Now that you have committed yourself to either start menu planning or to become better at it, its time to think of a way to display your menu. Let me tell you why I think having an actual board to display your menu is absolutely necessary: 1. It will help you stick to your plans. When I get up in the morning, I am greeted by my menu board, reminding me I may need to take the meat out of the freezer or get everything thrown into the crockpot before I leave the house. I can look at my menu and think, “There is no way I am going to have time to make Wednesday’s meal today- I need to switch it out with Friday’s meal!” Because my meals are all in plain sight, adjusting is easier and I have time to make adjustments.
2. It is a Good Reminder. What is the point in planning a menu if you can’t remember what you planned?! That scrap piece of paper you made your menu and grocery list on is fine temporarily, but it is more likely to become lost! Display your menu in a permanent location and you won’t spend time digging in your purse to find out what your dinner plans are.
3. Eliminate the question “What’s for dinner” … at least the ones who can read anyway!
4. It makes you look good. Even if you aren’t that great at menu planning, people will think you are! Let’s be honest, it looks totally domestic and it will impress people!
There are a bazillion ideas floating around of ways to display your menu.
Here is what my menu board looks like:
My menu board is a smooth tile supported by a pretty easel with some vinyl lettering on it.
My SIL gave it to me several years ago for Christmas and I love it!
When I am on top of it, I plan for 2 weeks and I put my meals in 2 columns.
I posted a tutorial on how to make your own Tile Menu Board HERE.
Here are some more ideas!
All Things Beautiful painted, covered and embellished a cork board.Simple Mommy Secrets used some vinyl and sheet metal.
Paint a magnetic plaque with chalkboard paint like Amy from The Idea Room
Embellish a frame with scrapbook, ribbon and vinyl from Somewhat Simple
Add some cork squares to the inside of a cupboard from Young House Love
YOUR ASSIGNMENT FOR THE WEEK: Make a menu display of your own!
If you already have one or when you are done making yours after reading this, leave a comment with a link to your display or tell us what you are using.
About Stephanie
LOVE menu planning…it’s such an essential with our busy schedules!! Not to be overly dramatic…but it’s seriously “changed our lives”! Haha!
I actually sell some menu planners in my Etsy shop…for the people who might not want to make their own
http://www.etsy.com/shop/christinahibbs
We use a week-over-week menu board that I love. I’ve tried a few different varieties over the past 4 years, but I keep coming back to the easy board stuck on the side of the fridge.
You can find a photo of that board here:
http://joyinmykitchen.blogspot.com/2009/11/healthy-on-budget-2.html
I have a What’s for Dinner chalkboard. My kids look at it everyday when they get home from school. Sometimes I get groans but at least I don’t have to answer the question, What’s for Dinner? anymore. It’s not big enough to put the whole week on but I have that planned out on my clip board hung inside the pantry. http://www.organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/?p=20819
I use this iPhone app. I love it! http://www.mealboard.com/
Here is what I came up with a couple years ago. I love it! I really love that my kids have stopped asking me what is for dinner a thousand times a day!
http://remarkable-home.blogspot.com/2011/04/whats-cookin-dry-erase-menu-16.html
I have been trying menu planning on and off for the last 4 years, but since my daughter was born, eating out is not an option. I’ve definitely been much more motivated to get into this habit, so this challenge was perfect! I whipped mine up last night. Very simple, but it gets the job done.
http://handmade-lovin.blogspot.com/2011/08/cleaning-checklist-and-menu-board.html
Great ideas here. This was such a lifesaver for me. I started it a few months ago and cant live without it!
Here is the link to mine. I also did a weekly planner and cork board, because it was just too fun to stop
http://tailsofanapronista.blogspot.com/2010/09/command-station-phase-1-unveiling.html
Cant wait for next week!
I need a good shopping list form that I can check off what I need to buy instead of making a list each time…do you know where I can find one?
Hey Kristen-
I have used one from Kraft.com before, but that was years ago and I don’t know that they still have it. I will keep looking and let you know if I find something!