Jan
13

“What’s For Dinner?” Menu Planning Board – with FREE Cut File!

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

I will freely admit, I am someone that feels stifled by too much organization. Don’t get me wrong, I “ooh” and “aah” over flawless labels on beautiful containers…or command centers with a place for everything…or spotless pantries with cans stacked perfectly…or weekly cleaning schedules with chalkboard checklists.  I admire them, but that’s just not realistic to me.  And when I try to attain something like that, I feel really great for the day or two that it actually works…then feel like crap when I get behind on keeping it up and discouragement sets in.

 

I prefer something in between chaos and perfect order that’s a little closer to reality – methods of organization that make it easier to stay on top of the mess rather than fall behind it.  For me, that’s something with a little bit of wiggle room for life to happen.  That’s how this menu planning board was born!

 

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

I’ve seen many a weekly menu planner with a label for each day of the week, and I just couldn’t bring myself to stick to something like that.  I like the freedom to say, “I don’t feel like chicken tonight,” or “I really want to try this new recipe I found today,” or “I had a really bad day and don’t want to cook anything, let’s just do a frozen pizza on paper plates.”  But at the same time, I absolutely hate the 4:00 question “what the heck am I going to make for dinner tonight?” followed by aimlessly staring at the pantry shelves for 10 minutes.

 

So here is my solution! A menu planning board that doesn’t force me to pick exactly what the menu is for the week, but instead gives me a list of our regular meals to pick from and put in an easy-to-see place.  I can pick out 6 (or more) meals, make a grocery list for them, go shopping, and be good to go for the week. Why only 6 and not 7? Because inevitably something is going to come up on one day of the week – getting an invite to dinner at my parents house, eating out, deciding to try a new recipe, ordering a pizza, whatever! But because I don’t have a specific meal planned for a specific day, I have the freedom to do that without getting stressed out!

 

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

Now, for the DIY Details!

 

I used a magnetic chalkboard from Target, along with a magnetic pencil holder to hold my meal tags and colorful magnetic paper clips.

 

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

Then I used my Silhouette to cut the grid and title out of vinyl.  Want the cut file?

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 Click HERE to download it!

Fine print:  This design is for personal use only.  I’d love for you to follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter in exchange for the download…of course, it’s not mandatory, but very much appreciated!
Finally, I made a list of all our regular meals and made print and cut meal tags – using a file from the Silhouette Store for the tag and the free font Pharmacy for the letters.

 

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

I color coded them into the following categories – Quick and Easy, Slow Cooker, Chicken & Fish, Beef & Pork, and Pasta.  That way it’s easy to work variety into the week’s meals by making sure the board is always colorful!  You could easily add the required ingredients or even the recipe (in tiny type) on the back of the cards.  These are all recipes in our regular rotation, so I know the ingredients off the top of my head…but as I add meals (I printed several blank cards) I may jot down a few things on the back to help me with my grocery-list-making.

 

All the tags are stored in that magnetic pencil holder, and I found a magnetic note pad in the Dollar Spot at Target to add underneath – it makes it really easy to pick my 6 meals and make my grocery list for the week.

 

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

One word to the wise…make sure that BEFORE you add your vinyl and create your beautiful meal planning board, you make sure the board is right-side-up.  Whoops.

 

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

Luckily, my handy hubby was able to hang it with some picture hanging clips without me having to peel off the vinyl and start again.  Whew!  (Thanks, dear!)

 

Menu Planning Board - pick from pre-printed meal tags and shop for 6 meals, but you don't have to schedule specific meals for each day!

 

(What do you think of the start to our “Command Center?” I still have a few things to add…but I’m loving it so far!)  UPDATE – here’s our finished Command Center!

 

Psst!  Right now I’m giving away a FREE 11 page printable meal planning guide – based on THIS menu board – as a gift for new email subscribers! Sign up by clicking HERE and have the freebie delivered straight to your inbox!

Want some more meal planner ideas? You’re sure to find one in this list that will work for your family!

A great list of 10 unique meal planner ideas - whether you're super organized or just looking for something simple, there is something for everyone in this list!

 

 

Feeling organizationally-inspired yet?  Brace yourself – there’s LOTS more inspiration and clever organization ideas coming your way…

 

36 Organization Projects - made with Silhouettes! brought to you by the Silhouette Challenge Facebook Group

 

That’s right, this is the 2014 version of the Silhouette Challenge – with THEMES!  So grab a cup of coffee and get browsing through these THIRTY-SIX (!!!) awesome organization projects from some bloggy buddies of mine – all made with a Silhouette!

  1. DIY Window Shutter Mail Organizer by Weekend Craft
  2. Kids’ Art Wall by Tried & True
  3. Organizing Silhouette and Craft Supplies by The Happier Homemaker
  4. Simple Recipe Organization by It’s Always Craft Time
  5. Put a Label on it! Herb Names for Plant Stakes by Get Silvered
  6. Super Simple Linen Closet Labels by Two Purple Couches
  7. Beware of the Animals Vinyl Toy Box by A Tossed Salad Life
  8. Child desk accessories by Architecture of a Mom
  9. Organizing & the Important of Labels by The Turquoise Home
  10. Index Card Organizer for Easier Meal Planning by Chicken Scratch NY
  11. Create Craft Room Labels by Dragonfly & Lilypads
  12. Simple Storage Solution for your Christmas Ornaments by Vintage News Junkie
  13. Organize this: DIY Planner Covers, Tags & Dividers (made with Cereal Boxes) by Black and White Obsession
  14. How to Make a Cut File into a Print & Cut by Create & Babble
  15. Simple Chest Freezer Organizational Board by Nearly Handmade
  16. Vinyl Your Kitchen Canisters! by From Wine to Whine
  17. Nursery Closet Dividers & Silhouette Cut File by Creative Ramblings
  18. Make Custom Box Templates with a Silhouette for Drawer Organization by One Dog Woof
  19. Organizing the Craft Room by What’s Next Ma
  20. Vinyl Wall Calendar by Crafts Cakes and Cats
  21. Personalized Toy Storage Bins by Lil’ Mrs. Tori
  22. Personalized Routine Chart by Work in Progress
  23. Blog Planner Sheet Dividers + Free Cut Files by TitiCrafty by Camila
  24. Simple Project Calendar by Little Blue’s Room
  25. Dry Erase Photo Frame Menu Board + Free Cut File by Essentially Eclectic
  26. Receipt Organization with Free Cut File by The Thinking Closet
  27. Cute and Easy Labels by Life After Laundry
  28. “What’s For Dinner?” Menu Planning Board by unOriginal Mom
  29. Mixing Organization and Function: An Easy Conversion Chart by My Paper Craze
  30. Why do my cookies taste so bad? A lesson in baking. by The Life and Times of a TAP
  31. Custom Drawer Dividers by Please Excuse My Craftermath…
  32. The evolution of my labeling system by feto soap
  33. Ikea Drawer labels by McCall Manor
  34. Glass Etched Vinegar & Oil bottles by Terri Johnson Creates
  35. Organize It: Bathroom Closet by The House on Hillbrook
  36. Ombre Butterfly Magnet Board by Sowdering About

 

Wow-ee!  Are you inspired? I sure am! Do you have any organizing projects on your to-do list?

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Get your copy of my FREE meal planning binder!

Sign up to get a free copy of my meal planning system - an 11 page printable meal planning binder, complete with a pantry inventory, shopping list, and more to help get on top of your menu each week!

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76 Responses to “What’s For Dinner?” Menu Planning Board – with FREE Cut File!

    • That is totally me! And of course at that point, the only options are something quick (and probably not super healthy or cheap, cause I usually go with a frozen skillet meal or frozen pizza) so I’m hoping this will help our nutrition and our wallets, too!

      Reply

  13. wow this looks AWESOME!!! I like the flexibility that it offers, but what I really love is the ability to write down all of your favorite meals! I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of faves that I tend to forget about but if the card was mixed in the envelope there’d be a way better chance of me remembering it! Great job, and way to think outside the box!! (p.s. I LOVE the wire racks)

    Reply

    • Yup, that’s one of my issues too – I had a small list of our favorite “go-to” meals written down, but never really added to it, and it wasn’t easily accessible, so there are favorites that I haven’t made in months because I had just forgotten about them! I love that it’s easy to just pick up the tags and browse through them while making my grocery list. (And I have been looking for racks like that for a while, and they just appeared at HomeGoods the other day! I’m so excited I found them!!)

      Reply

    • Sorry I can’t help you out with that, Sandra! But if you can find a place online that sells vinyl, I’m sure you can find a magnetic board somewhere locally…you could even use a white board if you can’t find a magnetic chalkboard!

      Reply

  15. I don’t even know where to begin! The colors are amazing, the color coding is even better, and the fact that you can switch your meals around is just awesome. So many great little details. I want one of these!

    Reply

    • Thanks Rachel! I knew there was no way I’d actually stick to a planned schedule, so I just left out the assigned days :-) I hope that will help me stay with it!

      Reply

  21. This is great! I totally need to do better at meal planning. I used to do it but it didn’t last too long. And I must say… I LOVE those clips. lol

    Thanks so much for linking up to this week’s Catch a Glimpse Party. I will be featuring these tomorrow. :)

    Reply

  22. The colors are amazing Meredith!! You did such a great job on this menu board! I am featuring these on Do Tell Tuesday tomorrow! Thanks so much for linking up:)

    Reply

  25. I so would love to do this. I keep saying I need to make one but I do a new type of meal each week. I will have to find a fun way to add all the new recipes.

    Thanks so much for idea! Thankful for crafty hubs that can help us out in a pinch :)

    Reply

    • You’re very welcome, Alexis! I tend to do the same thing…try lots of new recipes and then forget about them! This has been a great way to make sure I remember to come back to all of our favorites. And I agree, I am VERY thankful for my helpful hubby, I don’t know what I’d do without him…he’s helped me out in many a pinch!

      Reply

    • I got it at HomeGoods! Though it took several different trips to find it…they didn’t have ANY around Christmas time, but finally when I went back in early January they had several to choose from!

      Reply

  37. First of all, it’s a crying shame that I am JUST now getting over here to see this. Second, I’m SO glad I finally did because this is AMAZING! I don’t know what I love more – – the bright n’ bold color palette or the flexibility! It’s so true – – things inevitably come up and you do always end up changing things around – – so the 6 day flexible cycle is so genius. Well done, my dear. Well done.

    Reply

  40. I love the menu board you made and the fonts used and colors are fantastic! I would love to make one but I cant seem to open the download due to it being a .studio file. Is there any way I can get the down load in a . pdf version or at least get the dimensions for the square grids so I can free hand one of my own?

    Reply

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  42. Hi Meredith,
    I’m trying to duplicate your menu board. What type of paper did you use for the meal tags? And the lettering on the tag,is that cut using the silhouette machine or regular printer? I’m new to this silhouette thing!..LOL

    Reply

    • Hi Nicole! I just used regular old colored card stock for the tags…I did a “print and cut” to make them, so the lettering is printed, then I used my Silhouette to cut them out. To do a print and cut, all you need to do is add registration marks to your design, then follow the prompts in the software to print, load into the Silhouette, and cut…it’s really pretty simple! Hope that helps, but if not, there are some great print and cut tutorials on YouTube!

      Reply

  43. I’m always looking for better ways to keep track of our family meals. I love the board and labels you made! I have our kids pick the menu for a week, but I adjust the meals to different days according to our schedule. Thanks for the freebie and awesome post! (If you want, you can check out my post on meal planning). Your idea may just be what I need to add to our family’s planning system. Thanks! I needed that!

    Reply

    • So glad you found this helpful! It’s so hard to keep track of everything, isn’t it? So fun that you let your kids pick the menu for the week…I bet that makes them excited for dinner each night!

      Reply

  47. Meredith – I have five children. Only the first to ask the dreaded dinner question was given the answer. After that, I would say, “I answered that already,” and off she would go to find out who knew. Now that they are all grown, the question is no less tiresome (since often, I’m all the more busier these days and don’t have dinners planned out like I use to ;-). What a cute solution you have here.

    Reply

    • Oh, that’s smart! I’ll have to implement that when my kids are a bit older…because I’m already tired of the question!!

      Reply

  48. Hi! Thanks for the great idea, I love your board! Quick question, how do I find the shape in the Silhouette store?

    Reply

    • Hi Katie! If you’re talking about the tags, they are one of the shapes in design #43588 in the store (just search for that number)…the grid and title I made myself and are free to download using the link in the post!

      Reply

    • Hi Jayla, it is a cut file for use with Silhouette Studio only. It won’t show in the preview, but when downloaded it should open in Studio if you have the program downloaded on your Mac. Let me know if you still have trouble!

      Reply

  52. “What’s For Dinner?” Menu Planning Board
    You could totally sell these. When I first saw the site I thought “oh I could buy this and save myself some time” then saw that it was a DIY. It’s absolutely beautiful and I wish I had the time, and craftiness, to make one myself. How much would you charge to make one for me??

    Reply

    • Hi Amy, sorry, I don’t have them in any kind of a way that’s easily shareable! But I do have a lot of ideas for summer meals in the spreadsheet I made for this post.

      Reply

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stay-at-home mom to three beautiful children, wife to an incredible husband, and daughter of a loving God. I freely admit that I am not always the most creative or original person when it comes to crafting, decorating, organizing, cooking, etc...but I love being inspired by great ideas and putting my own spin on them! Look around, stay a while, and I hope through my *unoriginality* I can provide some inspiration to you, too!
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