Meal Planning
The meal planning section of my Happy Planner
We’ve all heard that joke that the hardest thing about being an adult is figuring out what to eat every day for the rest of your life - but it’s so true! Meal planning can be a burdensome task, but I’ve finally, at 35, figured out the routine that works for me and my family.
First off - I plan my meals and grocery shopping around my pay schedule and what days of the week I’m in the office. Seems simple enough, but other than paying our house bills, I want to make sure we have food to fill our bellies before I spend my money on anything else. As for office days - for the most part I try to make those days leftover days. It’s a lot to pick Jack up from daycare, get him home & fed, and get a meal on the table. I’ve found it much easier to heat up leftovers on those days, it’s better for everyone’s sanity. I also try to plan what day I’m going grocery shopping (usually Thursday or Friday evening) and make an easier meal or use a defrosted meal I previously cooked so there’s less time on clean-up after dinner.
Second - I check the circular for the week and see what is on sale. I wish I was as good at couponing & saving as my mom, trust me, I’ve tried, but it just doesn’t work for me. I also wish I was the person that could run to multiple grocery stores to get the best deals. But guess what, ain’t nobody got time for that (or at least, I don’t!). I like my ShopRite, and if I’m getting real crazy, I’ll stop at Iovine’s Produce in Reading Terminal Market when I’m in the office if I need fresh produce. Generally I look for what produce and meats are on sale, and I try to build my meals around seasonal foods. For instance, corn is on sale this week and it’s perfect because we like to grill on Sundays now that the weather is nice. Who doesn’t love fresh grilled corn?! The other week eggplants were on sale, so I made eggplant parm.
My recipe book, where I keep recipes I’m given and recipes I collect.
Third - We are lucky enough to have a chest freezer, so when meat is on sale we can stock up, and I also keep ingredients for quick meals in there - frozen veggies, pierogies, kielbasa, sausage, pasta. This clears up space in my upstairs freezer for when I make something that freezes well - chili, pot pies, other soups - I double the recipe and will freeze half to have an easy meal later. Keeping these things in stock at home makes it easier to plan meals because not only do I have staples readily available, but if, for instance, chicken is really expensive that week, I already have some at home and don’t have to worry about buying it.
Fourth - Find your staples, and keep the ingredients for those meals on hand!! Some of my personal favorites include a red curry tofu stir fry, baked ravioli, pasta bolognese, burrito bowls, and Greek bowls. These all have pretty simple ingredients that can be pantry/freezer staples, easy to pull out and throw together a meal without really having to think about it. That being said, don’t be afraid to try new things! I try to incorporate at least 1 or 2 new recipes every meal planning “cycle” because you never know when you’ll find a new family favorite!
Frozen meals in my freezer.
Fifth - This is one we’re still working on, but put your leftovers away in single-serve portions so it’s easier to just grab & go for lunch the next day. You don’t have to think about putting something together and you don’t have to go through multiple containers to put a meal together. I also make breakfast burritos and freeze them, so when you need a quick breakfast (or, in my case, don’t feel like making a smoothie!) you can just unwrap one, put it in the microwave, and you have a delicious breakfast ready to go!
As I mentioned in my Planner Babe post, my planner is my LIFE, and thankfully, I have a meal planning extension pack added in. It’s good for not only making sure we’re not eating the same thing all the time, but also inspiring me for different meals when I can’t think of anything, and keeping track of the leftovers in the fridge. If I’m unsure if leftovers are ok, I can go back in my meal planner and say either ok, this is still good, or ew, get rid of it!
Before Jack, I was definitely not someone who meal planned very well. I was running to the grocery store or produce market every few days to pick up ingredients. Now, however, I have one big grocery trip, and only have to make a stop if I couldn’t find what I needed, or we unexpectedly run out of something. It makes life easier, because there’s not a question as to what’s for dinner every night, I spend one night planning for about an hour or so for all the meals over the following two weeks.
Do you meal plan? Do you wish you meal planned? What are some of your meal planning tips and tricks? Or, what are you questions about meal planning? Use the comment section below to discuss!!
Some of my favorite cook books, for when I want to mix it up (or need a refresher on one of our fave recipes).
