Happens all the time, doesn't it?

I took a good look at the way many of us moms (and dads, too) plan out our weekly meals and came up with the following thoughts as to why this scenario happens and how to avoid this frustrating trap.

-- Tastes yummy

Have you ever done this? Picked out a recipe because it "looked great", but when it comes time to cook you realize it's way more work than you're willing to do at that moment. The straightforward answer to this challenge is to look over that recipe upfront. Yummy is only one part of the criteria. Imagine cooking it and see if it still makes the list.

-- Good for us

I've done this one. A recipe appears to be "healthy looking" so it makes my weekly dinner menu. But when it comes time to cook I really want yummy and so does my family. Heaven knows, if I don't like the way a recipe tastes I'm not cooking it! That's definitely one of the benefits of being the chef.

The answer is a simple one again. Lots of healthy recipes taste yummy, too. Take a look at those ingredients upfront. Does my family like those things? That blend of spices? There's a time for trying new recipes, of course, but if you simply know that your family won't like the taste of a recipe, serving it will simply put a bad taste in their mouths for all things labeled "healthy".

-- Use up leftovers

You've been staring at the odd assortment of leftovers in your fridge for a week. So when working up your weekly dinner menu you aim for recipes that will frugally use up those food tidbits.

Certainly a wise and savvy idea. But keep in mind that a meal served which no one finishes wastes not only the original leftovers, but the ingredients added to create the new dish.

I find simple works best for leftovers. Adding a new sauce or a different side of veggies is often all that's needed. Makes leftover night fast, too!

-- Easy to cook

I fall into this trap from time to time. I always need a couple easy-to-cook meals on my weekly dinner menus.

Well, easy is fine. However, there has to be enough parts to the finished product to make a tasty creation.

Ketchup squirted on an open can of tuna is not going to make it.

That's why when I discover an easy meal that is actually easy AND yummy, I save that recipe immediately. That way I always have a handy stockpile of super-simple meals when the schedule demands it.

As you can see, wanting to cook what you plan is often a matter of thinking through individual recipes at the time you prepare weekly dinner menus. Taking a few more minutes upfront equates to time saved during the week as well as happier faces around the dinner table.

Including yours, mom.