list of theme nights for easy meal planning

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list of theme nights for easy meal planning

Meal planning week after week and month after month can be a monotonous task. Planning meals is important for the benefit of grocery shopping and for some peace of mind when it comes time to feeding a family. One method I’ve begun to use over the years is to follow certain themes for as many days of the week as possible. It works as a memory cue to both meal planning and meal preparation. Family members begin to know what can be expected and may find it easier to contribute their own suggestions for meals within that night’s theme.

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Here is a list of menu theme ideas for each day of the week.

list of theme nights for easy meal planning | ListPlanIt.com

Monday – Meatless Monday, Red Beans & Rice (traditional Monday meal in Louisiana)
Tuesday – Italian Tuesday, Picnic Tuesday (picnic in the park or on a blanket on the living room floor)
Wednesday – Crockpot Wednesday, Casserole Night
Thursday – Leftover Night, Breakfast Night
Friday – Pizza Night, Fiesta Friday, Fish Friday
Saturday – Grill Night, Baked Bean Supper (a tradition in New England)
Sunday – Soup Sunday in fall/winter, Salad Sunday in spring/summer

What are your family’s favorite theme nights? Do you have theme nights every night, or just on certain days?

7 responses to “list of theme nights for easy meal planning”

Lyndsey says:
November 9, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Oh. my. goodness. this is going to change the way I do meal planning from here on out! I have been doing it for months but have always found the task overwhelming this seems much more bearable, thanks so much!
Kirschwaffeln says:
February 19, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Hmm yum-yum! .-). Thanks for sharing
Peanut says:
September 16, 2009 at 3:17 am
we still have a plan simular to Mera
mo – casserole, leftovers from weekend
tue – minced meet or saucages, potatoes, vegetable
wed – pizza, taco, wrap, salad
thu – misc. / new recipes
fr – traditional fisch and chips, salted potatoes or potatoe salad
sa – noodle recipes (bolognese, carbonara, vegetarian)
so – traditional meat(chicken or pork or beef), potatoes, vegetable or salad
Debbie says:
September 15, 2009 at 6:48 am
Friday is Pizza night – is one of our favorites! We LOVE pizza night!
We’ve also started Subway Sundays, too. One meal on Sundays is a bigger sit-down family meal, and the other (depending on our schedule for the day) is $5 Footlong subs from Subway. Our girls love Subway, and it gives me a little break, while still bringing in a healthy option for a meal!
.-= Debbie´s last blog .. =-.
Mera McLean says:
September 14, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Jennifer,
We are a family of 7 on one income, so meal planning is very important! We have a week of themes: Monday – Beef, Tuesday- Casserole, Wednesday – Soup/Sandwiches (we have Awana, so we have to keep the kids moving!), Thursday – Chicken, Friday – Leftovers, Saturday – Breakfast for Dinner (usually pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, french toast, sausages, or bacon combos), and Sunday is Crock Pot meal ready after church. Sometimes we institute Dagwood Bumstead Sandwich night during Soccer season for late dinner afterpractice. This way I only have to come up with 4 or 5 different beef entrees, soups, chicken entrees, casseroles, etc. I plan once a month for the whole month, and I can answer the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner, Mom?”
Audrey says:
September 8, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hey Jennifer, long time no talk to. Since we began menu planning, we seldom eat out, we’re able to keep our calories down and our overall health is great. Menu planning is the only way to go.
.-= Audrey´s last blog .. =-.
Heather @ CSAHM says:
September 7, 2009 at 9:10 am
So funny that you posted this! Just last night hubby and I were talking about a couple of themes we have.
We usually eat Pizza on Friday from Sam’s Club because that’s when I usually go there. So Friday is Pizza from Sam’s club – which makes my life easier.
Also we just started this one yesterday – Sunday is “One Scoop Sunday” from Cluver’s. Every Sunday we are going to get a yummy scoop of frozen custard from Culver’s – I’m really excited about this one.
I think the themes make it fun and also helps to give the kiddos something to look forward to.
Great post!
.-= Heather @ CSAHM´s last blog .. =-.