Menu Planning

Well, today has been pretty good. It seems though that the snow might be leaving us soon. We have really enjoyed winter this year and had a blast in the snow. We have never experienced winter like this and are a little sad at the thought of no more snow. Though it does give us something to look forward to next year. I better get with it and make molasses snow candy with the kids today. I guess it was also a good time to row Katy and the Big Snow. For us, this was a big snow, anywhere you walk there are at least a few inches of snow, if not a foot or more. I am sad and not ready for spring but it is time and I really do love spring. It is my favorite season, I love the new birth and new life that happens in spring. The birds coming out and listening to them chirp, the buds on trees that seem to come to life, gardens being tilled, etc. Since we are planning on moving to another house around town and moving out of the parsonage, we are going to attempt container gardening this year. I have never done this but for us to have a garden, this will have to be how we do it. This way, we get some fresh veggies and learn how to garden at the same time and it can come with us.
What I have been working on for now are menu ideas. I have done this many ways in the past but with our recent need to really change some things in our diet, I am going about this a little differently than I have in the past. I am making a list of meal ideas, things that are mostly frugal and okay for a diabetic. On a piece of paper I have headings like Mexican, Italian, Oriental, Soups and Chili's, Chicken, Beef, Casseroles, etc. This wouldn't be a bad idea for anyone to do and I think I should have done it this way in the past. I can just pick menu ideas at random, plan according to sales, or even do theme nights. I am thinking of doing the last two, sales and theme nights. Example: Monday- Mexican, Tuesday- Italian, Wednesday- Casseroles, Thursday- Soup or Chili, Friday- Oriental, Saturday- My choice and Sunday- Chicken or Beef meal. I am planning on making homemade pizzas be a regular Sunday night meal. Many times during the weekends I fizzle out and don't do well making meals. Having a plan and working that plan can help any area of our lives and this is definitely an area I need to work on. I don't know exactly how I plan on doing this and would like to do a breakfast night. Most breakfasts are oatmeal and sometimes eggs and toast or yogurt but no big breakfasts. My dh really loves big breakfasts but can't eat them early in the morning and he really enjoys a nice breakfast for dinner. I haven't totally finalized the plan yet or finished my meal ideas. This is something that might always be a work in progress. I will get some ideas from my dh and kids this week so I can have my list ready to go shopping this weekend. I will try and post my list soon that might give someone else an idea or two.
Gotta go finish lunch for my hungry crew.