“Mom!!!

What’s for dinner???”

That seems like an absolutely innocent inquiry, doesn’t it?

Why wouldn’t my family want to know what is coming their way?

But, for me?

That question is like nails dragged across a chalkboard!

Being the sole heir to the kitchen dynasty and holding the highest-ranking position on the dinner dilemma battlefield has, at times, put way too much pressure on me. And when I feel pressured, I retreat to the comfort of takeout menus and fast-food pacifiers.

I am sure that I can’t be the only Kitchen Commander who has felt this kind of pressure or dealt with a breakdown in protocol this ridiculous.

You see, a kitchen runs beautifully if there’s a plan and a way to execute that plan.

But when there isn’t a plan, watch out!

And lately I have been running my kitchen without a plan. This is where the stress and frustration come from.

While I am tackling the mountain of laundry, helping with schoolwork, cleaning a room or six, and trying to keep up with the weeds and a million emails... my children still get hungry.

Like clockwork, their internal energy tanks empty and they are looking for fuel!

If this happens while I am elbow-deep in mud and weeds, or I still have one more bathroom to de-germ, I fall back on the easiest solution I know... I text my husband and tell him it’s his night to cook!

And in our house, that means he is bringing home takeout!

Now, I am not saying that pizza night doesn’t have a place in our dinner rotation or that Chinese food needs to stay out of my house.

But I am saying that too much takeout can put a strain on one’s budget rather quickly.

Lately, we have felt that strain!

While adding that total up a couple of weeks ago, I felt completely defeated. Seeing the total amount of money that we spent on fast food was an eye-opener.

So, I did what any respectable commander would do. I convened my troops and explained that a lack of discipline is a surefire way to a path of failure.

And we are on that path.

You know, they kind of cocked their heads while they smiled and nodded, as if they understood... but I’m not a hundred percent sure they did.

But like any great leader, I continued on.

I explained to them that we need a plan, that the kitchen needs to produce meals that not only fuel their bodies but tend to their health, and that our constant diet of pizza, hoagies, burgers, and fried rice isn’t pulling its weight in fuel or vitamins.

That is when I introduced them to my blank menu planner. It is also when their smiles faded and they slid down a little in their chairs in protest.

My 17-year-old said, “Great, a plan.” With just a hint of sarcasm.

My 12-year-old said, “Not sure I understand how we are supposed to help with this.”

And my autistic 13-year-old said, “But I love burgers. Now I can never have them again!”

At first, this felt like a pin piercing my balloon, but this is where a seasoned commander knows that a little motivation can rally the troops to their way of thinking faster than an ultimatum.

So, I explained to them, in kid-friendly terms, that by eliminating our takeout nights for 50 days, seven weeks of takeout, we will be saving almost $1,000. And if they stay on board with me and stick to the plan, at the end of the seven weeks, we will all go out to a fancy sit-down restaurant of their choice!

They sat up quickly and said, “Where do we start?”

Together, we worked out the menu for the next three weeks: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And everyone has stuck to the menu!

As I write this, we are on day 18. Not only have we not spent any money on takeout, but our grocery store bill has gone down too. Because we now have a plan for each meal, we are no longer grabbing for quick, easy foods. Eggs and toast have replaced a bowl of cereal, leftover mac and cheese from last night’s dinner has been written in for today’s lunch, and the pot of meatballs that I made on Sunday will hold a second spot for dinner on Thursday.

My kids are happy because they don’t have to ask anymore what we are having for dinner... it is posted in the kitchen.

My 13-year-old is extremely happy because hamburgers are on the menu twice, once as a dinner and again as a lunch!

And every once in a while, I catch whispered conversations about where they want to go to eat and how dressed up they want to get!

And the Commander? I am less stressed. I see my kitchen work as a whole. I know what needs to come out of the freezer and defrost, which nights I need more prep time for, and what small jobs I can delegate out to the troops.

This is a win-win for everyone!

And my husband? He loves that he doesn’t have to stop anywhere on his way home from work! Want to try it with your own troops?

Download the menu planner we're using.