WEEKLY MEAL PLANNING
This will be my third week sitting down on Sunday and planning the meals for the week. I cannot tell you what a life changing thing this has been for me.
Before I tried meal planning, most nights as dinner time approached, I didn't know what I was going to make. I often started dinners later than I should have so my kids ate not so nutritious snacks to fill them up until dinner was ready.
The few nights that I decided what I was going to cook early in the day, I often could not find the right ingredients easily or I would forget a key ingredient so the meal would have to be postponed for a day or maybe more.
Sometimes to remedy this recurring dilemma, I would make the kids a quick and easy meal that they loved, but that I hated and refused to eat - like macaroni & cheese from a box or chicken breasts smothered in cream of chicken soup.
That left me hungry. A peanut butter sandwich and a yogurt smoothie is fine every so often in a pinch, but when it became the norm, I knew something had to change. I felt hungry and unsatisified more often than not and filled up on anything random in the house - sometmies that was a piece of toast, other times it was a graham cracker with icing! Gross and horrible. I couldn't believe how bad my eating habits had gotten. Back in the States it was so much easier to throw together a quick, healthy & satisfying meal. I was lost without Costco, Trader Joes & Whole Foods!
When I got desperate enough, I decided to put in a little effort on the front end of the week and try meal planning.
I saw a HUGE difference in the first week. I chose four or five meals from my favorite cook books and online resources (cookinglight.com; foodnetwork.com), made my grocery list, checked my cabinets and fridge to see what I needed and spent an hour or two on Monday collecting the things on my list. I wasn't able to find everything but by the time I needed an item, I had managed to find it some where on my normal route. I had to make some adjustments - moving a meal, trading a meal, but it was so nice to know when I woke up in the morning what I was going to make that night!
It felt so good!
I planned meal prepartion into my day. If I knew my day was going to be busy, I chopped vegetables the night before. I chose time consuming meals to be made the day I scheduled to be at home all day.
And this past week, I had a stroke of genius! There were 5 onions on my shopping list which indicated to me, I was going to need a lot of chopped onions throughout the week, so when I got out my first onion to dice, I kept right on dicing through to my third onion. The extras I put in a Tupperware container and froze them. Time saver right there! They were ready for my next two recipes!
None of these ideas are new. But they feel new and exciting when you haven't been utilizing them for a few years. And when they are needed so badly!
It is kind of hoaky and cliche, but it feels good to be able to feed three hungry boys delicious and nutritious meals when they come home ravished from a long, hard day at school.
My confidence and self-esteem as a mother has climbed a few notches over the past two weeks! So, I'm not giving it up!
Meal Plan Monday, Week 3
Monday - Chicken Satay with broccoli (try to find Chinese broccoli recipe so B & N will eat)
Tuesday - Falafel
Wednesday - macaroni & cheese by request (Nicholas) - p. 287 in The New Best Recipe Cookbook (adding in a can of rinsed cannelini beans pureed for protein and fiber, using canola oil spread in place of butter)
Thursday - Salmon Cakes with
Friday - Take out from Annie's & Mom and Dad out for dinner
Sat or Sun - Lemon Chicken other day leftovers
I just started meal planning about a month ago and I love it. It really makes my week so much easier. Which reminds me, I need to get working on next weeks plan! Yours sounds delicious.
Posted by: MonicaB | April 24, 2011 at 12:06
Hi Monica, I think I might have discovered the link up on your blog! Ive been wondering whose it was since with BFSS I visit so many blogs these days its hard to keep track. I had been considering it for various reasons anyway and then when I discovered the link-up, it was just the motivation I needed. So, I owe you a huge thanks for sharing that on your blog!
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | April 24, 2011 at 16:23
Sounds brilliant. I like your idea of pureed beans in mac-n-cheese. I usually throw in diced carrot or other small veg with the mac while its boiling, so its mac-n-veg-n-cheese, which Viv loves. I try meal planning from time to time, too, but often my husband has last minute dinners out which means I wind up with way too much food one night, too many leftovers, and a plan that's off for the rest of the week. But I'm motivated to try again!
Posted by: Kiley Ariail | April 25, 2011 at 02:23
I wish I could add veg to mine but then it is mutiny. My one son forces me to use Sneaky Chef tactics. He ate my veg lasagne last week but all veg was pureed I had to add in a few bits of beef (kind of makes it not veg lasagne then) but he ate it and LOVED it! Victory for me! Could you freeze your leftovers? Last week I over planned so I have a few meals already planned (with correct supplies) for this week. At home before child #3, we used to cook one Sunday for a month and keep everything in the freezer. I loved that! But it would take almost the whole weekend.
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | April 25, 2011 at 05:32
I've been meal planning for a few months now, and I so know what you mean about it being life changing! It seems to take LESS time doesn't it? My grocery shop takes less time and I am sure I am saving money. My 2 kids are grown up now and not always there for dinner, so I freeze portions to have when I get that 'can't be bothered' feeling!
Posted by: Linda | April 25, 2011 at 05:44
If I werent in Beijing paying exorbitant import prices, I probably would be saving money too. But it takes a lot less time and definitely saves on mental stress. And I love having healthy, tasty leftovers in my fridge that Im happy to have for lunch the next day, when the kids come home starving or for dinner on one of those cant be bothered days - to quote you!
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | April 25, 2011 at 06:05
Love your meal planning post! I do it by the month and it does take a LOT of time, but it's worth it in the end! It takes the added rush out of the 4-5pm part of the day!
Posted by: Rebekah | April 25, 2011 at 21:40
Anything that saves time is a wonderful thing. I plan meals in advance, as well. It takes away the "what should I prepare for dinner tonight?" conversation we have with ourselves as we stare inside the refrigerator.
Posted by: Valerie Serfozo | April 26, 2011 at 05:25
So true
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | April 26, 2011 at 06:14
I always used to do this sort of meal planning when my kids were younger....it's such a time saver....not to mention.....stress saver!!!
But now they're 'adults' it doesn't work so well.....as they often don't want dinner at the last minute......or turn up really late.....but I have noticed I'm now eating a lot more 'junk'!!!!
Posted by: Jacky S | April 26, 2011 at 07:56