Menu Plans

Detox Menu Plan

The idea of eliminating toxins from your body certainly sounds attractive, but your kidneys and liver do the job quite well on their own. Sources such as Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic and Vanderbilt University state that scientific studies don't show a direct link between regimented detox diets and actual detoxification. However, creating a healthy menu plan can still help your body function at its best by providing it with the nutrients it needs -- and avoiding substances that it doesn't.

How to Plan a Menu for 50

There's nothing inherently complicated about cooking for a large number of people, but it does require a little more time and planning than your average meal. A small investment in scratch pads and research can make the process much easier, and it also helps to have a few friends with large pots.

A Lunch Menu Plan for 500 Calories

The USDA has a new set of simple guidelines for eating a nutritionally balanced meal. Fill half your plate with vegetables, choose a protein for another quarter, and use the remaining quarter for foods rich in carbohydrates. Sticking to these proportions will automatically bring your calories in line with healthy eating while you still enjoy a full plate of tasty food -- plus you'll have the energy you need to sail through your busy afternoon. Banish blah diets and enjoy a 500-calorie lunch that tastes indulgent even though it's sensible.

How to Plan a Menu for Once-a-Week Shopping

Making a menu plan can make going to the grocery store easier and save you money; if you know exactly what items you need to buy at the store, then you will limit impulse spending. But first you have to plan the menu for the week. Though it takes minimal effort, you may need a few weeks to get the rhythm down. Once you do, you will have simplified your week, and you will always know the answer to the question of the day: "What's for dinner, Mom?"

Iron Rich Menu Plans

Whether you or someone in your family suffers from an iron deficiency or you are just in search of some healthy meal options, setting up an iron-rich menu plan can make a nutritional difference at the dinner table. Iron is a mineral that serves several functions in the body. For example, iron aids in digestion, helps the body transport oxygenated blood throughout the body, and helps muscles use and store oxygen.

How to Plan a Dessert Menu

Some people would argue, only partially in jest, that dessert is the most important part of a meal. Dessert options range from down-home rhubarb pie to indulgent chocolate-espresso tiramisu. Or go for a simple yet elegant serving of strawberries with creme fraiche and wafer cookies. Choose a variety of desserts to serve at your dessert reception, fancy dinner party, girl's night in or birthday celebration to satiate the sweet teeth of all your guests.

Ideas for Healthy Weekly Menu Plans

Planning a weekly menu ahead of time can help you save money and eat healthier. When you don't already have something planned for dinner, it's all too easy to swing by a fast-food restaurant on your way home from work or choose other unhealthy convenience foods. It can take some time getting used to planning your weekly menus, but you'll find that the effort is well worth it.

How to Plan a Pasta Menu

A pasta meal provides an easy-to-fix and satisfying meal option, especially for a busy family short on time. Certain types of pasta such as whole grain also offer a good source of nutrition and make a healthy part of a balanced diet. Once you decide to make pasta for dinner, you can work out a menu in your head or jot down a few notes on a piece of paper. In just a few simple steps you can have your evening meal planned out before you leave work.

Menu Plans for Fruitarians

Fruitarianism is a diet based around fruits, with some vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains allowed. A strictly fruitarian diet is usually not healthy for younger children, since kids need many different nutrients as they grow. However, older children and adults often enjoy a diet based on a tasty, colorful variety of fruits. With some creativity, you'll be able to plan convenient fruitarian meals for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.

Barbeque Menu Plan

In the Southern U.S., barbeque refers to both a type of food and an activity. Different to standard grilling, barbeque is slowly cooked over indirect heat, such as charcoal or wood. For many people, it's a main part of their regular diets. Barbeque foods vary by region. For example, beef brisket is one of Texas's main staples, while Tennessee is known for its pulled pork and chicken. If you are planning a barbeque party, you can choose from main dishes, side items and seasonings.

Breakfast Menu Plan for Children

When you're battling a stubborn toddler in the morning, make breakfast engaging. Take her mind off of her emotions by focusing her attention with surprises on her plate. Offering simple, playful foods in the morning will keep children entertained and their bodies nourished. Even older children appreciate a creative breakfast to start the day.

Menu Plans for a First Birthday Party

The menu for your baby's first birthday party will depend on whether you're inviting other little ones or planning to include just the family. If you plan to have a number of babies there, you'll want to serve foods that are portable, with as little mess factor as possible. For a party with mostly older kids and grownups, plan a menu that's calculated to appeal to the majority but includes foods you can adjust to suit your baby's tastes.

Menu Planning Objectives

If the hours before dinner most evenings include a hunt through your recipe box and a mad rush to the grocery store, menu planning can simplify your life and help you make better meal choices for your family. When you make a menu plan, you write down what you will serve for each meal so there is no question when the time to cook rolls around.