Meal Plan

Did you ever hear your parents ever say, “There are starving kids in Africa?”

I heard this rhetoric frequently when my parents were trying to get me to eat what was served and to finish my meal.

Meal planning is an intentional way to buy what you need and save money by planning ahead. At the beginning of each school year, we sat down as a family and reviewed our favorite meals and our schedules. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner times 7 days. We would map it out: basics to keep on hand for on-the-go, fast meals, and relaxing prep meals. We noted what days/ evenings we were gone, which days the crockpot was the best option, and who was in charge of picking up kids and preparing meals. My crockpot became my best friend when I was raising kids, just like your instant pot or airfryer might have become yours. The cooking appliances of convenience that make our lives much easier became our go-to’s each and every week or several times each week.

Planning meals may seem tedious and dull, but it is a lifesaver in a busy household.

Even in the age of online grocery ordering, delivery, and pick up, these ideas are very important to keep your kitchen organized. But here are some tips:

• take an inventory of your shelves, pantry, fridge and freezer

• write out your menus

• watch for seasonal produce and specials

• then write out the grocery lists in groups of shopping at the store: dairy, meats, canned goods, produce, breads. It makes it so much smoother walking through the store and not having to backtrack.

• cook/prep 3 to 5 meals at a time or use the 2 to 4 week make ahead plan. I have done both and I succeed more with making a few meals at a time. Do what is best for you.
  

For the 30 day Whole Foods Meal Prep, check this out: https://amzn.to/3MhjroK

Take time to walk through your grocery store and list the aisles that you frequent, then organize your list by aisle.