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Think about the rainbow when menu planning for the week. @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Easy Menu Planning for the Week | Simple Tips

She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. Proverbs 31:14,15

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

The Bible tells us that the Proverbs 31 woman is like the merchant ships. But sometimes that seems easier said than done! Today I’m talking about menu planning for the week and how it can make your life easier.

Meal planning is something every homemaker is faced with – whether she plans for the week or scrambles to figure out what to cook 30 minutes before it’s time to eat.

Proverbs 31 Prayer Challenge

This 21 Day Proverbs 31 Prayer Challenge is based on my post: Praying through Proverbs 31.

Today’s prayer challenge: Proverbs 31:14,15

She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

Today’s Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Like the Proverbs woman, I want to provide well for my family. As I plan our meals and prepare food for my loved ones, help me be wise so they are nourished. Help me to also remember Your Word when You said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Let me not grow weary in caring for my family. Please give me energy to serve them well. I want to wake up ready to meet the day so that I might do your will.

Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings in my life that help me care for my family. We are so blessed!

Amen.

Menu Planning for the Week

Most weeks, I plan out all 21 meals plus snacks for the week. I can’t even begin to tell you how much know what we’ll be eating each day helps me out! Menu planning for the week is the one task that makes feeding my family easier every day of the week.

By taking an hour or so on Sunday morning to plan out our menu for the week, I get it all done at once – which means I don’t have to think about what we’re going to eat an hour before every one is starving. Talk about stress relief!

We very rarely eat out and since I homeschool my kids, we are together most of the time and we eat a hot meal for most our meals.

It’s important to me that we eat healthy. By planning ahead, I know if beans need soaking or if I need to take a freezer meal out to thaw in the morning. I also know what breads I need to bake for the week and any other preparations that need to be made in order for my family to be nourished at meal time.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are days when the menu plan flies out the window. And on those days I make one of our family favorite “go to” meals. And that’s okay, because life doesn’t have to be perfect or always go as planned to be amazing.

Menu Planning for the Week

I like to do my menu planning for the week using my Purpose 31 menu planner. You can use what ever menu planner you love. In fact, a plain old notebook or sheet of paper will work just fine.

But I have to be honest. I don’t enjoy planning nearly as much if I don’t have something pretty to help me.

Be sure to check out my collection of weekly menu planners in my shop!

Menu Planning 101

First of all, let’s talk about what should go into your menu. If you’re like me, you’re concerned about the quality of food your family eats and you want to be sure that your family is getting enough vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy.

Giving adequate thought to your menu planning for the week will ensure you feed your family a well balanced diet that nourishes their bodies.

🍎 By the way, if you are new to eating healthy and need some ideas for transitioning to a healthier diet, be sure to read my 5 Tips for Transitioning to a Healthier Diet here.

Think About the Rainbow

When planning your meals, think about the rainbow. You want to choose a variety of foods over the course of the week that are colorful.

Think about the rainbow when menu planning for the week. @ AVirtuousWoman.org

You always want to try to choose foods that are different colors in the same meal. When you serve food that is all in the same color family, not only are you missing out on some necessary vitamins, but it doesn’t make for a very appetizing plate. Food really should appeal to the eye as well as the stomach!

Also, remember that white potatoes are a starch and corn is a starch so, if you are serving a starch, you really need a green veggie to balance it out.

Family Favorites + Picky Eaters

Every family has their favorites. And some of your family members probably have foods they don’t care for. I would encourage you not to indulge your children too much when preparing meals – they shouldn’t be allowed to be too picky.

But it is important to not completely disregard your child’s preferences either. So, for instance, if you are making Brussels sprouts for dinner and you know your child doesn’t really care for Brussels sprouts, make something to go with them, mashed potatoes perhaps, that your child loves.

In my house everyone had to eat at least a few bites of everything I cook. My kids are older now and they will eat pretty much anything I feed them – including beets, kale, spinach, and tofu.

And they ask for seconds.

How Much Time Do You Have?

When menu planning for the week, be sure to take into account what your schedule is like for each day of the week.

So, in our house, we are often gone all day every Wednesday. I know that I need to pack a lunch for everyone on Wednesdays and it’s nice if I can make a meal in the slow cooker or take out a freezer meal to heat up when we arrive home in the evening.

Where to Get Menu Planning Ideas

  • The Recipe Box. Here at A Virtuous Woman, in The Recipe Box, you’ll find over 200 recipes (and growing) that are mostly quick and healthy. So be sure to check out all those recipes! Did I mention I love to cook?
  • Pinterest. If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know I love Pinterest. I can’t count the number of amazing recipes I’ve found via Pinterest! In fact, my board Recipes to Try has hundreds of ideas to get you started!
  • Cookbooks. I have my favorites. You probably have a few favorites, too. And if not… head to the bookstore!

8 Ways to Make Menu Planning Quick and Easy

  1. Eat the same thing every day or on a regular schedule.
  2. Choose recipes that only take a few minutes to prepare.
  3. Choose meals that you can cook without much thought.
  4. Keep breakfast and lunch very basic.
  5. Keep your pantry well stocked.
  6. Have themed dinner nights.
  7. Get help from Eat at Home Meal Planning Service.
  8. Use a meal planning cheat sheet.

related: How to Simplify Meal Planning

Themed Dinner Nights

One way to make it easier to come up with ideas is to assign each day a theme. For instance:

  • Sunday: Comfort Foods
  • Monday: Copy Cat Take Out
  • Tuesday: Crock Pot Meals
  • Wednesday: Mexican
  • Thursday: Pasta Night
  • Friday: Soups and Salad
  • Saturday: Leftovers

Themed Dinner Nights have so much potential to make your weekly meal planning quick, easy, and fun!

Be sure to check out my Ultimate List of Themed Dinner Nights Ideas here. You’ll find lots of recipes and menu plans too!

She is Like the Merchant Ships

The Bible tells us the Proverbs 31 woman is like the merchant ships. I think of grand ships with big, beautiful sails billowing in the wind. Ships coming into the port: bringing in foods, goods, and spices from foreign lands.

That sounds pretty idealistic, don’t you think? Do you ever wish going to grocery store was that exotic? What about menu planning for the week? Not so glamorous?

But if we look past the idea of merchant ships and translate those words to today’s world, we can see the Proverbs 31 woman in a modern setting. Today, here in America, those merchant ships could be semi trucks that bring our food from around the world to our local grocery store, however humble it may be.

There are certain tasks that every homemaker is faced with every. single. day. Feeding the people you love is one of those tasks. Your family has to eat every single day.

It’s easy to feel weary when we spend so much of our time taking care of so much. You pour energy into each day providing meals, love, and nurturing their bodies and souls.

As you take time each week to feed your family and nourish their bodies, remember that without nourishing your soul on the bread of life, you’ll eventually run out of fuel.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

The Proverbs 31 Woman

Remember, as women striving to be Proverbs 31 Women, meal planning is a noble task. Each time we serve food to our family we are serving the Creator. Each time we sit down and plan for the week ahead we are choosing to live with purpose. Menu planning for the week is one way you can make your day easier.

Printable Weekly Menu Planner

Weekly Menu Plan @ AVirtuousWoman.org
Weekly Menu Plan and Shopping List

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About Melissa Ringstaff

My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

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Hi There! My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I believe that being a Proverbs 31 Woman isn't about being perfect. Here at A Virtuous Woman you'll find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose.


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purposenotperfection

Freedom from perfection. 🪁
Live with purpose. ✝️
Proverbs 31 for modern women. 👱‍♀️
Wife + Mama + Homemaker + Kentucky
Life: @melissa.ringstaff

Melissa Ringstaff
Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just because there was a pandemic. Our family has faced many trying times in the past but 2020 gave us some doozies.  I’m looking forward to a new year. The beginning of the new year always feels like a fresh start to me. It feels like HOPE.  But the truth is, whatever heartaches and hardships you and I were facing on Dec. 31 will most likely still be there on Jan. 1.  That’s why it’s hard to keep New Years resolutions. It’s easy to feel motivated for a few days or a couple weeks until we realize life hasn’t really changed and things are still hard.  But if we want to see real change it takes hard work and real effort. It takes showing up every day - even when it’s hard.  Whether that means working on your fractured relationships or setting healthy boundaries or cultivating self disciple... whatever that hard thing is that you need to work on ... it will only get better if you work on it.  We aren’t promised an easy life. But we are promised an “Ever Present Help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1  *
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth#proverbs31women #proverbs31life #10virtues #daughteroftheking #jesuslovesme #womenoffaith #faithquotes #proverbs31
We’re coming into the new year with all the same We’re coming into the new year with all the same problems we had in the last year. And that’s okay! Life doesn’t have to be perfect to still be amazing. Perfectionism is a joy stealer. Let’s determine to enjoy life right now in all its messiness.  I believe you can find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose. #purposenotperfection  #christian #Jesus #love #quotes #quoteslife #quotestoliveby #godisgood #votd #lifequotes #inspirationalquotes #life #motivationalquotes #inspiration #bible #bb #bestoftheday #happiness #wordofgod
🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. 🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. It’s a ministry to your family and all who enter your home.  But I want you to know: You don’t have to be perfect. ❤️  There’s a fine line between teaching your children to be neat and insisting on perfection. No one can meet that kind of standard and it can be detrimental to the emotional health of your family.  What we want for our homes is to provide a space that is neat and clean enough that your family and friends feel comfortable and well loved.  There is freedom in accepting the fact that you’re not perfect. Not to make excuses for slovenliness - but to give yourself grace.  It’s when we recognize our weakness that we find ourselves reaching out to Jesus to receive the power that comes only from him. As homemakers, when we can find grace for the moment when we accept His Gift.  “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8  Let His Grace wash over you, cleanse your weary heart. Homemaking isn’t about creating a perfect space. It’s about creating a home where loved ones feel cared for and nurtured. 
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #wearethehomemakers
❤️Your attitude about homemaking matters.⠀
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A homemaker by definition is someone who manages and makes a home. 🏠⠀
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But, anyone can clean and organize a home. ⠀
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☑️ Homemaking is about more than checking off the items on your to do list.⠀
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Learning how to be a homemaker means you learn how to make your home feel like haven of peace and love. You seek out ways to make your home feel inviting. You work at it.⠀
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There is no easy button for homemaking. There are easier, more efficient ways to do chores, but the chores still have to be done. If you live in a house, you will create the need for the house to be tidied every day and cleaned on a regular basis.⠀
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Having the right attitude about homemaking is the first step in learning how to be a homemaker.⠀
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The good news is, even if you’ve been struggling with your homemaking, you can always go to God and ask Him for help. ⠀
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He sees the unseen work of your hands. And He loves you very, very much. He wants to help you succeed. ⠀
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking  #youngwife #housewife
🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regu 🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regular time with Jesus every day, you’re not alone. Lots of busy Christian women struggle to find time for a daily prayer and devotion time. ⠀
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But I still want to encourage you to start your day with God! ⠀
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⏰ If it’s hard to spend 30 minutes in the morning for a quiet time, I want you to remember you can still begin your day with God – even if that means saying a short prayer before your feet hit the floor in the morning.⠀
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✝️ I also want to encourage you to memorize this verse:⠀
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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.⠀
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 📖⠀
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In the morning you can recite this verse and say a prayer. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Although – if you do have time – you will be greatly blessed by spending more time in prayer and devotion.⠀
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📌 Free Printable Morning Prayer Prompts on the blog today: https://avirtuouswoman.org/morning-prayer-prompts/  #linkinbio ⠀
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth #Christ #Church #Christian #Jesus #Jesuslover #JesusChrist #JesusisLord #CreatorGod #Devotional #verseoftheday #Love #Faith #biblestudy #God #dailydevotional
🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be inte 🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be intentional with how I plan our days. I love any opportunity to create a good memories at home for my family and guests. ⠀⠀
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📌 If you're looking to make this holiday season really special, you need to be intentional. Goodness knows 2020 has had a lot of ups and downs. And maybe you feel like it's been mostly downs. ⠀⠀
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🎄 But the holiday season is a chance to focus on celebrating the life we have right now. Things don't need to be perfect for us to celebrate life right now!!⠀⠀
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☑️ Inside the pages of my Purpose 31 holiday planner, you'll find 8 weeks of planning and cleaning all laid out for you. Recipe pages, journaling pages, and more - 120 pages total. ⠀⠀
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✏️ The Purpose 31 Holiday Planner is by far one of the most popular resource I produce each year. ⠀⠀
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Thousands of women have downloaded it over the last four years I've offered it.⠀⠀
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So, even though it's early still, you can go ahead and downlaod it. Print it out and then set it up so you're ready to go.⠀⠀
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I usually take my holiday planner down to Office Depot and have them spiral bind it with a plastic cover for about $5.00. This year, though, I just bought a new 3 ring binder at Walmart, printed off extra cover pages to slip in the clear sleeve, and created a binder with it. ⠀⠀
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📌📌📌 If you use the planner this year, be sure to share and tag me in your photos! ❤️⠀  Download: https://avirtuouswoman.org/holiday-planner/ #linkinbio
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #christmas #holidayplanning #planningaddict #plannercommunity #freeprintables #thanksgiving #christmastree  #plannerobsessed
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