It’s another What I ate Wednesday with Peas and Crayons! I’m hoping to fall into good meal planning habits…
Earlier this summer, Jill wrote a guest post on Menu planning tips and benefits that had a great response. She and I decided to host a joint Menu Planning link up and challenge on Sundays, and would love to have you join us! Or, feel free to follow along and get meal ideas for the week.
The basic idea?
To encourage and hold each other accountable as we purposefully plan out regular, weekly meal plans.
The goals?
To serve healthier food, manage grocery budgets, and put meals on the table throughout the week with ease.
- Every Sunday morning at Mommy Run Fast and Fitness, Health and Happiness, you can expect to find our meal plans for the week, including a menu planning template, recipe links and/or one new recipe each week. There may also be a bonus challenge to incorporate a specific recipe or ingredient into your menu.
- Blog your weekly meal plan and/or favorite recipes and link up every Sun at Mommy Run Fast or Fitness, Health and Happiness. A new link-up will be posted every Sunday, starting Sept 30.
- For those who don’t blog, the link-up will be a great place for you to find menu inspiration and recipes and you can use the other social media options list below.
- Use the Twitter hashtag #whatsfordinner to join in at any time with other challenge participants. We’ll share recipes and ideas, let each other how we’re doing, and chat healthy meals in general. (Our twitter handles are @mommyrunfaster and @jillconyers)
- Use the Instagram hashtag #whatsfordinner to share photos of your food (preparing, grocery shopping, eating, etc.) (Follow @jillconyers and @mommyrunfast)
Want to join? Sign up below! (No worries if you can’t link up every week)
We will begin on Sunday, September 30th. For the month of October, there will be weekly prizes drawn from the comments, links, and tweets.
Prizes for week one will be drawn from comments, tweets and shares. You can tweet the following, or write your own:
Join the October What’s for Dinner link up from @jillconyers and @mommyrunfast on Sundays! Sign up here: http://wp.me/p2fC61-Rv
We’re excited to see share ideas and support each other- hope you can join us by linking up, or read along and get inspired!
As for what I’ve been eating, this healthy Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal has been a delicious breakfast all week. Recipe coming soon!
Do you plan your menu for the week?
This is such a cool idea! I’m totaly in- I need to plan my meals better. Can’t wait!
kaylie recently posted..Exercising A Good Diet
Great, Kaylie- so glad you’re up for it!
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
Ahh…you musst have been reading my mind! I’ve just started meal planning and shopping religiously at the local Farmers Market. I’ve been sharing my hauls on twitter, FB, Instagram and WIAW! Then I decided it would be a good idea to start sharing on the blog for WIAW what the meals were from the haul. This would totally tie together in seeing how I’m doing it all!
Maria @ Lil Mys Ninja recently posted..Motivation Mondays: Are you getting enough sleep?
That sounds perfect- yep, you’re definitely already doing it!
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
Hmmmm…. I’m gonna have to keep my eye on this.
This is going to be a challenge with a newborn but that is what makes it a challenge!!! I menu plan now but I need to be held accountable those first few weeks!!
Fancy Nancy recently posted..WIAW….What’s in My Lunchbox
Yes- yours will be more challenging than the rest of us.
Glad you can join us!
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
love this idea!!!!
N.D. recently posted..Half Marathon Time
(meal planning- I just started getting it together last month)
N.D. recently posted..Half Marathon Time
Sounds like perfect timing! I need the accountability… glad you’re interested!
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
I’m a big menu planner–this is such a great idea on your parts!
misszippy recently posted..I’ve got my fall half picked out!
I’m in! I need to plan better, so this will get me going. Love the idea.
Carrie@familyfitnessfood.com recently posted..Two Things Tuesday – inspiration and more
Yay, Carrie! So glad you’re in! I need to plan better, too.
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
This is a great idea! I’m excited to join up for this challenge!
Lisa {Smart Food and Fit} recently posted..Pumpkin Greek Yogurt {WIAW~Fall Into Good Habits}
I’m glad you’re up for it, Lisa!
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
I don’t plan a WHOLE week ahead, but for a few days at a time. Have fun with your challenge.
Elle recently posted..Quinoa and Bean Salad… Easily Portable and Gluten-Free
Oooh, oooh! I’m going to have to try this! Let’s see if I can plan something a whole week in advance.
Kelly recently posted..My Dirty Little Secret
I hear you… I’ve been doing a lot of last minute meals based on whatever we have on hand. I’m hoping this will help get me more organized again!
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
I’m in! But for some reason – I copy and pasted the badge and I get a ? mark. Hmm……
Jen recently posted..My Story: Unapologetically Strong
Great idea! I’ve been slacking on the meal planning front lately so hopefully this will get me back on track.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Viruses and Pumpkin
I have been slacking, too! I’m ready for some accountability.
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
Hoping this motivates me to make a lunch rather than grab a frozen meal. I am pretty good about planning dinners, but am always looking for new ideas.
Yes, I’m always looking for ideas, too! Glad you’re in!
Laura recently posted..Menu Planning Link Up Challenge
That pumpkin baked oatmeal? Looks soooo good!
I am in! I can’t wait. And also I am so excited for you to post the recipe for that oatmeal! You and Jill are inspiring me; I am putting pumpkin on my grocery list this week for sure!
Travel Spot recently posted..Bean Town, Here I Come
Oh fun idea! Hopefully this will serve as a good motivator for me to actually plan some menus!
MassachusEATS recently posted..WIAW #31
I usually plan weekly menus (except during the summer, when all planning goes out the window!), and will do my best to link up as often as I can!
Michelle recently posted..Falmouth, Newport, Philly, and Hopefully Boston
This is such a great idea Laura. It will be fun to see your meal plans. I find that I make much healthier and nicer dinners on the weeks when I have recipes planned and I have shopped for them. This week was NOT one of those weeks, unfortunately.
Joann @ Woman in Real Life recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday, vegan fudge cake edition
I would fail miserably at this since I do not do any of the cooking at our house, but I hope you all have fun!
Jamie @ couchtoironwoman recently posted..Tips for Your First Marathon – Part 1
WHEW! I thought this started this week. Today, I’ve had all three males in my house puking the 37 yr old, the 5 yr old, and the 13 mo old. : ) Great day!
Elle @TheWay recently posted..Friday Vegetarian Potluck LinkUp…Kinda
[...] great idea for a challenge! Menu Planning Challenge via Mommy Run [...]
[...] The other day, I was reading Mommy Run Fast, on which Jill talked about encouraging us to make meal plans for the week. It’s super cool because on her blog, you can sign up to be a part of sharing your meal plans with other bloggers/readers as a community of sorts! (Check it out HERE) [...]
[...] Menu Planning Link Up Challenge (mommyrunfast.com) 51.562414 0.214418 Share this:ShareTwitterFacebookPinterestTumblrLinkedInStumbleUponDiggRedditPrintEmailLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...]
[...] I’m a little late getting in on Laura and Jill‘s Meal Planning Challenge for October. But since I normally plan our meals for the week anyway, I figured this challenge was made for [...]
[...] I am going to come right and out say say it: this is not going to be an easy week for sticking to our meal plan (part of Laura and Jill‘s Meal Planning Challenge for October.) [...]
[...] Every Sunday we’ll link up and share our weekly meal plans and/or recipes. Plus there will be weekly prizes! Yay! Interested? Go here to join in the challenge! -> Menu Planning Challenge Sign Up [...]
[...] I am going to come right and out say say it: this is not going to be an easy week for sticking to our meal plan (part of Laura and Jill‘s Meal Planning Challenge for October.) [...]