Meal Planning

It’s now the second week of Sally’s year of self care series and it’s time to Commit to Weekly Grocery Planning. I started with Step One at The Path to Gradual Change.

I have not been planning out each meal for the whole week, although I have done that in the past. Due to the nature of what Cute Man’s eating plan is like right now (VERY simple eating – low carb, no sauces, etc.), I just buy staples of whole foods that we mix and match. I make a big batch of a veggie/bean based soup each weekend to use for our lunches. This week I incorporated fresh turkey sandwiches for my lunch (CM stuck with soup, I think). I have a bunch of fresh chicken and fish in the freezer that we eat each night with a side veggie and a salad. I will start cooking more elaborate recipes soon but for now, this is working well for us. I often use dinner leftovers for our lunches the next day.

As for the grocery list – we keep one on the fridge so Cute Man can add things he wants/needs and I can jot down things as I think of them. Sometimes, I type it up in the order in which I can find them in the store (when I’m feeling overly ambitious!)

Sally mentions a CSA for local produce. I use www.washingtonsgreengrocer.com, which delivers my fresh stuff weekly. I LOVE this. Ideally, this allows me to only do the Trader Joes/Whole Foods/Safeway (usually I pick one) run every two weeks. Lately, I’ve indulged myself in going more often but I should be able to cut back on the impromptu trips as I get more organized. Sticking with a set plan will certainly help me keep food budget more in line.

This step has inspired me to get even more proactive in my planning and has encouraged me to start incorporating/planning for recipes throughout the week. This weekend will be a big travel one but the following one should give me the time to plan out our meals more methodically. I will bring out my Ellie Krieger cookbook again and try something new. I like that she has calorie counts/other nutritional info included, which makes it easier for me to keep track.

Working on my eating and exercise habits is my number one priority right now so I am at peace with making/using more time to plan and implement strategies that will help me do just that. Meal planning is a great way to organize not just what we’re going to eat, but how we live and manage our days as a whole. I know it can only help!