Autumn Meal Plan

So, this is my version of meal planning. A lot of moms I've talked to have told me it's a great idea (maybe they were just being polite? Decide for yourself!) It's been working for me for about a year and a half, so maybe it'll be able to help you too. :) If you're looking for help in this area, anyway.

Basically, it's a lot of work up front, and then pretty much no work ever again. At least that's what I tell myself. I come up with 28 seasonal meals (summer is full of farmer's market produce and BBQ's, fall is full of squash and casseroles, etc.) and then plot them out on a four week calendar. (it's okay to have a few repeats of favorites.) Then I just rotate through those four weeks about three times, lasting an entire season. This way, I actually "meal plan" only once for each season. Each week, I write the planned menu on a white board on the fridge, and if there's a new recipe I want to try I can swap it out for a day. Or if on tuesday I'd rather make thursday's dinner, that's fine too. Switch it up. Over the past year and a half, I've also filled in breakfast, snack, and lunch ideas so that I'm not constantly wondering what to make for my kid all day long. It adds some variety. I stick to these far less than the dinner plans, but I like having them available like a little security blanket.

All that being said, here is my newly revised Autumn Meal Plan. (I like the word "autumn" more than the word "fall." Does that make me weird?)

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Brkfst	oatmeal	Pancakes & banana	Cereal	Toast & eggs	Banana, oatmeal	Scones	Veggie & cheese omelet
AM	Crackers @ church	Yogurt & blueberries	yogurt	banana	yogurt	banana	Yogurt & peaches
Lunch	Spaghetti, broccoli, Orange segments	Rice & lentils, steamed carrots	Chicken & black bean quesadilla, Applesauce, squash	Fish sticks Orange segments Peas	Cheese sandwich, sweet potato	Tomato soup, green beans, pears	Left overs
PM	Kefir smoothie	Cheese cubes	O’s	Kefir smoothie	apricots, peas	yogurt	String cheese
Dinner	Saute’ed beet greens & stems w/ white beans, bread	Garlic salmon, rice pilaf, broccoli	Ratatouille with savory crepes	Classy chicken w/ zucchini pasta or spaghetti squash, bread	curry rice & kidney beans, sweet corn	pizza	Enchiladas, Sweet potatoes
dessert							Baked apples
Brkfst	oatmeal	Pancakes & bananas	Cereal	Breakfast burrito	Berries, oatmeal	Bagels & cream cheese	German pancakes
AM	Crackers @ church	yogurt	Cinnamon applesauce	Apple	Yogurt	banana	Yogurt & plums
Lunch	PB&J, apple, green beans	Rice & lentils, steamed carrots, pears	Beets & tofu	Quesadilla	Turkey sandwich, pears	Minestrone	Left overs
PM	Kefir smoothie	Cheese & rice crackers	O’s , peaches	Kefir smoothie	O’s & string cheese	Peaches & yogurt	banana
Dinner	Chicken makhani, sweet corn & onion rice, saute’d carrots	maple salmon, quinoa, artichoke or acorn squash	Veg chili with baked potatoes or corn bread & sweet potato	Skillet ziti with chicken & broccoli	Spanish rice bake, zucchini	pizza	Butternut squash risotto
dessert							Poached pears
Brkfst	oatmeal	Pancakes & blueberries	Cereal	Omelet	Banana & oatmeal	Muffins, blueberries	Waffles, banana
AM	Crackers @ church	Yogurt	yogurt	applesauce	yogurt	yogurt	yogurt
Lunch	quesadilla	Ravioli, lima beans	Ham sandwich, sweet potato	Hummus & pita, steamed carrots	Beets & tofu, milk	Chicken noodle soup, peas, plums, milk	Sweet potato burritos
PM	Kefir smoothie	String cheese	avocado	Kefir smoothie	O’s, apricots	Cheese cubes, rice cracker	String cheese
Dinner	Tofu parmesean, fresh pasta, green beans	Teriyaki salmon, stir fry veg, rice	Creamy chicken tortilla soup, salad	Pumpkin ravioli or lasagna, roasted Brussels sprouts	thai fried rice w/ shrimp & chicken, broccoli	Pizza	Spaghetti broccoli
dessert							Apples in a blanket
Brkfst	oatmeal	Pancakes, banana	Cereal	Egg English muffin blueberries	banana & oatmeal	Bagel & cream cheese	German pancakes
am	Crackers @ church	yogurt	yogurt	apple	yogurt	yogurt	yogurt
Lunch	mac & squeeze, broccoli, grapes	Rice & coconut lentils, steamed carrots, pears	Tuna sandwich, Cheese cubes	Caesar salad with steak & tortellini pears	Beets & tofu, Peaches	Tortilla soup, avocado	Left overs
PM	Kefir smoothie	O‘s, string cheese	Cracker, peaches	Kefir smoothie	String cheese, O’s	Steamed peas & carrots	String cheese
Dinner	Penne russo ala vodka, salad, bread	Pan seared steaks with saute’d mushrooms (save ½ for Wed lunch), mashed potato, broccoli	tilapia with coconut curry, rice, squash, green beans	white bean & spinach soup, bread	Chicken Tetrazini, rolls, peas	pizza	Chicken teriyaki, stir fry veg, rice
dessert							Sweedish apple pie

I also have many of the recipes on the bottom of the page for easy reference. Dinner made easy!