One of the best things I've done to help take the overwhelm out of deciding what to make for dinner each night is to plan my menu a week at a time. At first planning took a lot of time and I felt like we were always eating the same 7 meals so eventually I assigned a theme to each night of the week to help speed the process up and add variety. My family looks forward to certain themes and enjoys guessing what we might eat for the less obvious themed nights! Our themes have changed throughout the years, below I've shared some of the themes we've used.
*I put a star by our current theme nights, Tuesdays are our busiest night and Wednesday late afternoon is our slowest so these work well for us.
Monday
*Mexican Monday (Mexican food)
Makeshift Monday (use stuff in fridge or pantry)
Meatless Monday (no meat)
Tuesday
*Take Out Tuesday (take something out of the fridge/freezer and heat up or order take out)
Taco Tuesday (just tacos or Mexican food in general)
Tuscan Tuesday (Italian food)
Transform It Night (turn leftovers into something new)
Wednesday
*What's New Wednesday (try new recipe or help kids make something new)
Wonderful Wednesday (our family favorites)
Chicken Wednesday (chicken dish)
World Traveler Wednesday (try cuisine from somewhere exotic)
Thursday
*Think Through Thursday (new recipe or kids help)
Tuscan Thursday (Italian Food)
Soup/Sandwich Night
Breakfast for Dinner
Friday
*Family Fun Friday (cook something fun together or go out together)
Fish Friday (just fish or seafood in general)
Friday Favorites (our favorites)
Pizza Night (homemade, takeout or eat out)
Saturday
*Sunrise/Simple Saturday (breakfast for dinner or something simple)
Sit Back or Simple Saturday (something easy, leftovers)
Grilling Saturday (grill outside)
Something New Saturday (new recipe)
Sunday
*Slowly Cooked Sunday (crockpot or slowly cooked meat usually roast or chicken)
Italian Night (Italian food)
Leftovers Night (leftovers, clean out fridge)
Sheet Pan Sunday (meal cooked on sheet pan)
Other Ideas
Ethnic Nights: Italian, Mexican, Asian, American, French, Chinese
Protein Types: beans, chicken, beef, pork, fish, egg, steak
Length of Prep Time: quick/fast, crockpot, slow cooked
Type of Food: pasta, sandwich, soup, salad, burger, grain-bowl, rice, vegetarian, stir-fry, chili, pizza, casserole, breakfast for dinner
Where it's From: leftovers, take out, eat out
How it's Prepared: grilled, baked, reheated
*I put a star by our current theme nights, Tuesdays are our busiest night and Wednesday late afternoon is our slowest so these work well for us.
Monday
*Mexican Monday (Mexican food)
Makeshift Monday (use stuff in fridge or pantry)
Meatless Monday (no meat)
Tuesday
*Take Out Tuesday (take something out of the fridge/freezer and heat up or order take out)
Taco Tuesday (just tacos or Mexican food in general)
Tuscan Tuesday (Italian food)
Transform It Night (turn leftovers into something new)
Wednesday
*What's New Wednesday (try new recipe or help kids make something new)
Wonderful Wednesday (our family favorites)
Chicken Wednesday (chicken dish)
World Traveler Wednesday (try cuisine from somewhere exotic)
Thursday
*Think Through Thursday (new recipe or kids help)
Tuscan Thursday (Italian Food)
Soup/Sandwich Night
Breakfast for Dinner
Friday
*Family Fun Friday (cook something fun together or go out together)
Fish Friday (just fish or seafood in general)
Friday Favorites (our favorites)
Pizza Night (homemade, takeout or eat out)
Saturday
*Sunrise/Simple Saturday (breakfast for dinner or something simple)
Sit Back or Simple Saturday (something easy, leftovers)
Grilling Saturday (grill outside)
Something New Saturday (new recipe)
Sunday
*Slowly Cooked Sunday (crockpot or slowly cooked meat usually roast or chicken)
Italian Night (Italian food)
Leftovers Night (leftovers, clean out fridge)
Sheet Pan Sunday (meal cooked on sheet pan)
Other Ideas
Ethnic Nights: Italian, Mexican, Asian, American, French, Chinese
Protein Types: beans, chicken, beef, pork, fish, egg, steak
Length of Prep Time: quick/fast, crockpot, slow cooked
Type of Food: pasta, sandwich, soup, salad, burger, grain-bowl, rice, vegetarian, stir-fry, chili, pizza, casserole, breakfast for dinner
Where it's From: leftovers, take out, eat out
How it's Prepared: grilled, baked, reheated
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