Fail to plan, plan to fail? Is this true for you? I’m personally much more likely to put wholesome balanced meals together for us when I do a little planning and a little prep work. I’ll list a few methods that work for me. Maybe one or a couple can help you in your daily juggle too. Maybe you already do some of these. Maybe you can add to this list.
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- Make a dinner meal plan each week for at least 5 meals at home.
- Shop for those meals and any pantry staples running low.
- #primenow is my friend if I can’t get to a store
- Cook once, eat twice whenever possible
- Use fresh ingredients as much as possible
- Type up family favorites and pop them in a sheet protector in a 3 ring binder to make again as soon as possible
- Chop, mix, or prep anything that can be done in advance the night before, the morning of, or any stolen moment of the day. Every moment saved adds up.
- Keep it simple. Fun recipes are great but not necessary. Especially not every night. A roasted chicken and veggies can be served a myriad of different ways.
- Leftovers are your friend. Repeat or make it new with a couple changes. Serve over sprouted rice or as a salad. A sauce can make most things new 😉
- Plan meals as fuel. Protein, vitamins, fiber, minerals… We’d never put gas-like liquid in our cars. But we’re quick to put food-like products in our “tanks.” Thinking of food as my fuel helps me enjoy real food more.
- Less items that have a long ingredients list. Let good be the ingredients.
- Soup. Throw stuff in a pot. Feed many for multiple days.
- Special tools aren’t necessary but can make a huge difference if you have them. A slow cooker or instant pot can be such a help! Shred chicken with a hand mixer. An immersion blender for potato mashing or creamy soups. A powerful blender for so many things.
- A few proper tools like a silicone spoonula 🙌🏼
- Have fun! Food is fuel and were SO fortunate to get to experience it in such yummy flavors, colors, textures, and creative ways.