Tackle it Tuesday – Menu Plan
In these financially stricken times, we need to tighten our belts and plan ahead. One way to get to grips with dwindling money supplies, is to stock up, stand up and design a fool proof menu plan for the week ahead. This should prevent marketing mishaps in the store.
The easy bit is to make the plan.
The difficult bit is sticking to the plan.
One way to stick to your plan, is to publicize it by sticking it somewhere prominent, such as the fridge door, either written in stone or alternatively on a disposable, wipe sheets with magic markers. Magic markers ensure that everyone is briefed in advance, but if you accidentally find that you have scoffed all the potato salad whilst the children are at school, you can easily substitute 'green' or 'rice' salad and no-one will be any the wiser.
You of course will be much wiser, but possibly penny foolish. As the pounds pile on together with the potato consumption, you may well find that you may benefit from shedding a few surplus purchases from your weekly shop. I make it a habit to check my receipt at the check out. If any item cost’s more than $10, then I make a mental note to refrain from buying that item ever again. This is why we currently out of toilet rolls.
Ideally you should plan to shop immediately after consuming the potato salad. Make sure that you visit a shop with a restroom, so that you may take advantage of their copious supplies of toilet paper.
Psychological studies have shown that a shopper with a full tummy is much less inclined to shop under impulsive, although possibly under the influence. Other studies have shown that if you are full of potato salad, there is a much higher incidence of tummy cramps, which is directly related to one's ability to push a trolly ladened with groceries. Further studies indicate that these same shoppers are far more likely than not, to be 'basket' users, if not basket cases. Basket cases usually restrict their purchasing power to one sack of potatoes, so that they are better able to repeat their mistakes and go completely off their trollies.
Hence, these few little steps may assist, the props and prompts of menu planning.
1. 
2.
For the details use an Expo.
3.
Sometimes it is possible to be extra sneaky and slip in some therapy on the side.
Although this kind of a challenge is not for the faint hearted. Be careful to ensure that nose pegs are freely available for all participants.
4. Under the current democratic rule, everyone is encouraged to take responsibility.
When you consume the last item in the box, add to the shopping list. Be independent! Take full responsibility as a participating member in the clan.
5.
Colour co-ordination may help with eye tracking to deliniate different ‘parts’ of the meal.
There are a great number of fringe benefits to this system. First and foremost, the numerous enquiries from every living breathing member of your household:-
This is swiftly dealt with by directing their attention to the plan. This is especiallly helpful if you exist in a swarm of butterfly brains who forget the answer only seconds later, only to then repeat the same question at 20 minute intervals thereafter.
Beware of self expression!
and editing!
It is important to clarify the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs.’
I am now off to formulate plan B.
Maybe I should have done that first?
Cheers dears
Cut and paste
from this little
boxy thing below
September 30th, 2008 at 2:10 am
You’ve got WAY too much time on your hands Maddy, lol!
September 30th, 2008 at 2:45 am
I never thought about the self-sticking dry erase thingee – excellent idea. We usually put our menu on the back of the shopping list and then promptly lose it when the list gets tossed.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I’ve tried the menu planning thing, but it always fails. I guess because it’s written in a notebook & not made public. Maybe I’ll try that.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:26 am
i do my star chart on the dry erase board in my kitchen, stars for good behavior, x’s for bad
September 30th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Awesome. I post each nights meal (from my main meu plan) on a white ceramic dinnerplate. I keep it on the counter of dinner table.
I love menu planning. It does save money and time. It also helps to keep one focused while grocery shopping.
My dinnerplate menu an be seen in my Tackle this week. I hope that you’ll stop by to visit.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:21 am
I love how you got your children involved.
I love the dry erase idea for the menu and shopping list, too! I use a grocery list under a sheet protector and I use a china marker on it. I think I will put it up on the fridge so people can add to it instead of my normal paper on the fridge and then transferring. 
September 30th, 2008 at 7:23 am
What abolutely fabulous advice! Never taken in this house of course but in theory..
CJ xx
September 30th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Fabulous! And I love how involved everyone is. Especially with the editing!
I do, however, find it unsettling that the “blueberry” expo is orange. That’s going to bother me all day!
September 30th, 2008 at 8:01 am
What a great tackle!! I am in awe of people who menu plan. I can’t seem to stick to it.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Great idea. Thanks for the reminder and inspirational photos. When I menu plan I save a ton at the store. I always have a tentative plan in my head but getting it on paper (or the dry erase board) makes a huge difference.
I have two blog post this Tuesday. Photos of our typical morning on my personal blog at http://heartofwisdom.com/heartathome and an explanation of changes we are making at my homeschool blog
http://heartofwisdom.com/blog
September 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I have tried menu planning in the past. But I have a problem with not wanting to eat on Friday what I planned on Sunday.
Love the editing picture!
September 30th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Love those handwriting sheets that stick. Where’d you get them?
September 30th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Wip Creem!!!
LMAO!!!!
Love the editing!
Love,
Suzy
September 30th, 2008 at 11:57 am
hee hee!
September 30th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Great tips.
September 30th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
1) I love the thing about anything $10 or more- that’d completely rule out shopping at Costco and I’d have a lot more money in my bank account (gotta love ATM checkout….)
2) The comment about shopping with a full stomach and access to bathrooms… HA! But have you ever tried to find the bathrooms at some of these grocery stores??? A couple of them up front near checkout but then others have them all the way far in the back hidden.. Real fun to find with either of my kids who have tummy issues screaming that POOP IS COMING OUT!
and this is why I really try to shop alone, doesn’t usually happen that way!
September 30th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Wow, I love those boards. That is a great idea that my kids would really get into. Thanks for sharing!
September 30th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
love love love the needs!
September 30th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I have list envy! Your kids eat bok choy and ratatouille? You don’t have to threaten waterboarding them first?
September 30th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
FriDge benefits all the way to the coc PUD.
October 1st, 2008 at 7:34 am
I am a serious underachiever when it comes to menu planning. I generally wander aimlessly around the kitchen and then open a can of something!
October 1st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I love this! thanks for the laugh. I am suddenly craving some wip creem myself. Yummm.