Meal Planning My Organized Chaos
What s The Point? Knowing what you will be preparing for each meal frees up your mind! Saves you money! Not wasting food because it didn t get used Means you can prepare balanced, healthy meals rather than relying on junk food, random thrown together meals and take-outs Can help you stick to a budget Eliminates last minute stress - which results in stressed mom and grumpy kids And answers that all time favourite question from the kids What s for dinner mom?
It doesn t work... I put this under mama because it usually falls on moms shoulders. I also know that I lot of moms have resistance to doing meal planning. Oh I tried meal planning, it doesn t work for me
There is not just one way! As you have heard me say, there isn t just way to do anything, the trick is finding what works for you. So I want to share some different approaches to meal planning so you can figure out which system will fit you and your family.
The Traditional Way Sit down once a week, get out your planner and write in what you are going to eat for each meal. Good time to get requests from the family and to consider which are busy days or when you will have a bit more time. Once you have your menu, check your kitchen stocks and write your shopping list. Do the grocery shopping and you are set for the week
The Backwards Way Go to the supermarket, have a rough idea of what you want to make When you get home, make a list of the things you have in stock Sit down and write up your meal plan, remember to consider busy days when you will be short of time
The Master File Put together a master file of 30-40 recipes that all the family like, are balanced and nutritious and easy to prepare Grab your planner and pick out meals from your master file for the week Check what you need and make your shopping list
The Themed Menu Decide on a theme for each day of the week Monday - Pasta Tuesday - Indian Wednesday - Crockpot/slow cooker dinner Thursday - Build your own (sushi, wraps etc.) Friday - Stir-fry
Points To Remember Think about what is happen during the week, which days will you be pushed for time? Make those your super quick meal days. Switch things up - try new recipes on days when you have more free time, meal times can become stagnant if everyone is bored of the same-ole same ole-menu When possible double up the quantities and put half in the freezer makes for a quick meal on a busy night Get savvy with the planning and pick veg that can be used in different meals, a bag of aubergines could do 2 meals, pasta with bacon and a tomato based sauce and in a Japanese style stir-fry Try and buy local, seasonal food - better for you and the environment!
Finding A System For You I created a few different versions of the meal planner, pick the one that you are drawn to, print it out and laminate and stick it up in your kitchen. Remember to fill it in using the method that fits your family Don t panic if the system you try doesn t work! Give it a couple of weeks, it takes time to get used to using a new system, if it still doesn t work then switch it up for another one Be conscious of how you feel when everything is organized and running to plan and WHY you feel that way then same goes for when the S#/T hits the fan, what went wrong?
My Organized Meal Planner! Breakfast Lunch Dinner Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Shopping List
My Organized Meal Planner! Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Breakfast Lunch Dinner Shopping List
Daily Menu Planner Meal What s on the menu? Notes Breakfast Poached eggs & bread Juice Yoghurt Juice Recipe - Juice Party pg 7 Lunch Out with Jane! Take snacks for the kids Dinner Asparagus pasta & tomato salad pasta recipe - Jamie magazine, issue 19, pg 45 Shopping List
Daily Menu Planner Meal What s on the menu? Notes Breakfast Lunch Dinner Shopping List