When it comes to homeschooling and being with kids all day long, I have to do what I can to limit the amount of extra thinking in my day. Second grade math is about my limit, is that normal? (Don’t answer.) Since I can’t skip over place value notation, skipping over standing in front of the fridge and deciding what’s for lunch is the next best thing I have.
I recently learned about the idea of a dinner matrix (this is where you assign a specific food or type of food to each day of the week. For example, pasta on Mondays. Pick a pasta, any pasta!) It was so handy, I thought why not use something similar for lunch?
So I made one. Mine is more of a rotation than a matrix because all the meals are fixed. But very similar idea!
My entrees are something simple that I know everyone will like. (I save meal time battles for when there are two parents around.)
Here is ours:
Monday: Macaroni and Cheese
Tuesday: Peanut Butter and Jelly or (Cream Cheese and Jelly) Sandwiches
Wednesday: Bean and Cheese Quesadillas
Thursday: Smoothies and Popcorn
Friday: Cheese and Crackers or Grilled Cheese (kids choice)
Saturday: Leftovers/Raid the Kitchen
Sunday: Family Brunch
To each of these I add a fruit and raw veggie. Easy! (The lunch formula: main entree + fruit and veggie.) I rotate through a handful of the same ones every week.
I switch my rotation seasonally so that we don’t get too bored. Honestly, my kids could eat their favorites over and over, so we don’t change a whole lot.
As much as I would love to serve tomato soup and crab salad sandwiches with a cup of custard and a tiny vase of violets, I am unfortunately unable to live up to Mother in Bread and Jam for Frances. (Though as story book mothers go, she’s one of my favorites.)
I hope you feel inspired by our lunch rotation! And read Bread and Jam for Frances! It’s so good.
For more candid thoughts on faith, motherhood and homeschooling, subscribe to my Substack newsletter!
