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Some people seem like born organizers, especially when it comes to meal planning. In reality, it's a skill you can cultivate. Let us show you how to do just that, in five doable steps.
1. Commit to the Effort
Any goal — exercising more, learning a new language or planning meals — starts with making a commitment. When you decide to get organized about planning meals, write down ways this new skill can help you. Start by asking your family or friends what they like to eat. Choosing people you actually cook for enables you to factor in their preferences.
2. Choose a Method that Fits Your Lifestyle
If you work full-time, you might not have time to cook fresh meals every day. Here's an example that nets you several meals with a few main ingredients. Buy a rotisserie chicken for one dinner, use some of the leftovers on a fresh salad the next night, then change it up by throwing the remaining meat into yummy chicken tacos. That's three meals down. Does roasted pork loin with veggies sound great for Sunday dinner? You can use the leftovers to make pulled pork sandwiches on Monday.
3. Map Out Your Meals with Recipes & Shopping Lists
You can also map out two weeks of menus at a time. This saves trips to the grocery store and makes it easy to plan meals around ingredients that fit more than one recipe. Remember to give yourself a break. This could mean occasionally eating out or including easy-prep meals to take the pressure off. Once you creating a grocery list that strategically maximizing all the ingredients you have to buy, work on another two-week meal plan. Eventually, you'll have several go-to roadmaps, complete with recipes and grocery lists, to feed your family two weeks at a time.
4. Cook Perishables First
If your meal plan includes perishable items, make those early in the week. Save simple omelets or pasta plates for further out to minimize trips to the grocery store. Balancing fresh and frozen goods can save money and allow you to buy some items in bulk. Many people over buy fresh produce and end up throwing it out when it goes bad.
5. Critique Your Success
After you eat a meal, take time to ask everyone for an honest evaluation. Make it fun with a star system. Gold stars are definitely do-overs. Bronze stars and below may need to be replaced on the roster.
About the Author
Debbie Caldwell
When you first meet Debbie Harris-Caldwell, you are immediately drawn to her charming Welsh accent and the twinkle in her eye. The well-traveled transplant from Wales is quick to set you at ease and time spent with her promises to be time well spent.
Debbie has been a real estate agent for 40 years and takes great pride in her customer service skills. "I make myself available to my customers when they need me, whether it's on a Sunday Evening or after their long day at work. I make my schedule fit theirs. I also keep my customers updated on everything happening with their listings or purchase, I am their conduit for information." She has built a business following her key principles of clear communication, attention to detail, client advocacy, and comprehensive knowledge of the area. Debbie comes to every new transaction with positive energy, determination, a strong understanding of the currents driving the market, and the expertise that comes from a lifetime of experience. She knows the importance of marketing and whether a home is for sale for $200,000 or for $2 million, she always has professional photography done and creates a listing presentation that best shows off her customer's home.