Fun Tips to Keep Dinner Exciting

I hear a lot from moms who complain they don’t know what to make for dinner.  I get it!  It’s a never ending always present dilemma.

Let me let you in on two of my secret weapons.

First, you need a plan.

Second, you need a framework. 

The plan doesn’t have to be some fancy spreadsheet, or Pinterest worthy menu board.  Just grab a piece of paper and write down a menu.

Before the global pandemic I would take a look at everyone’s calendar schedule before I made a plan.  Because my husband travels for work and the daughter I still have at home has her own plans, it was important to check.  If I was the only one home, I wanted to know that before I cooked for 3-4 people.  Now that we’re living our best global pandemic life, I look at the calendar less… we’re. always. at. home.  I have to say it’s even more important to have a plan now due to the importance of reducing our trips to the grocery store.  I also find that by having a plan less food goes to waste, and therefore, less money goes to waste!

I use my framework to also make my plan.  This is the framework I use every week.  It grounds the week in a pattern, but still allows me to be more or less creative depending on how I feel.

I’ve been using this pattern for awhile.  It works with our family and gives quite a bit of variety.

–Meatless Monday – Having a vegetarian meal is good for the environment and good for our health!

–Taco Tuesday – The sky is the limit!  Mix it up each week with any number of variations – hard shell, soft shell, or lettuce ‘shell’; ground beef, turkey, or pork; braised beef, chicken, or pork shoulder; grilled veggies and guacamole… Get the idea?

–Whip It Up Wednesday – Make this an “autopilot” recipe.  The one you can make in your sleep.  No fuss.

–Take-out Thursday – I don’t know what it is about Thursdays but I’m generally tired by this point in the week so getting take-out is great.  I especially like it during global pandemic.  It is a simple way to support local restaurants who are really suffering.

–Fish Friday – Abstaining from meat on Fridays is a long standing tradition in the Catholic faith as a way of remembering Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.  Though only a hard requirement on Good Friday during Lent, I still like to follow the tradition.

–Something New Saturday – I find Saturdays are good days to explore new recipes because we have a little more time on our hands.  Whether you want to search the internet, find a magazine, or grab a cookbook, just give yourself the opportunity to explore.  And, take the pressure off.  If you end up hating the dish (or it makes your mom throw up…yep, true story) just order pizza!  Be willing to make mistakes.  You might find something new that you love!

–Sunday Dinner – This is the day for grilling, slow-cooking a roast, or making that traditional Sunday Gravy.  Set the table.  Light a candle.  Dine alfresco.  Make Sunday dinner something a little more special.

If you take a few minutes and make plan and use a framework there will be far fewer decisions to make in the middle of the week, less food wasted, and maybe, just maybe, your people will read the plan and STOP ASKING…

“What’s for dinner?”