Of all the daily rhythms I've come to love about our married life, meal planning and grocery-shopping top the list. It's quite the phenomenon because this certainly wasn't the case for me a few years ago. I staunchly believe that cooking is only really good or worthwhile or fun when it's done for other people, because what used to be a chore has turned into one of our favorite dates. A typical Sunday night will find us meandering around the local Shop Rite, smelling tomatoes and trying to decide if ground turkey will suffice as a cheap substitute for beef. I am the determined shopper, the knowledgeable one you might say, in charge of The List, and willing to sacrifice a few extra pennies in order to choose more quickly between Generic Can of Black Beans and Brand Name Can of Black Beans. My husband, to put it lightly, is the slowest, least decisive, most endearingly annoying grocery shopper there ever was. I accomplish about 98% of the list, leaving Chris to get 1) cheese from the deli 2) Kaiser rolls for sandwiches 3) seltzer and 4) *insert whichever exotic ingredient has struck his fancy this week* (in the past this has included anchovies, canned sardines, and strange fruit cocktails from South America). I progress through the store in a calm, rational, organized manner, weaving in and out of aisles in order; Chris darts around picking up things and happily running errands around the store for things I forgot. "Toothpaste coming up!" "Pickles and Cheerios: got it." "Did you want mixed berry or strawberry yogurt?" Without fail the entire trip takes an hour on the dot, usually involves at least one Stop in the Middle of the Store for a Debrief about our Differences in Shopping, and ends with us feeling thirsty (shopping is hard) but proud of ourselves for providing food for ourselves like adults. I don't know about you, but succeeding at the "chores" in life is very satisfying to me. It's the icing on the cake of adulthood. I like being able to say: I ate well today; I have clean clothes; I washed the dishes; my bathroom isn't a disaster; the garbage is not stinking up the kitchen because I took it out; my bed is made; I read some words that weren't work related; I went on a walk on lunch break; I read my Bible; I thought. I believe that these types of simple acts are the basis of a life well lived. A full, meaningful, purpose-driven, and others-focused life. The trash isn't just trash: it's an opportunity not to inwardly (or outwardly!) grumble at your roommate/husband/family member! I have to remind myself of this all the time. And part of the purpose of this blog is to help me--and you--remember why these little things matter so much. So, then, meal planning. What is meal planning, even, you might ask? Good question. Meal planning is the way to make cooking not awful. It makes weekdays less stressful by saving time and ultimately money. It means taking stock of your pantry and picking out meals to make ahead of time, before it's the end of the day and you JUST CAN'T. Timing I typically meal plan about once every two weeks, on a Thursday or Friday so that I can have my list ready for the weekend, when I have time to actually shop. I make a list of meals on one sheet of paper and then use these adorable free printouts (go check it out!) from Emily Ley of the Simplified Planner to make my grocery list. I use one quadrant for each major category of the store: produce, meat, pantry (anything from paper towels to bread to BBQ sauce), and dairy. How many meals to plan? I like to plan 5 to 6 meals at a time. Between left overs, the obligatory pizza delivery night, a toast and omelets night, and one or two meals out, these 6 meals will last us about two weeks. I try to mix it up with a few produce based meals and some meat heavy meals. Meals that use a lot of fresh veggies or fruit will get eaten towards the beginning of the week so that the produce doesn't go bad. Meat, noddle, or potatoes dishes get eaten later. Balance When planning meals I try to balance several factors: health, flavor, cost, and variety. I'm all for healthy meals, but also don't want to sink $10 into 3 organic apples. As mentioned above, ground turkey is a money saver, but I so much more prefer the flavor of beef. And while it's easy to get stuck in rut with what you know, switch it up! I'm always trying to find new recipes. Variety is the spice of life, right? Resources So where to look for meal ideas? A few posts back I highlighted the Mad Hungry cookbooks, which are a staple in this house. If you are looking for simple, basic, delicious, fail-proof recipes, this is your book. When I don't have quite as much time my favorite go-to websites are Allrecipes and DamnDelicious. On both sites you can search for healthy, quick, easy options. There are also lots of crock pot and one-dish recipes. Be realistic Because honestly, there just isn't time sometimes. Be realistic about the types of meals you pick! Don't over do it or be too ambitious. If you choose 5 out of 5 gourmet, out of your comfort zone meals chances are you won't end of cooking many nights. Here's an example of a typical Svendsen menu: 1-2 large soup or noddle based dishes (spaghetti) with lots of left overs 1 nice meat-oriented meal (like steak or meatballs with a vegetable side) 1 hearty salad with bread 1-2 easy, quick meals: examples: chicken tacos, homemade pizza, chili, stir fry, etc. Shopping and Eating Smart Generally good advice that I try to follow: 1. Pick meals with leftovers! Yay for happy work-day lunches! 2. Shop the sales and change the plan if necessary to accommodate a great deal. 3. Buy basics in large quantities: regardless of the meals I have planned for the week I stock up on things like butter, bread, chicken and ground beef (which I freeze), eggs, spices, and, of course, chocolate chips. The In-Between Trip While my typical 5-6 meals shopping trip usually lasts two weeks, that's just counting dinners. In between these "major" shopping trips we always have a the basic run for bread, eggs, milk, etc. So what? When all is said and done, meal planning is meant to help take stress out of your life, allowing you to eat better meals more regularly for so much cheaper than going out. If I don't have ingredients I know will make a meal I'm probably going to shrug my shoulders and buy a burger out. With just a little time, you can make a real difference in your weekly routine. And who knows? Maybe you'll end up loving it. So here's to happier and more effective nesting!
4 Comments
Nana
3/11/2016 09:34:16 am
Sarah,
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Sarah
3/14/2016 01:20:58 pm
Hi Nana! Thanks very much! Slow shopping must be a man thing ;)
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Jess
3/12/2016 03:46:49 am
chocolate chips are essential.
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Sarah
3/14/2016 01:17:34 pm
Jess, thank you so much!! :) I can't wait to see you soon! May can't come soon enough.
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Authorwife to a med student and mama to three under three, seeking the joyful and learning to live by faith. Find me on Instagram and Pinterest or shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you!
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