Pre-planning my meals also takes away the stress at the grocery store. If I do not already know what I am cooking for the week, I aimlessly roam the grocery store looking for inspiration. This leads to three things. One, I buy way more junk food when I meander up and down every isle. Two because I buy more stuff I don't need I spend WAY more money, and third, I come home with 90% of the ingredients I need for a few meals. (This makes my 4:00 panic worse because at around 4:15 I realize that I don't have everything that I need, not a good feeling)
Also, pre-planning helps me not get tired of having (and cooking) the same meals over and over again, because lets be honest if at 4:00 I haven't decided what we are having for dinner it is going to be Spaghetti. This is really unfair to spaghetti because it becomes the fall guy and is WAY over done, when spaghetti is a really yummy meal and a great way to slip in lots of veggies.
The alternative to spaghetti is that I get 'creative' meaning I make whatever odds and ends that I have work. If you can do this than teach me how, because I almost always fail. (Just ask David)
If you don't think that you can make the commitment to sitting down once a week and planning, then a simple alternative is to have a set weekly menu. For example Monday is pasta, Tuesday is Mexican, Wednesday is soup, etc. I kind of have a pattern that I loosely follow. I try to make something with lots of leftovers on either Sunday or Monday so that David has lunches for the week, and since Dave goes almost straight to YM on Wednesday nights we have left overs.
So this is really LONG post reminding you all of things that you already know. I just thought that I would post it since it makes such a night and day difference in my life. When I plan ahead, the meals I cook are usually more fun to cook, better tasting and healthier than when I don't. Have a great week and go cook something great!
I have started to do this lately! I cannot tell you how unmotivated I am to cook when I get home from a long day at work, but when I know what I am making, it is so much easier!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that I have found happening lately though, is that I find I plan too much. Things come up and for what ever reason I don't make the meal that I planned and the whole plan get's pushed back and thrown off. This might be because our life is a little unpredictable these days though. :)
Anyway, I can totally see how this would make a HUGE difference when you have kids too. It is a lot of work though, and I give kudos to anyone who has the energy and forethought to actually plan meals. !!
I love this blog!
I know what you mean about things coming up, that is why planned left-over nights are great because if you have meals that need to be cooked you can but, if you follow the menu perfectly it still works out
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