You asked for it.....

OK, so...It looks like my LONG rambling post actually motivated and inspired people instead of boring them..HA! Who knew? I actually find myself quite boring!;) I have received so many emails and messages in the last day asking for more advice! One of the big ones was my meal plan. I will try to be as specific as I can. Here it goes...

For breakfast, lunch and snacks it's VERY simple! Since I run an in home daycare, I am required to meet certain standards (USDA) for all meals. This can be tricky since I have ALL picky eaters in my care, especially my own! We stick with very basic meals and I print the parents a menu that we use for anywhere from 2-4 weeks (depending on how the children are liking the meals) and I typically type of 4-6 at a time and then just rotate them. Below is the meals we are we are using now (I would have included the actual menu BUT I am not very computer smart and couldn't figure it out...OOPS;)...

      Warren Family Daycare Breakfast and Lunch Menu
Monday
Breakfast
Pancakes and Eggs
Lunch
Cheese Quesidilla and beans (A HUGE hit here)
Tuesday
Breakfast
Oatmeal w/ apples and raisins
Lunch
Chicken strips and potato wedges
Wednesday
Breakfast
Cereal and Toast
Lunch
Homemade Mac and cheese w/ carrots added
Thursday
Breakfast
French Toast Sticks
Lunch
PBandJ
Friday
Breakfast
Banana Bread
Lunch
Tacos (Cooking Activity

Here's another one
Warren Family Daycare Breakfast and Lunch Menu
Monday
Breakfast
Eggs, sausage and toast
Lunch
Ham and Cheese sandwich
Tuesday
Breakfast
Pancakes and fruit
Lunch
Cheese and apple quesidilla
Wednesday
Breakfast
Oatmeal w/ cinnamon and blueberries
Lunch
Spaghetti
Thursday
Breakfast
Banana or blueberry muffin and melon
Lunch
Chicken and Rice
Friday
Breakfast
Cereal and Fruit
Lunch
Personal Pizzas (Cooking Activity)
All meals include 2 fresh servings of fruits/vegetables and milk.

Wish those looked prettier on here but hey, like I said, I am NOT a computer person! The fact that I figured out how to start a blog is amazing in itself!;) Back to the menus...It really does help have a menu set. If you do (I know mine is extreme because I run a daycare) have the meals somewhat in place, your children will know what to expect and will not argue AS much!

NOW.....On to dinner. I do have a method!:) To be honest, I kind of slacked for a few weeks when Caiden was born because I eat super healthy so it was torture to get back on that healthy track after pregnancy (I may have splurged a little while pregnant) SO, my cooking yummy sometimes fattening food is not so easy when you then sit down and eat steamed vegetables every night. I LOVE to cook though, so I am getting back in gear!

First thing I do before starting a monthly menu is take inventory on what we still have. Our frozen food, canned food, spices, etc. Then I try to see what good coupons are circulating at the time. When you are feeding a large family like ours, coupons are the way to go! Especially since our girls are seriously bottomless pits! Whoever said only boys are that way was WRONG! Come to this house during dinner time! By using coupons I can splurge on the important things like, you know, CLOTHES!;)
Alright back to the subject..Once you have written out your inventory and checked for coupons then it's time to get down to business.:) I use a template in publisher to input meals (any calander system will work) I go through my tried and true recipes, new recipes and I also take into account our busy nights (like t ball night) and choose an easy recipe that you can put in the crock pot, have pre made and throw in the oven or if you have the magic pot from pampered chef there is a lot of 15 minute microwave recipes. That way you don't end up just grabing fast food on the way home because it's late.
         I find my recipes in a number of places. Cook books, recipes other friends post through facebook, search engines oh and here is one of my FAV siteshttp://thepioneerwoman.com/
After I compile my list of meals, I then go through every single one (including my breakfast and lunch menu) and break it down to all the ingredients I need. I have a template I use but if you just google free grocery list template, it will bring up a ton and you can print out the one that works best for you! Here is my April Dinner Menu, most meals are quick and easy and if you see a recipe that you want, please let me know and I will get it to you!

                                  

                              APRIL 2011

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
					1	2
						Pizza Night Salad
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
*Chicken Tortilla   Soup *cooked Tortillas	*Steak *Pasta *Steamed Broccoli *Salad	*Baked Chicken *Brown rice *Green Beans *Salad	*Tacos *Rice/Beans *Chips/salsa	*Spaghetti *Salad *Bread	*Glazed Salmon *Brown rice *Mixed veges *Spinach salad	Pizza Night Salad
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
*Crock Pot Roast *Baked Rice *Steamed Carrots *Salad	Chicken Casserole *Artichokes *Broiled Peaches *Breadsticks	Creamy mushroom  Lasagna w/ whole wheat noodles *Mixed salad *Bread	*Chicken parmigiana *Salad *Steamed veges	*Cheesy Crock pot chicken *Baked Rice *Steamed Brocolli, carrot, cauliflower	*Crock Pot Stroganoff *Baked Potato *Salad *Bread	Pizza Night Salad
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
*Spicy marinara spaghetti *Steamed squash and carrots *Salad *Baked bread	*Creamy mushroom Garlic Chicken *White rice *Asparagus *Salad	*5 minute abs Chicken stir fry recipe *Brown rice *(Pasta for kids) *Salad	Free choice (T ball practice)	*Chicken Spaghetti *Asparagus *Spinach salad *Fresh bread	*Marinated tri-tip *Easy cheesy scalloped potatoes *marinated green beans *Corn on the cob	Pizza Night Salad
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Easter Brunch	*Chicken Pot Pie Mixed stir fry veges Broiled Peaches Salad	*Chicken Tortellini Soup *Bread bowl Salad	*15 Minute Chicken Fajitas *Rice/Beans Chips/salsa	*Turkey burgers (handmade w/ veges&marinade) *homemade potato wedges *Salad	*Cream of mushroom pork chops *Baked cheese mashed potatoes *Baked Asparagus	Pizza Night Salad

 SO....My template is totally messed up and if I figure out how to shrink it right and make it look like it should, I promise I will fix it....YIKES I need someone to teach me how to do this stuff.:) PS....As you can see, Saturday is always our pizza night!! We typically go to church that night so after we like to pick up Papa Murphy's pizza and salad and have an easy fun family night!

THERE YOU HAVE IT! Easier than you thought hugh? Again, I wish I could have blogged the templates the way I use them and show you my grocery list. Also like I said, if any recipe sounds good, let me know and I will post it! I will also maybe start doing a once a week recipe post!

So, what is everyone else having for dinner tonight?