Meal Planning for the Christmas Holidays

Christmas is three weeks away but today is a perfect time to plan your holiday menu!

First, decide what special holiday meals you will be making.

Perhaps you want a Christmas Eve dinner.  Or maybe a special Christmas Day breakfast or brunch. Or possibly the traditional Christmas dinner.  You may want all!  Whatever you choose, you will want to be prepared.

Second, create your menu.

Include your special holiday dishes that are tradition for your family.  Since we share Thanksgiving with many people, I like to choose some dishes for Christmas that have become tradition for our family through the years.

Third, collect your recipes and place in your binder.

Just like Thanksgiving, gather all the recipes you will need to make your special meals.  You will not have to search on the day for that one recipe and can't find it.  And you will be able to create your shopping list from the recipes.

Fourth, create your grocery shopping list.

Yes, make that list now!  

1.  Your grocery budget will not be shocked on Christmas week. 

2.  You can pick up items during the month that you need when they are on sale.

3.  Your shopping trip will not be overwhelming if you spread it out over a month.

Here is a simple meal planning sheet that is adaptable for your holiday meal planning.

Meal Planning Sheet

Here is my Christmas dinner menu.  You can change the menu and print this as well.  :)

Christmas Dinner Menu 2014

Happy holiday planning!