it is very hard to menu plan! I find that the easiest way to approach it is by looking at main cooked meals first and try to incorporate pasta, rice, potatoes and couscous at least once a week, usually doubling up on the pasta or potatoes for the other day. I then look to also include fish, chicken, a red meat, eggs or cheese and pulses on each of the days so once again you get a balance across the week. I then look at the lighter meal and try to make sure I include a completely different protein and carbohydrate to that being eaten at tea on that day. So, for example, my next weeks menu is:-
Mon
Lunch Vegetable & lentil soup, crusty rolls
Tea Beef casserole, rice & green veg
Toasted Hot Cross Buns & fruit
Tues
Lunch Cheese & tomato panini pizza, salad
Tea Homemade fish gougons, homemade chips, sweetcorn & peas
Flapjacks & fruit
Wed
Lunch Home made Sausage rolls, carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes
Tea Moroccan vegetable tagine (chickpeas) and couscous
Tropical fruit salad
Thurs
Lunch Scrambled egg, toasted muffins, babycorn & dwarf beans
Tea Roast Chicken, Roast potatoes & parsnips, carrrots & cabbage
Apple crumble & custard
Fri
Lunch Choice of sandwiches (chicken, ham or tuna) & salad
Tea Pasta, tomato & mozerella bake & broccoli
Fresh fruit jelly & icecream
At lunch I only offer a free choice of framag frais, yoghurt and fruit.
I will then mix around the protein and carbohydrate content to different days on the next week to make sure that children who only come on a few days do not always end up eating the same things.
Other favourites in my house which are not on your menu are
Main meals - shepherds pie
spaghetti bolognese
salmon fish cakes
lentil & vegetable stew (served with cous cous)
chicken & noodles
pork meatballs in tomato sauce
macoroni cheese
Light meals - Eggy bread
Cauliflower & broccoli cheese with bread & butter
Houmous & pitta bread
Hope this helps!
Coral