What’s for Dinner: Weekly Menu Planner

January 1, 2011


What's for Dinner: Weekly Menu Planner
Save This
Print This
 
    Monday through Sunday, we’ll help you organize and plan your dinners with an easy-to-make menu planner for your fridge or bulletin board. To make cooking simple, assemble your planner using our free downloadable designs, and switch it up each week to keep the entire household looking forward to the next seven days of delicious meals.

Making Your Weekly Menu Planner

Step 1:
Download and print our menu planner designs: the What’s for Dinner header, seven days of the week and seven dinner option backgrounds. You’ll write a different meal on each of the seven backgrounds, so for more options, print additional copies of these backgrounds to accommodate a wider array of meal options.

Step 2:
Once you’ve cut out the shapes from the printed pages, decide whether you’ll display your menu planner magnetically or on a corkboard. A magnetic approach will allow you to display your organizer on your refrigerator or a magnetic bulletin board while a corkboard will allow you to pin each element to the board:

  • Magnetic: To make the shapes magnetic, apply a coat of glue to the back of the designs before adhering them to magnetic sheeting (available at craft and office supply stores). Let the glue dry, then cut out each shape. To make your dinner option backgrounds double-sided, glue a decorative background to the opposite side of the magnet as well.
  • Corkboard: While it’s simple to pin the cutout shapes to your corkboard, consider printing the designs on cardstock paper to make them more durable. For a more decorative corkboard, try dressing it up with a few of our creative ideas.
Step 3:
Once you’ve created your menu planning components, arrange them on your surface. Organize the days into rows or columns, placing each panel with the corresponding evening’s meal either below or next to the day of the week.

Manage Your Menu

    bowl of recipes
  • Organize Your Meal Options: As you build your collection of recipe options, keep it organized by placing the panels in an envelope, bowl, plastic storage container or recipe organizer. If using bowls, use one bowl to house dinner options, another for restaurant options and a third for coupons.
  • Organize Your Recipes: Consider making your menu planner an all-in-one dinner prep destination by posting each evening’s recipe next to the meal. We have lots of simple ways to organize recipes so you can easily find them, too.
  • Get Family Involved: Once a week, invite your family to go through the collection of meal options and pick out their favorites. By taking these suggestions into account, you’ll create a weekly menu that has something delicious for each member of the family.
Every family has its staple dinners, but you can find lots of new recipes in the food and recipes section of our site. What are your family’s must-have meals? Share your family favorites by leaving a comment below!

Social Sharing

This page is enhanced with social features that allow you to share content via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and G+. Those sharing features are governed by the terms and policies of those social platforms. Clicking "Continue" may share your personal data with these social media platforms without further action by you.

CancelContinue


Recent Inspiration

Inspiration Meets Conversation

Previous statement Next statement

  • Join our community for daily inspiration & advice for home.

  • Get solutions, deals, and cleaning tips directly from home experts.

  • Visit our channel for quick and easy how-to videos.

  • Sign up for our free emails & get the latest recipes, projects and special offers.

  • Subscribe to our feeds & receive automatic updates on your favorite content.

Special Offers

  • Brand Savers

    Get $13 in savings from some of your favorite brands.

    Pampers

    Get deals and personalized newsletters from Pampers®.

  • www.pgeveryday.com

    Find coupons, product samples, expert advice and more.