I'm all for meal planning, and I'm getting a head start on our dinner plans for the month of March. 
But that's nothing compared to what one mom in Texas is doing. She has planned out her family's dinners for the entire year.
That's right--she already knows what her family is going to be eating on March 29, August 13, November 22 and December 3.
Now, that kind of plan really doesn't work for me. I like to work on my plans a week at a time. With two teenagers and one grade-schooler in the house, our schedule changes often, and I need to be able to be flexible. Besides, I work my plan around the perishable items (meats and in-season produce) that's on sale each week at my favorite local supermarket.
However, I've got a long running list of recipes I want to try out on my guinea pigs family, and a list almost as long of dinners they've requested. So, for the coming month, I've made a list of dinner ideas without assigning them to particular dates. Next to each meal I noted whether it requires any ingredients that I don't already have in the house. My plan for each week can come right from the ideas on this list, and once I make a meal, I'll just cross it off.
Here's a great downloadable (and customizable) menu planning worksheet you can use to get started on your plans for next week's meals. It's a free download--give it a try! And if you're up for full-year planning, you can print unlimited copies of this worksheet.
COUPON TIME
Sometimes those new recipes call for cookware items I don't already have in the house. If you're running into that same situation, you'll want to check out our Cookware and Kitchen Coupons page for the best deals.
