Meal Planning 101
Hey Busy Mamas!!
I know -- you think you don't have time to meal plan and figure out what you and all those little mouths are going to eat this week. I was totally there too when I first became a mom -- because the way I was doing my meal planning before --- was taking WAYYYY to long!!
.
So I am going to share with you, some of my hacks to make it take 20 minutes or less ( depending on how simple you want to be!)
STEP 1: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT?
So the first thing I do (this is usually the longest step -- and I do it before I even sit down to meal plan -- so I don't really count this in the actual putting pen to paper part) I ask my hubby what he wants for dinner this week.
Ryan is fairly picky --- so I hate picking dinners without asking him -- because I want to make sure he will eat it! This step is usually done on Saturday at some point. It is usually about a 5 minute conversation. If you don't have a picky hubby - GREAT. You can skip this step!
STEP 2: WHERE TO START?
On Sunday Morning, before anyone else is up, I get on my computer. I use a google DOC for the meal plan, so that I have it to reference at work, or where ever else I may be. I clear out last weeks meals and start fresh.
I take the list of things we are going to have for dinner -- and plug that in first and figure out which containers that meal will cover.
STEP 3: WHAT's FOR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST?
I move on and figure out what I am going to have for lunch. I usually pick 2 things and alternate them for the week -- eating the same thing every day does not bother me -- so this makes the planning -- and prepping WAYYY easier! Once again, I fill in the containers they fit in to. I do the same then for breakfast -- again I usually have the same two things alternating days -- throughout the week.
STEP 4: THE SNACKS
Then I fill in my snacks with the containers that I still have left for the day. One is ALWAYS my shakeology with some kind of fruit. And the afternoon one just depends on what I am eating for the other meals!! Again, for this I pick two fruits and usually two veggies that I plan to eat all week -- that cuts down on meal planning time -- and money because you aren't buying a ton of different druits and veggies at the store -- that you could end up throwing away!
STEP 5: THE GROCERY LIST
Then from my meal plan I just go through and make sure I have everything on my meal plan -- on my grocery list -- and then you are ready to shop!!
Guys listen, if you are shooting for some big weight loss goals -- or trying to maintain that weight -- and keep up that energy -- you have to meal plan. FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL.
So take the time, and get it all down on paper!
I know -- you think you don't have time to meal plan and figure out what you and all those little mouths are going to eat this week. I was totally there too when I first became a mom -- because the way I was doing my meal planning before --- was taking WAYYYY to long!!
.
So I am going to share with you, some of my hacks to make it take 20 minutes or less ( depending on how simple you want to be!)
STEP 1: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT?
So the first thing I do (this is usually the longest step -- and I do it before I even sit down to meal plan -- so I don't really count this in the actual putting pen to paper part) I ask my hubby what he wants for dinner this week.
Ryan is fairly picky --- so I hate picking dinners without asking him -- because I want to make sure he will eat it! This step is usually done on Saturday at some point. It is usually about a 5 minute conversation. If you don't have a picky hubby - GREAT. You can skip this step!
STEP 2: WHERE TO START?
On Sunday Morning, before anyone else is up, I get on my computer. I use a google DOC for the meal plan, so that I have it to reference at work, or where ever else I may be. I clear out last weeks meals and start fresh.
I take the list of things we are going to have for dinner -- and plug that in first and figure out which containers that meal will cover.
STEP 3: WHAT's FOR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST?
I move on and figure out what I am going to have for lunch. I usually pick 2 things and alternate them for the week -- eating the same thing every day does not bother me -- so this makes the planning -- and prepping WAYYY easier! Once again, I fill in the containers they fit in to. I do the same then for breakfast -- again I usually have the same two things alternating days -- throughout the week.
STEP 4: THE SNACKS
Then I fill in my snacks with the containers that I still have left for the day. One is ALWAYS my shakeology with some kind of fruit. And the afternoon one just depends on what I am eating for the other meals!! Again, for this I pick two fruits and usually two veggies that I plan to eat all week -- that cuts down on meal planning time -- and money because you aren't buying a ton of different druits and veggies at the store -- that you could end up throwing away!
STEP 5: THE GROCERY LIST
Then from my meal plan I just go through and make sure I have everything on my meal plan -- on my grocery list -- and then you are ready to shop!!
Guys listen, if you are shooting for some big weight loss goals -- or trying to maintain that weight -- and keep up that energy -- you have to meal plan. FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL.
So take the time, and get it all down on paper!
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