, but his parents join us for the midday "dinner")
dinner: curried fish, rice, carrot salad, left over broccoli salad
supper: bruchetta; toasted cheese sandwiches
Monday - Cranberry Chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans stir fried with sweet peppers and mushrooms
Tuesday - Pizza Meatloaf, broccoli, potatoes
Is it worth the work I put into this? In a word, YES!
Every day instead of thinking "What on earth can I make for dinner?" I just look at the list stuck to my fridge with a magnet and say, "Oh, I have everything for that! I'll get the chicken/meat out of the freezer now."
So in spite of the effort it costs me, it's something I recommend. And maybe you are one of those lucky people who doesn't have so much trouble making decisions!