Large Family Meal Planning Week 244

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If you are a larger family and looking for meal plan ideas, you have come to the right place.

We have six children at home, plus myself and my husband. We are a big family and dinnertime is expensive if we eat out.

For years I have meal planned.

There have been seasons where I have done an amazing job at it.

There have been seasons where I have not given it my all.

I can tell you, when I am not on track with meal planning, we waste so much money and my household feels like it is in constant chaos.

When I am on point with meal planning, everything runs like a well oiled machine.

Here is what large family meal planning looks like for us.

Large Family Meal Plan 

Spaghetti– it’s such an easy go to. Every single child in my house loves it. I will make these rolls and a side salad or fresh fruit. I stocked up on fresh peaches and strawberries at the store this week.

Sheet Pan Salmon with Peppers and Asparagus– this is from our May freezer meal plan. I am so excited to try this. I will serve it with pearled cous cous (have you ever tried this? so good!) and broccoli.

Pulled Pork Nachos– using up the leftover blackberry pork tenderloin from last week, we are using that with drained, canned black beans and shredded cheese to make nachos. My kids love this stuff and it is such an easy dinner option!

Pesto Chicken– super delicious. This is from our March freezer meal plan but I make a new one all the time a freeze it. It is so easy to assemble. The directions are to bake it, but I am going to toss it in the slow cooker. Served with steamed broccoli and  brown rice made in the pressure cooker.

We are traveling later this week, so our menu is short this week. We are visiting family in San Antonio and attending an event.

 

The Three Things That Make Meal Planning Easy 

I will tell you, creating a meal planning system is what has been most helpful for me

Back when my twins were infants were infants and I created a five step meal planning system. You can learn all about it here.

The system is what I still use and implement and it has never failed me.

Aside from that, I use online grocery shopping which allows to me ensure I am on budget before ever checking out. It also eliminate impulse shopping at the store.

I do as many make ahead meals as I possibly can by doing freezer meal assemblies. We create a new menu each month.

Following these things make meal planning a breeze.

Meal Planning for Breakfast and Lunch 

Here is our breakfast menu for the week.