The Weekly Habit of Planning a Menu & Grocery List

Over the weekend I was refreshed by an opportunity to create new grocery lists and menu cards.

Since menu planning has become a weekly rhythm, I used beautiful, free templates from bloggers across the web to jot down my grocery lists. Pretty paper helps to make the routine a bit more delightful.

My pre-printed stack was dwindling and it was time to replenish. Instead of using a template, I pulled out a tiny watercolor set and an old stamp collection to make “rustic” menu cards by hand.

Once my prototypes were completed I photocopied enough to last me year. A total of 52 menu cards and 52 grocery lists. After cutting them to size, they are stored near the cookery books.

When making things by hand, as rough and ready as they are, a certain contentment and satisfaction resides in me. This stationary collection is lovely and exciting simply because I made them!

Grocery List:

As I sit over recipe books, this categorized list helps to jot down the ingredients needed for each recipe planned for the week. In the past, I organize the list according to the layout of a specific grocer. Now I’ve simplified it into categories: PRODUCE, DAIRY, BUTCHER, GRAINS, PANTRY, HOUSEHOLD. This way, if my husband and I find ourselves shopping at various markets we are less likely to overlook an item.

Menu Cards:

After I compile the recipes to make for the week ahead I jot them down—as legibly as possible— on Menu Cards. I tack the pretty little card on a board near the kitchen for the children. When the children inevitably ask, “What’s for dinner?” I can reply, “Check the menu. I am making one of those. Which one sounds best to you?”

Welcoming little tasks that cause me to beautify or use my creativity can be satisfying. I hope you will try to make your mundane tasks into enjoyable rhythms too.