Organized!
By Kimberley
@mom210 (9036)
United States
January 20, 2017 7:22am CST
Nope that is not me. I have tried to be more organized, I have vowed to be more organized, but never followed through. Most people think I am, I have no idea why. I must fake it well.
I remember reading an article once, the more unorganized your desk is, the smarter you are. I thought ahha! That is why I am not more organized, I am just way to smart to be organized! Nope, that is really not the case, but a super nice thought!
I am going to start small though, my first area I will work on is an area that could save me lots of time. The "what is for meals" question. I say meals, because it is not just a "what is for supper" question here, we eat all three meals here all of us! The catch is, we are also trying to be more healthy and we do have to make cheap meals because there is a budget.
So tell me, how do you decide what is for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Do you make a meal plan ahead say...... a week at a time? I would like to do a month, but that is probably not a reasonable demand on myself.
I am trying to keep it simple. Got any tips?
22 people like this
20 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
20 Jan 17
I think being organized is something you have in you or don't...I have always been like that, sometimes to the point of over-organized!
It is just two of us so meals are not complicated like it must be in your house!
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
20 Jan 17
Imagine feeding 10 children each meal time! Wow-
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
20 Jan 17
@PatZAnthony I can't , I have no desire to - never wanted one..
2 people like this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
5 Feb 17
@AbbyGreenhill that may be true, I have never really been extremely organized, just kind of brushing the surface of being organized. Perhaps a "wanna be" haha yes, It does get a little crazy here for meals
@Juliaacv (48420)
• Canada
20 Jan 17
We do not follow a strict menu, but generally speaking, we stick to several meals a week which are tried and true and loved by us both, and when all else fails, we go out to eat! Lunches are always soup and or a wrap. Breakfasts only consist of coffee for my husband, although I like a small dish of yogurt and granola. That is steadfast and hasn't changed in years. Good luck with finding what works for your household, just don't put that menu planner down on your desk, it sounds as though you might lose it!
3 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Jan 17
When we were children, Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday were the days we knew pretty much was for dinner. Wednesday was always spaghetti, just like most in the neighborhood.
2 people like this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
5 Feb 17
@Juliaacv You are right I most likely would lose it on my poor desk. It is managed mess though, I know where everything is as long as nobody touches the things on it. haha breakfast is a real struggle for us, I try to cook for us so it takes a big chunk out of the day. I try to change up the supper several times during the week, maybe I should stick to a regular thing a couple nights, like meatloaf Monday, good idea.
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
5 Feb 17
@PatZAnthony I have not tried to repeat a specific night, I was afraid they would get tired of it. But good idea, they will eat it if they are hungry. Maybe we will do Taco Tuesday
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
8 Feb 17
I use to try the whole month at a time thing. That got old quick. With hubby and kids away from home during the week, the only time we eat 3 meals a day is on the weekend. I normally just plan supper meals every week. When I grocery shop I do bring home the ingredients and create make ahead meals. Put chicken and herbs/spices/sauces in a freezer bag to make things easier when I cook. I also buy big batches of hamburger and make meatloafs, meatballs and hamburger patties ahead of time and freeze them. I boil batches of chicken for certain casserole dishes that I make and freeze the needed amount of chicken in freezer bags. I use alot of short cuts that way. Makes it easier on me. If something happens and I forget to take out the meat the day of, I can create a quick casserole out of that chicken.
2 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
9 Apr 17
@mom210 Just remember that those ladies always have loads of people to help her out. Of course, your kids seem to be at the stage now, that they can be great helpers. I learned how to make biscuits when I was a toddler. It is never too early to get them started on cooking!
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
1 Mar 17
I really like the cook ahead method, I need to plan that out one week. That would help us tons I think. There used to be a lady on the food network that had a show about cooking on the weekend for the week ahead. She seemed so organized and put together.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
14 Apr 17
@Shellyann36 I have had the bigger ones take on more responsibility, the "middles" ages 9-12 are trying their hands at making the snacks. The older ones 17-21 are helping out with supper more. It is kind of hard because they are busy working and studying but we are rotating the schedules and it seems to be working.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458040)
• Switzerland
20 Jan 17
YES, I make a one week plan for our three daily meals. I check first everything we have in the refrigerator and in the freezer then I decide what to make every day for lunch and dinner. The easiest is breakfast because I make more or less only three different breakfast, fruits yogurt and toasted bread, muffins or croissants. Never eggs in the morning.
2 people like this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
1 Mar 17
I find breakfast hard but mostly because I try to make it quick and healthy. I like the lunch to be faster so I try to make the breakfast hearty so it sticks with them. The luch gets pushed off until we find a good stopping point from our school and it has to be really fast so they do not get to long a break. To long makes it hard for them to start schooling again.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
20 Jan 17
When my children were young and living with us, I made a list for the week and grocery shopped. I was pretty good at sticking to it. When they were in high school and more involved with sports and activities, we wound up eating out more. It was just easier. I've always kept a well stocked pantry, freezers, and refrigerators - yes, plural. I still do. However, we go out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner alone or with friends. I enjoy making reservations more now than cooking. Lol!
3 people like this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
5 Feb 17
I think once the kids leave home a lot of people are that way, they are ready to put up the apron. A friend of ours says she is retired now, she will not cook anything anymore. Her hubby does any of the cooking that happens at the house. That is a little of the trouble, our night schedule. I am doing soccer, gymnastics, tumbling, softball, or baseball most evenings depending on the season. I have to start supper and let a bigger kid finish it.
2 people like this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
1 Mar 17
I am getting better and better. I grabbed a large calendar with big spaces so I can write in it and am planning about three days ahead it is really helping me out. I hope to work my way up. It is easy for me to glance at when I am just walking by.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
19 Mar 17
With a large family I am sure it is a challenge. My daughter was just saying today that it is something that really tires her out. As I read through I think I could make some specific suggestions that might help for breakfast. I like breakfast casseroles as you can spend time prepping one time and feed everyone. If you make a really large one it might do two meals. It reheats well in the microwave. I have also read about "overnight oats" that are oatmeal done in the crockpot. I think that would be good for you and economical.
1 person likes this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
3 Apr 17
I wish I could remember the name of a site I used years ago. It may have been menu moms.
It was basically the same stuff each week though like Tuesday was always spaghetti night and Friday was always left over night.
Cook a chicken and it was good for 3 meals.
But as I remember too there were weekly menus with recipes and it wasn't expensive foods. Maybe you can find it.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
20 Jan 17
That is always a hard one for everyone. With prices going up all the time and seeing that prices will most likely rise again at some point, it is not easy to buy fresh and budget. But we can only do our best. I never plan anything really. Sometimes we order out and sometimes we manage with what we have.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
11 Apr 17
Nope, I wing it every day. When I worked I was much more organized than I am now.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
1 Mar 17
Our local super markets have started changing their sale weeks. It used to be from Sunday - Saturday. Now the sales start on a Tuesday or Wednesday and run to the next Tuesday or Wednesday. It is really throwing me, I cannot for the life of me remember what the stores sales days are. It seems so confusing now. Ahhh change is bad, like it to just stay the same.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
10 Apr 17
Most of the time I get up in the morning ask what anyone would like for dinner. If they have a suggestion and I have what I need to make it I will. Otherwise I look in the freezer take something out to thaw and it becomes dinner. I don't know how organized you can get with so many people to feed. I'd be spinning in circles trying to decide what to fix.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
2 Mar 17
now that the Lenten season began yesterday, we strictly adhere to the 'no meat' rule of the church on Fridays, Holy Thursday and Good Friday (and Black Saturday as well)
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
11 Mar 17
I think that would make meal time a little easier. I have been planning one week at a time and it does seem to be helping me. I have have to say it is not all smooth sailing, sometimes I run out of time to follow through but I do seem to be doing better.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Jan 17
I wish I could help, I'm retired but still the worst part of my day is what's for dinner.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
6 Feb 17
@mom210 I'm a picky eater so that's the problem for me, nothing sounds good.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
20 Jan 17
We are able to keep plenty of vegetables and fruits here, so meals are always easy. However, it does seem having a menu planned would help you tremendously. Keep it simple.
Perhaps make complicated meals just 2-3 times each week. Have spaghetti (or something similar) one night, sandwiches with soup another. You have so many mouths to make happy!
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
20 Jan 17
I think it's a very good idea to plan ahead for one week only if you're not good at organising things. One month would be too much.
Write down what you're going to eat and what you have to buy. Then go shopping with a shopping list and don't buy anything outside it! Learn to use leftovers as soups or salads. You can save a lot of money this way.
As to creating order in your home: Don't take on too much or you'll lose the will to go on. Go through one room after the other and look through it thoroughly. Throw away or donate to charity things you don't need anymore. Put everything at a fixed place and write labels until you know where is what.
Make a plan for your household chores like doing the laundry, vacuuming, ironing. Make, say, Monday the laundry day, etc. Stick to the plan. It'll save you more time than jumping through the house doing bits of this and that.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9036)
• United States
5 Feb 17
I think I will start with 3 days, I feel like if I can get through the three busiest, mon, tues and wed with a plan the rest will be easier. Good idea to do a small amount now and more later. I will do the beginning of the week for a couple weeks and maybe add thursday and fri. Weekends are usually pretty easy, the week is jsut so busy with kid activities for me though.
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
20 Jan 17
Even i don't like everything well organized.. Itakes me feel bound and I want to be free
1 person likes this
