How many times a week do you ask yourself, What’s For Dinner? How much time a week are you planning out your family’s dinner meals, shopping lists and grocery shopping?

A lot! I know that I was spending more time than I wanted to in planning for our meals – probably just as much time or more as I did in cooking & eating them! Then a few months ago, I came across Menu In A Box. I won a free one year membership to the site by simply entering a giveaway on the blog. I was thrilled at the thought of it and trust me, it’s came in handy!

My favorite part of the membership was actually the free gift that came along with it, an e-book. Menu In a Box 200 Weeknight Dinners Budget & Family Friendly includes 40 weeks of meals along with shopping lists. All organized and ready to print for shopping and preparing your meals! You could add one night of leftovers and one night as a take-out or go out to eat and print a page from this ebook and you have an entire week planned in seconds!

Example of How to use 200 Weeknight Meals

If your family is easy to please in the meal department, you could print the lists off and use them in the order that they are. Everything, and I do mean everything, sounds great! I, however, have one child that eats everything in sight and one that is allergic to eggs as well as has some sensory issues (picky about way certain foods feel and/or look in his hands and/or mouth). While he seems to be doing a bit better lately with those sensory issues, I do usually have to make sure I have something else on hand that is most likely microwavable or quick to throw together like a sandwich. As there are 40 weeks to choose from, I have been known to skip through a few of them and print out ones in which everyone in the household is more likely to eat all or close to all the meals from that week. And others I have used a blank printable meal planner of my own and created the shopping list for a few of the meals from the e-book and a few of my own recipes. Since my children are toddler/preschool age, I’m sure they will out grow the picky stage and I’ll have more opportunity to use each and every one of the recipes!

Advantages of 200 Weeknight Dinners

Now here’s your chance to get a copy!

3 of my lucky readers will win a copy of 200 Weeknight Dinners!

Contest starts today May 20 and ends May 25 at 11PM EST

Winners will be announced on May 26th

You may visit Easy, Quick Dinners where you can find more information about this e-book.  

To enter this giveaway, Leave a comment below and tell us how this could help your household’s weeknight meal planning. For an extra entry (must have done the above first), Follow myself @LifeAsMama and Ruthie of Menu In A Box at @MenuInABox .  Tweet out the following, then comment below that you did so.

Win a Free E-Book, @MenuInABox’s 200 Weeknight Dinners | Enter: http://bit.ly/7JYiOT | via @LifeAsMama #MealPlanner #Giveaway

It’s that simple!

This All Purpose Treat Coupon from bablisme, is too cute. Better yet, it’s a printable and free! The obvious is to award your child and you can use these for anything whether it be school work completed correctly, chores completed on time, outstanding behavior/attitude, etc.

A few days ago I posted a review for the Take Out, Time Out Mat from MyPreciousKid.com.  Being the very generous company that they are, MyPreciousKid.com is giving away a Child Carseat Safety ID Card to 5 of my lucky readers!

The Child Carseat Safety ID Card allows you to place contact and emergency information in one place and attach to your child’s carseat or booster seat.  The card contains areas to place a recent photo of your child as well as the child’s name height, weight, date of birth, emergency phone numbers and other contact information.  It also has a place for your approval for medical personel to treat your child even if you are not there or unable to speak at the time.

Eligibility:

1. Must have a mailing address in the USA.
2. Must complete # 1 of the “How to Enter”.  Others listed are for extra entries – but #1 is a must!

How To Enter:

1. Visit MyPreciousKid.com and tell us what your favorite product is. Must!
2. Follow @MyPreciousKid on Twitter
3. Follow @MommyPlayground on Twitter, then let me know in a comment (with your twitter link for verification)
4. Twitter about this giveaway and get 1 entry for every time you tweet it!  Let us know that you did in a comment with the status link.

Contest Deadline: Saturday, February 28, 2009

Winner will be announced: Sunday, March 1, 2009