Would you like to know what is for dinner each night for an entire month? It is easy to accomplish with this meal organizer that simply adheres to your refrigerator with a couple of magnets. Once completed, you will have a quick reference on your fridge that displays your meal for the night.
Items you will need for this project include:
- Computer access with word processor and printer
- 3 pieces of coordinating Cardstock; two neutral and one with print of your choice
- Scissors
- 4 magnets
- Velcro, cut to the appropriate size
- Access to a laminating machine
To begin, grab a piece of scratch paper and a pen and start brainstorming a list of all the meals you eat. For example, Tacos, Pizza, Spaghetti, Chicken amp; Dumplings, Lasagna, Potato Bar, Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, etc… You will need to come up with at least 35 meals that you eat on a regular basis. After you have come up with the requisite number of meals, you can begin to make your chart.
Your chart can be made in any word processor, for example Microsoft Word or Open Office Writer. The chart can also be made by hand and without the use of a computer. If you are making it by hand, you’ll need 3 pieces of coordinating 8 ½” by 11″ cardstock paper, a pen or marker, and a ruler.
For your menu setup, create a new table that has seven columns for each day of the week, and four rows for each week of the month. You will have a total of 28 empty cells in your table. Above each column, label the day of the week beginning with Sunday and ending with Saturday.
SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT
Adjust the row height to be ½” tall or high enough to fit each meal idea into the cell. Once your table is created, you will want to print it out. It looks nice to print it onto a neutral piece of cardstock. Once you have your finished table, you will need to adhere it to a coordinating piece of cardstock. This piece of paper should be your printed paper of choice. You can use a floral print, stripes, or anything that matches your kitchen décor. Your table should take the top half of your coordinating sheet. Use glue dots or double sided tape to adhere your chart. This entire sheet, when completed, will be laminated. Once laminated, place small squares of looped Velcro with an adhesive-back into the center of each cell. Turn your chart over, and place a magnet in each corner of your sheet.
In the word processor, type up each meal idea that you brainstormed. Also, include the following categories: Date Night, Leftovers, Breakfast, Eat Out, Dad Cooks, Crockpot, Raid the Fridge, Fast Food, New Recipe, or any others that apply to your situation. Make each meal and category the appropriate size to fit into your cell height, and leave enough room around the words so you can cut them out. Once you have your list, print it out on a neutral piece of cardstock and proceed to cut them out. Each meal idea and category will need to be laminated. Once laminated, place small squares of hooked Velcro with an adhesive-back onto the center of each cut out.
When planning your month of meals, simply place the meal idea into the day of the week you would like to make it. Fill each of the 28 cells with meal ideas, and adhere your extra meal ideas to the bottom half of your menu chart sheet. Rotate them as you would like, or leave them the same each month and you will always know what’s for dinner on the third Tuesday of the month. This chart will be a time saver for when you need to go grocery shopping. Enjoy this simple, and quick reference in your kitchen for many years to come.
