Menu Planning--Making a menu list

January--the start of the new year. How are your New Year's resolutions coming? Is menu planning one of your goals? If not, maybe you should add it. I heard a good piece of advice one time. It went something like this "never leave your house in the morning without putting in a load of laundry, picking up the house, or knowing what you are having for dinner." We are going to focus on knowing what you are having for dinner.

Do you have a menu plan? If not you can make one really easy. The first thing you need to do to start a menu plan is to write down a list of things your family likes to have for dinner (or any other meal, we are focusing on dinner). It only takes a few minutes because if you are like most families you have your favorites. You know, the things you cook all the time. This might include pizza or tacos or spaghetti. Get your family involved and ask for what they would like to add to the list. I think it will surprise you at how many things you can come up with. I sat down for a minute and listed our family favorites and came up with 65 things and I keep thinking of others that I can add. My husband has celiac disease which means he cannot eat things that contain gluten (wheat, barley, rye). It is somewhat challenging to cook for him but all of my menu items can be adapted to gluten free cooking. I will add a link to my menu list so you can get the idea. This is the first step in menu planning. As a first step in menu planning, make your list and then we can add ideas on how to actually adapt your list to an actual menu plan in upcoming posts!! How easy is that?

DINNER IDEAS

CHICKEN
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Ranch Chicken
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Apricot Chicken
Red Flame Chicken
Spicy Chicken Alfredo
Fiesta Lime Chicken
Chicken Salsa Wraps
Sweet Mexican Chicken
Chinese Chicken Salad
Stir Fry
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Stroganoff
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Chicken Pot Pie
Swiss Chicken
Lon’s Chicken
Chicken Enchiladas
White Chicken Chili
Chicken Rice Bowls
Whole Chicken
Honey Sesame Chicken
Chicken and Broccoli

BEEF
Spaghetti
Spareribs
Tacos
Lasagne
Stroganoff
Beef Roast
Pot Roast
Hungarian Beef
Saucepot Meatballs
Nadine’s Meatballs
Hamburgers
Red Swiss Steak
Mushroom Swiss Steak
London Broil
Steak
Tostadas
Beef Enchiladas
Nacho’s Grande
French Dip
Chili

PORK
Spareribs
Cranberry Pork Roast
Café Rio Pork
Chicken Licken Pork Chop
Red Pork Chops
Pork chops and Potatoes
Pork Roast
Sweet and Sour Pork

OTHER
BBQ Turkey
Pizza
Breakfast for dinner
Creamy Potato Soup
Cheese Soup
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Salmon
Talapia