FREE Meal Planning Course--Lesson #1.5

​© T.B. Cooper

Hello, and welcome to this (extra) class... I figured I should let you know now,
​instead of later, how I organize this information within the household, itself.

Well, let me tell you about what I do.

Let's start with...

A Few Things You Might Want to Do/Buy to Get the Most Out of This Course

Do (Labeling your Tab Dividers/adding Dividers to the Binder)

• Blank Calendars (or a single Master Copy in a Sheet Protector)
• Blank Meal Planners (or a single Master Copy in a Sheet Protector)
• Recipes
• Notes

Buy(Unless you already have them)

• Clear Sheet Protectors
• 2 Small Eraser Boards(Preferably Magnetic)
• Dry Erase Markers & an Eraser
• Binder Clip

The COMMAND/MESSAGE CENTER

I generally staple my Meal Planner Sheets on top of my Calendars (In Order by Weeks, and then BLSD), punch holes in the packet (3-ring), clip a Binder Clip to the top and for the month, have the whole packet hanging in the Kitchen, at our "Command/Message" Center, so I don't have to get it out of my Meal Planning Binder everyday. Then at the EOM, I file that Month away, and hang the new one.

What else do I do?

What are the Eraser Boards, for?

​Glad you asked....

1 Eraser Board is on the side of one of our fridges. I have it divided into 3 sections, with a hanging marker/eraser, nearby.

This "Grocery/Necessity" Board is how 8 family members communicate what they/we need or are out of, to me--
the Grocery Shopper.

​This board keeps me sane, because I am not always hearing, "We're out of this," OR "We're out of that." 

The 3 Sections are:

Food-- Obviously any edible stuff, usually just condiments, since I usually plan pretty damn well & account for most of the food stuffs.

Non-Food-- Dog Food, Cat Litter, Scratch, Toilet Paper, Butt Wipes, Body-wash, Deodorant etc. Stuff that is needed almost immediately, because we/them are almost out of it, and we'll obviously need it soon.

To get-- This is stuff that we need and/or want, but is NOT an absolute necessity.

The 2nd Eraser Board-- Well, I don't 'technically' have a 2nd board hanging... Our 2nd fridge has this drop down/front flap/door-thing, that the front of said Flappy thing doubles as an eraser board, so that is what I use. If you have the same thing--cool, use it. If not, grab a 2nd eraser board and hang it somewhere ALL will see it-- usually closest to the fridge.

Why? Because the 1st thing every kid (or husband) does in the kitchen, is open the fridge and stand with it open... waiting for a delicious meal to jump out at them... 

This 2nd board solves that problem, as well. The 2nd Eraser Board is our Daily Menu Board, and I update it every night before I go to bed, with what's to eat-- the next day. That way, they know what's available to eat, and what's not.

Again, a board saves me from what to me is "useless" conversations. In a household of 9--
answering 8 times the same "What's for dinner?" question
(because even if you tell one, they either don't communicate it on your behalf, or the others don't believe them),
is just not feasible for my limited amount of sanity. ​

Alrighty... that ends Lesson #1.5
I'll eventually be on time with these lessons--I promise... 
I'm burning the midnight oil right now to get these up for you, so check back in a little bit. 
I have to "type" up (via Dragon Software) Lessons #2 & #2.5 and upload the pictures, so it will be a little while...
​but it will be worth it.