After your food list is complied, the next step is putting together menus. This is one of my favorite things to do because it includes cookbooks and recipe inspiration.

Using your food list, start composing a menu, placing each food item from the list on to the menu sheet by meals—(breakfast, lunch and dinner) and for each day of the week, (Monday - Sunday) mixing and matching items for each meal. You can compose as many menu weeks as you like.

Use your recipe file for ideas.

Some of the food items lend themselves to seasons, making it easier to mix and match items for each menu. 

Collect your favorite cookbooks and look for new recipes. Looking through cookbooks—especially ones with photos will remind you of food items you may not have considered. Your menus will start to develop in no time at all.

Write any NEW recipes you may want to try on the back of your menu sheet for easy reference or paper clip on the menu sheet for easy access.

Hints:

Consider your time when pulling your menus together each day. Consider placing meals that take longer prep on days when more time is allowed or that can be planned or prepare ahead.  Also consider slow cookers as an option or enlisting help from family members. Do as much prep ahead as possible to make mealtime preparation go more smoothly. 

More ideas on how to make planning easier in the next post...