Menu Planning Tips for the Holidays

For the first time this year, I made a proper holiday meal plan, and it really was a game-changer. Being so organized and intentional about my process, helped me be more productive, saved me time, and shaved dollars off my grocery bill.

Step one was decide how I wanted to create my planner: paper or digital? I know popular convention is to go all digital these days. With smartphones, iPads and organizational apps to help with organizing and planning. But I am somewhat of a luddite. I think many times good old fashioned pen and paper work just fine. Plus, it keeps me off the computer, where I will undoubtedly be distracted by emails, social networking, or other projects.

I created a small binder to be my planner. I inserted a pretty holiday themed art image for the clear pocket of the cover. Inside, I placed several clear pockets sleeves that will hold and protect my recipes, and created three divider sections: Main dishes, side dishes, and desserts.

Step two was looking at a calendar. I looked at my work calendar which includes both work meetings and appointments, as well as various personal commitments. I strategically chose days in which I would have time to shop, prep, cook/bake, (and, if baking treats for gifts) deliver.

Once I knew roughly how much time I would have to dedicate to my kitchen adventures this season, I did Step three, which was going through all my recipes and decided what I wanted to make. Not only what, but for what and for whom.

Step four was creating the shopping list. I had to read through all the recipes and then cross-reference where there was overlap. I had to make sure I bought enough of the staples like eggs, flour or seasonings, to cover all the recipes that required them. But then I also had to make notes for items that are more perishable like certain dairies or vegetables, that need to be bought closer to their use.

Step five: The last step is probably as important as any of the previous four: maintain the plan. As I cooked and baked my way through the holiday season I made sure I went back and reviewed and updated my plan. Crossing off things I had made, and adjusting my schedule if the unpredictability of life required a course correction.

Overall this new menu planning system was so successful. It made my holiday planning season (my favorite time of the year) so much less stressful, I can’t imagine not doing it this way from now on. Even though it is just Drew and I, and I am not planning for a huge family, or a mega-family reunion event, my ambitions always seem to get the better of me. I set big goals for myself, which is a good thing but not always realistic. What I love about discovering this planning process is that it makes all my ambitions a whole lot more realistic.

Because really, there are so many holiday cookies to be made, and so, so little time.