Involving your kids in meal planning can be a fun and educational experience. This guide will walk you through creating a family meal planning calendar together, making mealtime a collaborative adventure!
- A large calendar (paper or digital)
- Colored markers or stickers
- A notepad for brainstorming meal ideas
- Optional: Family favorite recipe books
Step 2: Brainstorm Meal Ideas
Sit down with your kids and brainstorm meal ideas. Make it a game! You can say, “Let’s come up with five dinner ideas for our calendar this week!” Here’s how:
- Example: Each family member writes down one meal on a piece of paper. After everyone has written their ideas, share them and see what sounds best together!
Step 3: Create Your Calendar
Now, it’s time to put those ideas on the calendar. Choose a day of the week to plan meals together.
- Example: If you decide Sunday is planning day, you could say, “Let’s pick meals for Monday to Friday today!” Assign each meal to a day. For instance:
- Monday: Spaghetti and meatballs
- Tuesday: Tacos
- Wednesday: Pizza night (let them pick toppings!)
- Thursday: Stir-fry with chicken and veggies
- Friday: Family BBQ night
Step 4: Make It Visual
To make the calendar more engaging, let your kids decorate it! Use colored markers or stickers to highlight different meals. This can make planning feel like a fun art project!
- Example: Use star stickers for favorite meals, or draw small pictures next to each meal (like a taco for Taco Tuesday).
Turn grocery shopping into an adventure by involving your kids in choosing the ingredients for the meals you planned.
- Example: If tacos are on the menu, ask them to help find tortillas, cheese, and their favorite toppings in the store. This not only teaches them about food but also about making healthy choices!
Step 6: Review and Adjust
At the end of the week, sit down as a family and review what worked well and what didn’t. This can help everyone feel included and allows for adjustments in the next week’s planning.
- Example: You might ask, “What did everyone think of the stir-fry? Should we add it to next week’s calendar?” This encourages open communication and helps kids feel their opinions matter.
Conclusion
Creating a family meal planning calendar with your kids can be a rewarding experience. Not only does it make mealtime easier, but it also teaches valuable skills and encourages family bonding. Happy planning!