WHAT IS A MENU PLANNING?
Menu planning is the process of determining what you will eat for each meal, including main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. It also involves knowing how many meals to plan for and when to serve them. Everyday activities may complicate the menu planning process. Understanding what varieties of meals can be cooked according to the activities and plans for a day, is an essential part of meal planning. At the table spread, everyone enjoys the food, but to make it possible, there is a complete process which starts from the question “WHAT TO COOK TODAY?”, to the selection of food, the number of meals, budget for groceries, timeframes for preparation and quality. All these factors are linked together to make the table complete.
PLANNING A MEAL
Cooking for a large family, or a family with dietary limitations, menu planning is an important step to take in order to ease the stress that is thought in the kitchen around lunch or dinner time. The menu-planning can benefit you and your family to overcome by the following methods.
IT SAVES MONEY
When a menu is set out beforehand it’s simple what to shop for at the grocery, everything can be purchased for the week in one trip. Knowing exactly what to buy also guarantees that you aren’t grabbing random items off the shelf, which usually does happen.
IT SAVES TIME
When everything is organized and planned ahead of time, with all ingredients and recipes laid out neatly in front, it’s much easier to prepare the meal quickly and efficiently.
ENCOURAGES NUTRITION
Knowing what is going to be served and having all the ingredients readily available allows one to concentrate on preparing nutritious meals. When selecting recipes at the beginning of the week with appropriate side dishes, the table can be set with a variety of options.
AVOIDS UNNECESSARY WASTE
One of the biggest peeves is wasting food. When you have a meal plan in place, any leftover food can be eaten the next day for lunch in some other form, instead of throwing it away. Planning ahead of time is the solution to buying and preparing only what is able to eat.
HELPS YOU SERVE BETTER MEALS
When researching dinner ideas at the beginning of the week, one has more time to come up with imaginative and delicious foods. Also, there is time to plan an extra comprehensive meal that includes side dishes, a salad, and dessert. The accurate menu plan will allow concentrating on good cooking techniques through the preparation of the meal.
ENCOURAGE VARIETY
Nobody likes eating the same thing more than twice a week. A menu plan helps to avoid serving the same meals again and again. Everybody enjoys variety and planning your meals ahead of time will benefit to mix it up.
FORCES YOU TO PLAN AHEAD
Planning ahead means the kitchen will be more organized, the food will be served on time, and the family’s favorite meals will be on the list. Therefore, plan ahead, plan for several days at a time, including side dishes, research new recipes and hold on to the list when at the grocery.
DESIGNING A MEAL
Designing a meal is a wisely composed combination of ingredients, textures, and flavors that come together to create pleasing new memories. Some meals have the ability to transport memories to the past, while there are nostalgic emotions of family traditions. There are many features that can go into making a dinner spread, but planning the menu is the most important. It really becomes a simple method, if things are managed well.
The texture is a significant element in individual dishes, and when it’s about a complete feast, it is even more essential to make sure there is a variety. Basically cooking is really about creating balance, and considering how different flavors complement each other.
- Try not to substitute rich and buttery meals and add both cooked and fresh sides, essentially analyze how all the flavors will serve collectively.
- Avoid repeating flavors, like if there is something sweet, accompany it with something sour or salty and be mindful that everything is not too spicy.
- Impressing guests have so much to do with the presentation, by including fresh, seasonal produce on the serving table, which can make the spread more appealing.
MAIN DISH:
When choosing a Main dish, keep it simple. Never try to attempt a new recipe when expecting company or having a special occasion. The best choice is to go for the recipes that you have truly mastered. If something can be made ahead of time, like frying or baking food, you’ll save yourself from a big mess.
SIDES:
Create seasonally and complement the flavors of your main dish with a colorful vegetable side, dips, or a crisp winter salad. If the Main Dish is served with a variety of sides and salads, it doesn’t always need to be a showstopper.
TABLE DISPLAY:
How food is presented can be as much fun as preparing it and eating it. Analyze how to serve the meals. Portions, whether served buffet-style or plated, the layout should be as simple as possible for guests to dish out and eat. When planning a food station at home, for a large gathering, instead of a traditional buffet table, set up a station where guests can assemble things themselves.
THE SWEET SPREAD:
Always aim to have your guests leave satisfied and not stuffed. If the main dish is simple, a heavy dessert will be a sincere surprise. If baking something, make it in advance or simply have store-bought sweets in different flavors. Something manageable to take home is great when a guest has no room for dessert. Dessert is a great place to display seasonal fruit in pies, cakes, and is also an opportunity to present rich flavors.