Do you eat? I thought so...

    I know that in some circles, it is not trendy to plan a menu anymore. But I always want to ask those people, "Do you still eat?" Because, I'm guessing they do...And, I'm guessing they wish they had a plan for dinner more often, they just don't want to spend the time making the plan. And, even if they do make a plan, something always happens to mess it up, right?
    If any of that sounds familiar, or if you are one of those people who actually DOES plan a menu, then this little menu planner can help! Planning can save you lots of time, money, and stress, if you let it work for you. There are lots of different ways to use it, you don't have to plan a whole month at once, which is what people assume when they see it. It has little clear vinyl pockets to put your menu ideas in, so it is very easy to change, whether it is temporarily or longer term. You can even put one card in front of another, so you don't forget what was there if you want to go back to it. Plus it's just cute, what more could you want? The pattern comes with lots of ideas for different ways to plan a menu, (THIRTEEN to be exact!) as well as several recipes. You can plan as many days ahead as you'd like, then plan again when it runs out, or simply start back at the beginning. Most of eat the same things fairly regularly anyway.
    Here are the hardest and the easiest methods, for free :-) The hardest one is to plan the whole month, and color code different types of meals, such as chicken, so you can see at a glance if you are eating the same thing too often. Then you can also plan on combining steps, such as rice two days in a row and make a double batch, or other planned leftovers. That is for the hard core menu planner. :-)
   If that's not you, here is the easiest. Just write down everything your family actually ends up eating for a few weeks. This may be a little depressing, ha! But eventually you will have a list of things you like to cook and eat to go off of.
   Here are a few more ideas, that are not in the pattern, at least not yet! I'm out of room, I'd have to get creative...) Plan your menu based on what is already in the freezer, or the grocery ads, or by surfing Pinterest.
   There, I have given you permission to quilt and surf Pinterest, all in the name of cooking dinner! You're welcome :-)  The pattern may well be worth the price just for the menu planning ideas and recipes, but of course I hope you will actually make it and use it! And of course, share this blog post on Facebook, Pinterest, or elsewhere! You never know whose dinner time you might be saving :-)

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Winter Chickadees menu planner pattern, print or download form