The final step to successful meal planning, STICK WITH IT!!! It's challenging but so rewarding. The time and money saved will be astonishing. Although it's hard in the beginning it will become easier with time. Be patient with yourself and learn to enjoy this time.
Showing posts with label 7 Days to Successful Meal Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 7 Days to Successful Meal Planning. Show all posts
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
7 Days to Successful Meal Planning: Day 6
The truth of the matter is this step is quite time consuming when you first start. However, although it seems time consuming in the beginning you'll find even in the first week that it will save you an immense amount of time. I have tried a lot of different tactics to meal prep, prior to finding the tactic that works best for me. So here it goes...I prep nearly EvErYtHiNg to completion all in one day to ensure that I am using what's on my meal plan and to avoid those easy trips to a restaurant as a last minute excuse to not have to make dinner or a forgotten ingredient.
This doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to do it, as you bring everything up to it's final step minus baking. No one really wants leftovers every night, as there is nothing that is so good as a freshly prepared dinner. So if I'm having a steak dinner with a tossed salad, I will trim the steaks place the steaks in a leak-proof container in their marinade of choice and let them be till the night they make their arrival. Even better, if my husband beats me home and is feeling like doing dinner for me, he simply checks the menu and fires up the grill!!! Casserole type dishes, I will go as far as the step immediately before placing it in the oven and put some foil or a cover over it and place it in my fridge. Crockpot meals? I place those in storage containers and then dump right in the crockpot morning of on my way out the door. Often times I have more than one meal a week that I need my crockpot for, so I will go ahead and prep the first meal in the removable container and store the rest. Soup...made up to the point of throwing into the sauce pan and warming it up.
The best part of prepping all of your meals at once...your "dish" has the chance to mingle with all the other spices/ingredients allowing for maximum flavor!!! Also, you pretty much only have to clean up the table afterwards as all your prep dishes were all washed at one time!!! Counters are clean for the most part and the evening is yours for the taking.
Monday, March 4, 2013
7 Days to Successful Meal Planning: Day 5
So now that we have meals listed out on our calendar and have inventoried the food that we already have stocking our cupboards, refrigerator, or freezer...we will need to come up with a grocery list. I do not usually do this after I have created a meal plan because I find it easiest to do at the same time I add the menu items to the calendar and have the ingredient lists in front of me.
Take a look at the templates below to see if any of these would work for you. The first one is rather simple, and would work best for planning one meal a day, but we all need to start somewhere. It is graciously provided by Mindfully Frugal Mom:
I am a little more detailed in my meal planning and use a different template such as the one listed below provided by The Jones Family, I like it because it is very simple and provides you area to plan for 3 meals a day and includes a snack! I also like that it gives you ample room to list out your groceries. The only thing that I could think of to make this better would be to add a category list in the right hand section to make your shopping easier:
Here is yet an even more in depth tool that would capture even more of the art of meal planning and using first what you have and then with a shopping list area by ecoMomicalMe, I personally dislike having to much paper around or to many calenders to maintain, so this would be a bit to much for me, but all in all it has great substance to it as far as meal planning and design goes:
Finally for all you tech savvy readers, all of these listed above are great tools to use, but for those of you who have a smart phone or prefer paperless, I personally have found the app "Buy Me a Pie" to be the best solution. I plan out my meals on paper, but add my grocery list items to my app to keep them at my finger tips. The app allows me to create shopping lists in my phone and add items to each list by color category, making grocery shopping with three small children much easier. Seeing that all of my groceries are color coded by produce, dry goods, meats, etc. I am able to shop each area of the grocery store quickly and effectively and hopefully without forgetting an item. Better yet, you can use this app for free for the simpler version, but if you would like the full app that is totally worth it, there is a small fee to upgrade. You're also able to create multiple lists in this app, because maybe you're like me and you have different stores that you go to for particular items. Or you think to yourself, next time I go to Target I really need to pick up "...". Create a list to make it even more user friendly. I have had great luck with this app and believe me I have tried my fair share of grocery shopping applications. But this one by far has my vote. I have included a little snap shot of the screen for your viewing pleasure:
Finally prior to closing up this blog post before I have lost your attention from all of my ramblings...by the way this is my blog and I'm the rule maker on here, so I am free to do that...let's discuss grocery shopping a little bit. So you now have this wonderful grocery list that is color coded and mapped out, now what? I know, it's pretty logical, we are going grocery shopping. I personally prefer to grocery shop on Tuesdays. Why you ask? Well, I am not exactly fond of waiting in line and prefer fully stocked shelves of the items I need and have prepped for prior to running to the store. I find that if I shop on Saturday, it's just mad chaos with people trying to get all of their errands out of the way. The shelves are picked over and the options are limited...but Tuesdays, grocery shopping is a breeze. The options are endless as the trucks have been delivered on Monday and the stock is fresh and replenished from the weekend rush. The isles are far less crowded and my time is far less consumed. If you are really lucky and are able to do this in the morning on a Tuesday you have your work cut out for you!
I'm sure you're thinking...okay day 5 out of 7, what could possibly be left...but trust me you don't want to miss out so come back to find out what's left to create the most effective meal plan from start to finish.
Take a look at the templates below to see if any of these would work for you. The first one is rather simple, and would work best for planning one meal a day, but we all need to start somewhere. It is graciously provided by Mindfully Frugal Mom:
I am a little more detailed in my meal planning and use a different template such as the one listed below provided by The Jones Family, I like it because it is very simple and provides you area to plan for 3 meals a day and includes a snack! I also like that it gives you ample room to list out your groceries. The only thing that I could think of to make this better would be to add a category list in the right hand section to make your shopping easier:
Here is yet an even more in depth tool that would capture even more of the art of meal planning and using first what you have and then with a shopping list area by ecoMomicalMe, I personally dislike having to much paper around or to many calenders to maintain, so this would be a bit to much for me, but all in all it has great substance to it as far as meal planning and design goes:
Finally prior to closing up this blog post before I have lost your attention from all of my ramblings...by the way this is my blog and I'm the rule maker on here, so I am free to do that...let's discuss grocery shopping a little bit. So you now have this wonderful grocery list that is color coded and mapped out, now what? I know, it's pretty logical, we are going grocery shopping. I personally prefer to grocery shop on Tuesdays. Why you ask? Well, I am not exactly fond of waiting in line and prefer fully stocked shelves of the items I need and have prepped for prior to running to the store. I find that if I shop on Saturday, it's just mad chaos with people trying to get all of their errands out of the way. The shelves are picked over and the options are limited...but Tuesdays, grocery shopping is a breeze. The options are endless as the trucks have been delivered on Monday and the stock is fresh and replenished from the weekend rush. The isles are far less crowded and my time is far less consumed. If you are really lucky and are able to do this in the morning on a Tuesday you have your work cut out for you!
I'm sure you're thinking...okay day 5 out of 7, what could possibly be left...but trust me you don't want to miss out so come back to find out what's left to create the most effective meal plan from start to finish.
Monday, February 11, 2013
7 Days to Successful Meal Planning: Day 4
Day 4: Keeping a list of your favorites.
We all have our favorite recipes, the tried and true. If you always have tacos on Tuesdays, there is no reason not to...put it on Tuesdays, heck...one less day you have to "really" plan a week. We have favorites at our house as well. Those that have the stamp of approval from the littles and those that have been asked to please not be made again. For your convenience I will put a star on each recipe that my kids beg for...you will be shocked...and trust me I am too sometimes. So when you see the little *, it will equal kid friendly.
Now, while we are talking about what to put on your menu, you will notice that most of the items that are listed on my meal plan are not going to contain any of the following:
So let's get down and dirty...hee hee...let's make a plan for the week. Refer to day 3 to see your mapped out schedule and let's begin. My meal plan will consist of a maximum of two nights in a week of red meat. Red meat sits in your belly and takes quite a while to digest. It also isn't very friendly on the waist line. The meals that I create focus on the maximum amount of veggies that I can cram into a meal without my children noticing and plenty of lean meats. (Generally Turkey or Chicken.) Don't be afraid to try new things either! So for starters put the meals that take the longest on the nights that you have the most time to spend in the kitchen. For the nights that life doesn't seem to have enough time to do a thing, a roast with loads of veggies in the crockpot will do! Trust me, there is nothing better than coming home to the aroma of food being cooked in the crockpot, let alone hot and ready when you walk in the door! So hop to it...see if you can come up with 7 full meals...
Before you do that, don't forget what we did on day 1!!! Remember all of those items that are in your fridge and cupboards that need to be used up before they expire...try to come up with as many recipes that use up those ingredients first.
This will become easier as time passes and you have more experience. If you like, use my weekly meal plan post for your family!
We all have our favorite recipes, the tried and true. If you always have tacos on Tuesdays, there is no reason not to...put it on Tuesdays, heck...one less day you have to "really" plan a week. We have favorites at our house as well. Those that have the stamp of approval from the littles and those that have been asked to please not be made again. For your convenience I will put a star on each recipe that my kids beg for...you will be shocked...and trust me I am too sometimes. So when you see the little *, it will equal kid friendly.
Now, while we are talking about what to put on your menu, you will notice that most of the items that are listed on my meal plan are not going to contain any of the following:
- grains
- gluten
- legumes
- refined sugar
- and only very occasionally will you find dairy
So let's get down and dirty...hee hee...let's make a plan for the week. Refer to day 3 to see your mapped out schedule and let's begin. My meal plan will consist of a maximum of two nights in a week of red meat. Red meat sits in your belly and takes quite a while to digest. It also isn't very friendly on the waist line. The meals that I create focus on the maximum amount of veggies that I can cram into a meal without my children noticing and plenty of lean meats. (Generally Turkey or Chicken.) Don't be afraid to try new things either! So for starters put the meals that take the longest on the nights that you have the most time to spend in the kitchen. For the nights that life doesn't seem to have enough time to do a thing, a roast with loads of veggies in the crockpot will do! Trust me, there is nothing better than coming home to the aroma of food being cooked in the crockpot, let alone hot and ready when you walk in the door! So hop to it...see if you can come up with 7 full meals...
Before you do that, don't forget what we did on day 1!!! Remember all of those items that are in your fridge and cupboards that need to be used up before they expire...try to come up with as many recipes that use up those ingredients first.
This will become easier as time passes and you have more experience. If you like, use my weekly meal plan post for your family!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
7 Days to Successful Meal Planning: Day 3
Day 3: What does your week look like?
I know what you're thinking, "Good grief lady!!! It's day 3 and we still don't have a meal on the plan!" Relax...we're getting closer. Day 3 is all about planning your week. I'm guessing you or your family are busy. Regardless if it's sports, extra curricular activities, hanging out with friends, late night work meetings...we all have things going on and generally these events are cram packed right during or around meal time. I can't tell you how many times I have come home from work and thought, "Let's just go out, I don't feel like cooking tonight or don't have time". Well, maybe you don't have to if you plan out your week.
Map out your calender to best reflect what is going on during your week. Call me a bit old fashion, but I maintain a family calendar right on my refrigerator. I really like to have it mapped out right in front of me in Grand Central Station, otherwise known as my kitchen. However you keep your schedule or whereever you keep your schedule you need it for day 3.
In my home we generally eat at the same time each night give or take 30 minutes. It tends to keep the munchkins happy that way. So I plan my meals based on what we are doing each night. If we are going to be eating out one night, I write it on the calendar. If it's going to be a night where I won't have enough time to even warm something up between work and wherever we're running off to, I mark it off as a crockpot meal. I do this for each day to ensure that I have the adequate meal planned out with as little stress involved as possible. This generally takes me less than 90 seconds. So don't you worry, this isn't as time consuming as reading this post is! :) I also try to anticipate one "large" meal and put it at the end of the week...this is my, "Just in Case We Have Company" meal.
There you have it...it concludes day 3. Know what you have going on during the week to plan accordingly. You're not going to want to miss Day 4 as we're going to start putting food on your meal plan!
I know what you're thinking, "Good grief lady!!! It's day 3 and we still don't have a meal on the plan!" Relax...we're getting closer. Day 3 is all about planning your week. I'm guessing you or your family are busy. Regardless if it's sports, extra curricular activities, hanging out with friends, late night work meetings...we all have things going on and generally these events are cram packed right during or around meal time. I can't tell you how many times I have come home from work and thought, "Let's just go out, I don't feel like cooking tonight or don't have time". Well, maybe you don't have to if you plan out your week.
Map out your calender to best reflect what is going on during your week. Call me a bit old fashion, but I maintain a family calendar right on my refrigerator. I really like to have it mapped out right in front of me in Grand Central Station, otherwise known as my kitchen. However you keep your schedule or whereever you keep your schedule you need it for day 3.
In my home we generally eat at the same time each night give or take 30 minutes. It tends to keep the munchkins happy that way. So I plan my meals based on what we are doing each night. If we are going to be eating out one night, I write it on the calendar. If it's going to be a night where I won't have enough time to even warm something up between work and wherever we're running off to, I mark it off as a crockpot meal. I do this for each day to ensure that I have the adequate meal planned out with as little stress involved as possible. This generally takes me less than 90 seconds. So don't you worry, this isn't as time consuming as reading this post is! :) I also try to anticipate one "large" meal and put it at the end of the week...this is my, "Just in Case We Have Company" meal.
There you have it...it concludes day 3. Know what you have going on during the week to plan accordingly. You're not going to want to miss Day 4 as we're going to start putting food on your meal plan!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
7 Days to Successful Meal Planning: Day 2
Day 2: Organization
If you completed Day 1, by taking inventory of your food, knowing what you have and ridding yourself of all those items that are unhealthy, expired, etc. you are all set to move into the organization stage of meal planning. We are about to organize your cupboards, pantry, freezer, fridge, etc. That's right...those pesky organization crazy ladies, I'm one of them. I can't function if I don't have my pantry organized. If it's canned and tomato...it's going to be with the canned goods and tomato products. If it's a baking good such as almond flour and coconut flour they are gong to be found in the containers in my pantry.
Just to show you that I am not just blowing smoke, I will show you the inside of our pantry...it's tiny, minimal, and perfect for my needs. It has been modified by adding little shelving units to give us some extra shelves, but it suits its purpose...and yes people, I don't keep much on hand. If you decide to use my meal planning, you'll notice that most of this isn't even stuff I use...I maybe use a quarter of it, the rest I probably need to just toss or find a good home for...anyone eat beans? They are rarely, if ever used on my meal plan...and I could use these little containers much more appropriately for things that I do use.
Maybe you're wondering where I found all my containers without spending a fortune? I am a "Maxinista". I love TJ Maxx!!! I frequently shop their kitchen section for fun/practical reasonably priced storage containers. And when I find what I want, I buy it...and buy it to what I plan on using it for. These containers are perfect for stacking. I try not to buy all the same as they fit much better and make for much easier stacking. Stay away from bulky jars or from round containers. These take up essential space.
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Next area, the one that I dread...the fridge. This is pretty much what it looks like when it is almost grocery day...it just never looks pretty. I'll post what it looks like on a regular day coming up here soon! But this is what it looks like.
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Next, here are my liquids...oils and vinegars...and then last but not least, my spices. My spice cabinet is a work in progress. I'm too cheap to buy all matching glass bottles, but it's on the list. Archer Farms spices are a little spendy, but as I do it one at a time I replace the plastic with the glass...and when I run out, I refill with spices I buy from the bulk supply. (You can see those containers on my bottom shelf...I prefer when they come in plastic bags rather than containers because I know I pay more for those little containers.)
So there you have it, nothing special, but organized and minimal. I find it easiest to know what you have and where it is...this also helps when coming to planning your meals and creating your grocery list. You're one step closer to creating a successful meal plan.
If you completed Day 1, by taking inventory of your food, knowing what you have and ridding yourself of all those items that are unhealthy, expired, etc. you are all set to move into the organization stage of meal planning. We are about to organize your cupboards, pantry, freezer, fridge, etc. That's right...those pesky organization crazy ladies, I'm one of them. I can't function if I don't have my pantry organized. If it's canned and tomato...it's going to be with the canned goods and tomato products. If it's a baking good such as almond flour and coconut flour they are gong to be found in the containers in my pantry.
Just to show you that I am not just blowing smoke, I will show you the inside of our pantry...it's tiny, minimal, and perfect for my needs. It has been modified by adding little shelving units to give us some extra shelves, but it suits its purpose...and yes people, I don't keep much on hand. If you decide to use my meal planning, you'll notice that most of this isn't even stuff I use...I maybe use a quarter of it, the rest I probably need to just toss or find a good home for...anyone eat beans? They are rarely, if ever used on my meal plan...and I could use these little containers much more appropriately for things that I do use. Maybe you're wondering where I found all my containers without spending a fortune? I am a "Maxinista". I love TJ Maxx!!! I frequently shop their kitchen section for fun/practical reasonably priced storage containers. And when I find what I want, I buy it...and buy it to what I plan on using it for. These containers are perfect for stacking. I try not to buy all the same as they fit much better and make for much easier stacking. Stay away from bulky jars or from round containers. These take up essential space.
.JPG)
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Next area, the one that I dread...the fridge. This is pretty much what it looks like when it is almost grocery day...it just never looks pretty. I'll post what it looks like on a regular day coming up here soon! But this is what it looks like. .JPG)
Next, here are my liquids...oils and vinegars...and then last but not least, my spices. My spice cabinet is a work in progress. I'm too cheap to buy all matching glass bottles, but it's on the list. Archer Farms spices are a little spendy, but as I do it one at a time I replace the plastic with the glass...and when I run out, I refill with spices I buy from the bulk supply. (You can see those containers on my bottom shelf...I prefer when they come in plastic bags rather than containers because I know I pay more for those little containers.)So there you have it, nothing special, but organized and minimal. I find it easiest to know what you have and where it is...this also helps when coming to planning your meals and creating your grocery list. You're one step closer to creating a successful meal plan.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
7 Days to Successful Meal Planning: Day 1
Day 1: Inventory Your Food
Who knew it could take seven days to create a successful meal plan? Well, in order to begin we really need to take a look at what you already have by taking an inventory of your current food supply. What's in those cupboards, pantries, fridge, freezer, etc?
The most successful thing that you can do is to see what you have and build your meal plan off of what you already have in stock, as long as it is healthy. As you continue this journey with me, I'll help you to decide what benefits your health and what doesn't. I can promise you this though...if it comes in a box, such as Hamburger Helper and similar items, has lot of ingredients you are uncertain of, or contains artificial ingredients...let's just put those in the food pantry donation bag. I'm sorry, but there is just no way that these items are going to make the cut.
Start with your fridge...checked your condiments lately for expiration dates? This usually is the best place to start. I find this is where time slips by quickly and my condiments don't seem to be following suit. Keep a wastebasket near, because if this isn't something that you do often you may be surprised. Check expiration on essentially everything, toss or keep? I keep a list of what needs to be used in what order (at this point it doesn't have much in it other than what's on the meal plan.) I try to use everything I can with maximum freshness in mind. I also don't want anything to go to waste, remember...Mercedes Diet, Kia Budget. So if you have something that's going to be going badly quickly, let's plan on using those up first.
Know what you have and we'll see you tomorrow for Day 2 of 7 Days of Successful Meal Planning!!!
Who knew it could take seven days to create a successful meal plan? Well, in order to begin we really need to take a look at what you already have by taking an inventory of your current food supply. What's in those cupboards, pantries, fridge, freezer, etc?
The most successful thing that you can do is to see what you have and build your meal plan off of what you already have in stock, as long as it is healthy. As you continue this journey with me, I'll help you to decide what benefits your health and what doesn't. I can promise you this though...if it comes in a box, such as Hamburger Helper and similar items, has lot of ingredients you are uncertain of, or contains artificial ingredients...let's just put those in the food pantry donation bag. I'm sorry, but there is just no way that these items are going to make the cut.
Know what you have and we'll see you tomorrow for Day 2 of 7 Days of Successful Meal Planning!!!
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