6 Ways SCD Menu Plans Can Improve Your Life

If you're like me, menu planning is often a scattered last-minute task the night before I have time to run to the store. I usually end up choosing the same ol' recipes, to save time and thought as I'm putting the grocery list together.

And the grocery list - that's a whole job in itself!

As my life became more crazy-busy these past few years, with homeschooling my kids and managing all of my other daily household tasks, I put together 4 menus  that I could grab when I was heading out the door to shop. I didn't always use them (because my family would probably get tired of the same meals week after week!), but when I was really busy I knew I had a backup plan. This helped ease my stress tremendously!

This summer I started putting together menu plans to offer on the website (I was excited about using these new ones too!), and mentioned it to my mom. She is a tenacious lady, and before long she had created 21 more menu plans to add to my 3!!

My Mom is a wonderful cook with an eye for interesting, delicious recipes, and as we have made some of these menus, my family has been loving the variety and creativity of the meals. They are full of flavor! And they also include something special, whether it be an SCD bread or a new dessert. All of the menus come with six dinners (including one crock pot meal) with the recipes, prep day and serving suggestions, and one dessert.

My favorite part? I don't have to put together a shopping list! It's all right there. I scan through it in the parking lot of the store, quickly cross off items I either have or won't be using, and head on into the store to shop.

So...how can our menu plans improve YOUR life?

1. Reduce Time Planning Meals
You will spend way less time considering what to make for dinner, knowing the menus contain delicious, well-thought-out meals already. You won't have to dig through your recipes. You won't have to sit down and make a thorough shopping list.

2. Avoid wasting money on  ingredients you won't end up using
Menu plans help you save money because there is a definite plan for every ingredient you buy.

3. Prep Day suggestions will help you work smarter and save time
Every menu plan has suggestions for things you can do ahead of time. For me, that prep day is usually Saturday. For example, if I have chicken and broth already made on Saturday, the soup on Monday night comes together faster.

4. All of the recipes you will use are in one place
Each menu plan has the shopping list on the front page, and all of the recipes on the following couple of pages. So much easier than digging through the various cookbooks, booklets, and print-outs that are lying around!

5. Leftovers can be used for lunches or be frozen for later
Since each menu plan comes with recipes that serve 6 (and at times more), I found I could have lunch taken care of for at least the next day, and sometimes even froze food for another meal.

6. Your taste buds and/or family will thank you!
Variety is the spice of life! You and whoever you are serving will enjoy the variety of flavors. And there are 24 different menu plans to choose from, so rotating a number of them is not likely to get boring!

Click here to learn more about our easy weekly menus.

~ Erin

P.S. Those delicious bagel-rolls are on Week 18! ;-)