Photograph Credit: Flickr (Amy E. Bivins)
Oh, no, did I lose you already by using the words: menu planning?
If you are envisioning a page of columns with the days of the week covered in detailed descriptions of masterpieces to create, then I would be disheartened as well.
If your expectations are too high to obtain, then you will be discouraged before you have a chance to begin.
The Menu Planning Tool
Before tackling the “how to” of menu planning, let’s put this tool into perspective. Yes, a menu plan is a tool. Can a tool be frustrating? Oh, yeah! Let’s consider a basic tool: a screwdriver.
When I need to change the batteries of a toy with a back compartment, I will need a tool to assist me. In my husband’s tool box is a plethora of tools at my disposal. However, a screwdriver is the best tool to accomplish this job.
Though I have narrowed down the tool I need, I still have lots of options. Not knowing which one is best, I choose a flat-head screwdriver. When I attempt to remove the Phillips-head screw, I am met with disappointment and total frustration since the screw won’t come out. Is it the screwdriver’s fault that I cannot extract the screw? Well, of course, not. I am using the wrong type of tool. I will still need a screwdriver, but I need a different type: a Phillips-head. When I get the Phillips-head screwdriver and use it properly, the screw easily comes out.
From this illustration, the tool was not the problem. The problem was finding the right type of tool to offer assistance rather than frustration.
The Types of Menu Planning Tools
If the thought of planning a month’s worth of menus is overwhelming, then consider another type of plan. You could use a daily plan, weekly plan, or bi-weekly plan. If you need a template for the weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly menu plans, try these options from Vertex 42.
Try a daily plan. If it works, then stick with it. If you would rather work a little more in advance, then try the weekly plan. Keep trying until you find the right type of menu plan that works for you.
By using the best type of tool to meet your needs, you can accomplish your goal of menu planning without frustration. Menu planning does not need to be complex with every meal and snack itemized. You don’t have to plan a month in advance or even a week in advance. The menu plan is a tool to help you use your time wisely.