Meal Planning: How I was Taught

Meal Planning
This Was the way I was Taught (As in the way my mother did it)
I think this is based on the 5 food group way of planning

Salad
Entree (usually a meat entree)
Starchy Compliment ( usually a potato, noodle or rice side dish. Bread optional)
Vegetable Side Dish
Dessert optional

I am trying to add more entrees that are vegetarian, however that is a bit more difficult with family preferences. The vegetarian menus that I have had the best luck with usually are pasta dishes, potato bar, quiche or vegetable soups and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Of course I love Casseroles and One Dish Meals. The entree, vegetable, and starchy compliment all combined together. Then all you need to add is a salad.

I also many times like to plan a big Sunday Roast of some kind (Beef, Pork, Chicken, etc) that will give me lots of meat leftovers to use in other things throughout the week.

I love vintage cookbooks. I especially love depression era cookbooks. There are so many things I have learned that you can make from scratch very easily. There are recipes that get around shortages such as how to make a cake without sugar, using other sweeteners. Or make a cake without butter or shortening using oil. Great recipes for stretching meat. Also it is just interesting. Some stuff they cook would sound really weird or gross to people today.

I have a WWII cookbook that is called the American Woman's Victory Cookbook. I'll look through it and see what real interesting recipes I can post.

Sample Meal Plans:

Beef Main Dish:            Swiss Steak

Starchy Compliment: Scalloped Potatoes
Vegetable:                       Buttered Green Beans

Salad:                               Spicy Apricot Mold
Dessert:                           Chocolate Cake

Pork Main Dish:           Fruit Stuffed Pork
Starchy Compliment: Baked Sweet Potatoes
Vegetable:                       Corn On the Cobb
Salad:                               Italian Salad Bowl
Dessert:                           Raspberry Sherbet

Poultry Main Dish:      BBQ Chicken
Starchy Compliment: Potato Salad
Vegetable:                       Summer Squash
Salad:                               Peach with Cottage Cheese Salad
Dessert:                           Strawberry Shortcake

Fish or Seafood Main Dish:   Tuna Salad Bake
Starchy Compliment:               Double Cornbread Sticks
Vegetable:                                     Carrots
Salad:                                             Tomato Slices
Dessert:                                         Baked Apples

Pasta Main Dish:             Lasagne
Starchy compliment:    French Bread
Vegetable:                          Italian Green Beans
Salad:                                  Tossed Green Salad
Dessert:                              Peach Cobbler