Enjoying Christmas: Meal Planning

I have written before about meal planning, as have tons of other bloggers. Why write about it again and what in the world does it have to do with Christmas?

To answer that, let’s ask ourselves: What is the fastest way to lose our joy in the middle of the most joyous season of the year? Busy-ness. Fatigue. Unrealistic expectations. In general, focusing on our circumstances instead of the Savior.

Let’s do something about that! My goal with this series is to focus on the tips, crafts, events and giving that will help me maintain the right focus through the holidays. I’d love it even more if you joined me.

So, back to meal planning. What is the most challenging time of your day? Many of us feel it is the hours before and during dinner time. If this area tends to be a stumbling block throughout the year, how much more can it interfere when our calendars seem to be on overdrive for the holidays? I thought the simplest way to encourage your meal planning would be to tell you what we did in November. We had the following meals (and a few I forgot to write down).

Chicken Pot Pie
Cashew Chicken
Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Leftovers(several times)
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Applebees
Waffles(twice)
Fajitas
Fend for Yourself: Popcorn {I had a BIG lunch}, Quesadillas, Leftovers
Homemade Pizza
Chicken Tacos
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork {Sandwiches}
Pizza-dillas {like quesadillas but with pepperoni, mozzarella, etc}
Frozen Pizzas
Stuffed Shells
Mexican {Out to Eat}
Thanksgiving Dinner
Spaghetti
Red Robin
Pork Chops

So pick 7 of those and have them each once per week for a month…or pick 14 and have them twice. Add your own favorites to this list, and you probably don’t even need to repeat many meals! With any of these options, you have an entire month of meals planned for your family. {Hello, can you even imagine.}

Do you have meal planning down to a science? We also played a game many nights at the dinner table. I found this fun idea at HowDoesShe.com and we had a blast with it! It quickly turned from me ‘making’ everyone participate, to the kids pulling out questions as soon as we started eating. We laughed until we cried and it was much better than: “How was your day?” “Fine.”

I printed the sheet of questions from HowDoesShe. I used a paper trimmer to cut the questions apart, added them to an empty glass candle jar {with it’s original lid} and kept it on the buffet beside the table. Each family member pulled out a question and everyone gave their answer.

One night, our son pulled out a question that said to name four great things about yourself. When he commented that it seemed vain, I had the kids tell each other their four greatest qualities. Ladies, two teenage siblings, telling each other their four best qualities. Wow.

Today is December 1st. Let’s make the most of this day. Put dinner time on auto pilot so that the time is poured out on the people in your lives.

What about you? What makes dinner go smoothly in your home?

Would you join me on Facebook by clicking on the {F}acebook button on the top right. I look forward to enjoying Christmas with you this year!