Deciding what you like

The most important factor in monthly meal planning is to remember that if you don't make things your family likes, you will be wasting a lot of your valuable time! We have a few staples around our house. Now, let me warn you, even though I am a pediatrician, we do not eat by the food pyramid daily! I have learned to choose my battles so I have become willing to fix things that everyone likes so we can have a pleasant bonding dinner experience. What good is sitting around the table as a family if you're fighting the whole time about eating vegetables? I have learned to offer fresh fruit if the veggies aren't going to go over well and then eat quietly while listening to my kids recap their day.

So, in my house a few favorites get made every month:

Lasagna
Chicken enchiladas
Baked ziti
Marinated chicken for the grill
Meatloaf
Hamburgers

Everything else on the menu I choose based on the season and what's on sale. So here's my month of meals for July:

Lasagna (2 pans)
Baked ziti
Chicken enchiladas (2 pans)
Stuffed shells
Chicken "manicotti"
Calzones
Marinated chicken breasts (3 types)
Homemade chicken nuggets
Homemade mac and cheese
Ribs
Pot Roast
Marinated pork chops
Tacos
Sloppy Joes
Hamburgers
Chicken noodle casserole
Shepherd's pie

Most of these can be made ahead and frozen, at least in part. Then for the extra days, I use leftovers to make a quick new dish--like leftover marinated chicken easily turns into a big salad with lots of protein!

I'll post recipes soon as well as daily menus using my made-ahead entrees. Follow along for a couple of days while I get this going and then you'll be on a roll too!