Cara Barlow

<<<A LOT of people do "menu planning" down to the daily snacks, desserts,
drinks - planning 20-40 meals EVERY WEEK. This is actually common "wisdom"
for budget planning and reducing your grocery bills (though I don't think
that's true). That would exhaust anyone, much less someone with mountains of
laundry, a baby and a kid with special needs. Something's gotta give; I saw
that as an area that could be deprioritized easily.>>>

I've done weekly menu planning for many years, and yes, it does have
something to do with wanting to save money (we're on a tight budget, as are
most homeschooling families), but it has more to do with me making a good
use of my time and energy.

I started doing it when my children were infants/preschoolers because just
about the last thing I wanted to do was to put them in the car to go to the
grocery store. If I could whittle grocery trips down to once a week I was
real happy.

I still go to the grocery store once a week - the girls are now 11 and 13.
When the meals are planned and items bought, it's there and I don't have to
think about it again until that day.

I do a weekly dinner menu. For breakfasts and lunches we eat leftovers and I
keep staples on hand.

Dinner is important for our family - both kids and husband. When given a
choice they all choose having a meal at home that I've fixed over going to a
restaurant, getting carry-out or having a frozen dinner. It's just something
I do to make everyone happier and our life go smoother.

Best wishes, Cara

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