Y'all know that food is a BIG deal in the Jackson home. Because organization is important and necessary to our life, it is important to us to plan our meals. My boys don't like leftovers. So, for us, meal prep is out of the question. It just doesn't work for my family. They like FRESH. And I'm ok with that. I loved cooking all the recipes Joel challenged me with and we have an endless supply of new things to try, always from him watching cooking shows non-stop. I giggle, now, as I look over the DVR saved cooking shows and realize how much I will miss that- oh maybe I'll just always have a cooking show in the background when it gets quiet around here. I've always loved to cook, but I was losing the joy for it, by planning something the day of, you know... just hours before... mind you anything I had was in the freezer because we only went to the grocery store once a month and stocked up prior to adopting Freddie. AH! I was over it. It would be 1 o'clock in the afternoon and Joel wouldn't have his mind made up. Something had to give. He started writing out recipes, saving them for me, he would watch on TV and send them to me as we sat down as a family and planned out our meals a full week in advance on Sunday nights.
Now, I'm serious when I say I literally don't know how we did it any other way. I can't imagine going to the store to see what was on sale (y'all I am not a coupon enthusiast, ain't nobody got time for all that- though I highly respect you in your organizational ways that do- email me, I have a job for you ;)). So here goes....
Step #1- Print Your Meal Plan System
This beautiful meal planning system was created by our good friend Jenna. You can purchase her entire Meal Planning System through the JPF Market and download it to use instantly! I love that it includes a list to write down go-to meals when you get stuck- for breakfast, lunch, and dinner- YIPPEE! And you can even break down the breakfast, lunch, and dinner calendar for each person according on who is eating meals together or away from home. I feel like this is a great way to start planning for one or many! Best $5 you've spent this year... I promise!
The Meal Planning System comes with:
1- Weekly Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Chart
1- Go To Meals for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
1- Monthly Calendar
2- Grocery List Size Choices (with multiple lists on each page)
2- Monthly Review Chart to Evaluate what was great about planning and recipes and what you want to improve on (whether it's healthier choices or a recipe you want to try again)
Print these over and over and for as many mouths as you wish!
Step #2- Gather Ideas
We all enjoy food. Duh! But where do you get ideas? Who chooses what's for dinner? I have absolutely loved making this a routine family time. It's a time to gather and choose the things we will make for the week following and allow everyone to have a chance to chime in with something they would like to eat. I think it teaches responsibility to kids, let's them see that everyone is needed, and it's just plain fun!
Here are a few of our favorite blogs to try recipes from:
Pinterest Confession: I have a business account and a personal account on Pinterest. I don't get notifications. I lose things on those boards and I can never remember the names exactly that they call things. I realized the smart thing would be to print them out once we agreed to put it on the meal calendar. YES! Y'all I'm serious, this worked! I know I sound like an old lady (maybe an old soul, but I'm a fresh 29). Just give it a try. I even store all the "good" ones in my recipe binder. I add my own twists to the printed pages and bam... that's what version you get on this blog!
Like cookbooks? Or magazines? I do too. I love feeling pages of any book in my hands. Don't get me wrong, I'm an audible junkie, but I love the feel of a traditional way of life- books of all shapes and sizes, and the photos! Eeek! So for my teenage boy, Pinterst was a bust. No way was I going to get him to download the app and use it. But, I gave him a stack of Post It Notes and he went to town flagging the pages of yummy things that appealed to his taste.
If you don't know where to begin, here are a few of our family faves:
You can copy the recipes to keep them all in one place, your you can simply make a note of where the recipe comes from (at least until you know you love it) on the weekly calendar- there's plenty of space for notes and side dishes too!
Step #3- Make a Plan
So, Sunday night we plan. It's become routine in our house to plan a week in advance. So when we sit down to plan out what we want to eat, we are planning for the week after next. Here's my weekly plan:
Sunday- Plan the Week
Monday- Print or Copy Recipes
Tuesday- Check the Pantry + Take Note
Wednesday- Make a List
Thursday- Check it Twice and Add Snacks
Friday- Pick Up
After we make a plan on Sunday of what we want, I print the recipes on Monday. Sometime between Monday and Tuesday, depending on our schedule, I check the pantry and fridge and search to make sure I have what I need- from spices to meats and fresh veggies. Anything I need, I make a little dash beside to add to the grocery list. Anything needed goes onto a written or note app list.
Best bang for your buck!
Confession #2: I just found the your first Walmart Grocery Pick Up! ;) and I'm hooked. I know, I'm a little late to the game. I was a Publix snob, but let's be real, Mama ain't got time for that and they charge way too much for my budget (they actually charge you for the pick up and the prices of each item are more than in the store). I still get a few things from there, but I'm fully bought into the Walmart Grocery App. It has also kept me from over-buying or splurge-shopping while hungry, strolling down the aisles. For your older kids with smart devices, I had Freddie add the app too, so he could have his own way to add snacks and sports drinks. You can add things at anytime to your order or reschedule the time. If they don't have what you want, they will substitute unless you say otherwise, typically for something organic or a larger quantity for no additional charge. Plus>>> Here's a Free
Everyone in our house knows there is a Thursday night cut off (you have until 1:45am the night before your designated pick-up time to make changes to your order). Thursday is also the day we go through and clean out the fridge. We make sure all leftovers or random items that need to be tossed are taken out so to make room for groceries the next morning. Then, on Friday morning, I arrive to pick up my groceries, and you can even check in on the way so they know when you arrive based on your GPS! Praise!!! I'm serious, most times at those quiet hours I pull up and they wheel it out within 2 minutes.
I hope you enjoy our meal planning system. If you do, we'd love to hear how it works for your family.
Do you have a meal planning system or meal prepping system that works? We'd love to hear about it. Send us an email for a chance to be featured on our blog.
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Let's do this,
Lauren
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Photo Credits: Real Life Dinner instagram.com/MsRachelHollis
Magnolia Table: instagram.com/jenny.creates
Magnolia Journal: instagram.com/lizmariegalvan
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