Hello, and welcome to your third lesson!  This week, you’ll have a chance to get creative with your Meal Plan. 

Lesson Three:  Getting Creative While Remembering Some Rules.

In the past two weeks, you've likely thought of other meals you’d like to try - now's the time to add some of them in while keeping in mind these guidelines:

• Not everyone likes okra or cilantro - Only you know how adventurous your family is when it comes to new foods.  If they enjoy trying new recipes then go for it this week;  if they only like tried and true recipes then stick with that.  You might be pretty disappointed if you create a great meal that you are excited about, only to have the family pick at it unhappily.
   

• Frozen pizza and salad from a bag is a meal too - One very important thing to keep in mind with every Meal Plan you create, is to be realistic about your time.  If you have little children who are very demanding of your time, don't set yourself up for failure and frustration by planning a time intensive risotto or labor intensive 7 vegetable stir-fry.  When 4 O'clock rolls around and you realize that, though it sounded great on paper, Jr. will just not stop crying long enough for you to stand at the stove and stir a risotto for 20 straight minutes... you're going to be unhappy.
   

Wondering where to find meal and snack ideas?  Here are some sources:

• Ask your family.  You might be surprised by their responses.  Go ahead and ask them if there are any foods or meals they would like to have.  It might be something you've made before or a food they've heard of or seen but never tried.
   

• Go to the library.  You're sure to find recipe books that appeal to you - low fat, crock pot, vegetarian or child friendly recipes - all at no cost to you.   
   

• Search online.  A quick Google search with keywords of the recipes you're looking for will turn up many choices.  Some searches I enjoy are "crock pot recipes" and "healthy kids' meals".

Have fun!

Crystal

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Again, all the sheets are in PDF format which means you need to have Adobe Acrobat to see it.  If you don't have Adobe, click here to download it – it's fast and free.

The Blank Shopping list is available online here. 

The Blank Meal Plan comes in two sizes:
 

1. Letter paper size - you'll also find this version online here.
   
    
2. Legal paper size - you'll find this version online here.

 

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