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Creative Meal Planning

Posted by tricia on 10.02.09 | No Comments Short Link: http://onceamonthmom.com/?p=3920  Print This Post

Does the phrase ‘meal planning’ drive shivers down your spine?
Do you have the best of intentions to save money by eating at home, but never follow through?

I’m assuming since you are a fan of Once a Month Mom, as I am, this is a reality.

 Providing meals for a family of seven, with three greatly growing boys, consists of a huge part of my family manager title.
 Taking all the recipes and tips on freezer meals from OAMM, I’ll share some creative ways that you can plan ahead, save money and eat healthier without it feeling like work.
 Sound impossible?
 Let’s just give it a try!

Just for a moment, imagine yourself back in the early 1900’s.
 You’re rocking on the covered porch, busying your hands with a beautiful patch work quilt while catching up with all your neighborhood girlfriends. 
I always longed to be in the days of the Quilting Bee where friends came together regularly to share community. 
You shared life. You had a purpose. You had fun and you got it done!

Introducing the Kitchen Sisters’ Club

On and off for the last ten years, I have organized evening gatherings where friends come together to make meals.
 Now what woman doesn’t want to be part of a cool club? So we named it, although the name may be lacking. We realize that now. 
Over the year, I have done our get together multiple ways, with many different ladies, and groups ranging in number from 6-20, but it’s always an amazing time together.

Does the idea of having a ladies night out, sharing some appetizers and going home with 4-8 meals to stick in your freezer sound like a dream come true?

It’s taking the best of the Once a Month Mom concept but doing it with other friends.
 Why don’t you start thinking of some friends to invite and enjoy getting it done together?
 Yes, the organizer does get the brunt of the work to begin with, but it’s so worth it.

Typically, it’s just the ladies, but some of the kiddos came along to help.
 Remember, start training them in the kitchen early, it’s a blessing. I don’t know about you, but I HATE mixing meatloaf, so what better task for the kids than to GO FOR IT!
 They loved it, and mixed up 5 lbs of Italian Mozzarella Meatloaf for me. Since I did this cooking jubilee at church, with a large freezer at our disposal, I had the young girls do the meatballs first. We froze the meatballs on the baking sheet and then transferred them to a zip lock bag right before we left.

I gave a choice of 7-8 main dishes, with most of the ladies leaving with 6 meals ready for their freezer. 
We had Italian Mozzarella Meatloaf, Asian Pork Tenderloin, Mexican Lasagna, Chicken Pot Pie, Lemon Margarita Chicken, Grandmother’s Sunday Roast, and Enchilada Chicken.
 It’s such a blessing to come home and have these waiting for you after a crazy day.

So, as the OAMM menu is posted for October, why don’t you look it over and see what meals you can cook up with a large group of friends.

For more reading on Creative Meal Planning visit at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. It shows three alternatives you can try.

I’d love to hear if any of you have enjoyed meal swamping. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments so we can learn from each other.

About Jen:

Jennifer Schmidt served in full time ministry as a Director of Music and Youth in Milwaukee, WI before moving to NC. Now she is a full time family manager that writes about her never ending pursuit of “Balancing it all…the good, bad and ugly” at her personal blog: Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. As a mom of five and frugal living expert, Jen shares with humor and authenticity on a myriad of topics.