DESIDERATA

We have a clean fridge! We have a clean pantry! We’ve done it!

Now to keep it that way… (cue dramatic music)

One of the best things keeping us on track for the pantry and fridge/freezer not getting overstuffed and limiting our food waste is meal planning. (I knowwwwww) I am 100% not a meal prepper. That is just not who I am and every attempt results in glorious failure and so so much wasted food. What I am, however, is a modified meal planner and there are many ways to make it pretty simple!

My children are at the age where they can be actually useful in the kitchen these days and getting them involved has been an absolute game-changer. Over breakfast on Saturdays, I get out my cookbooks and magazines and the iPad and we pick the week’s suppers. Each boy selects a day and a recipe. The rules are that ordering in is not an option and that their meals must include at least one vegetable and one protein. Otherwise, all options are open. Some weeks they choose something more adventurous and other weeks it’s a favorite staple. Not only does this help me with coming up with dinner ideas, but they are learning some kitchen skills (you’re welcome, future partners/roommates) and it has been a complete turn around on the number of “ugh, I don’t want that” comments. NO ONE complains at all when the boys are cooking and instead both of them are so excessively polite and complimentary about each other’s cooking and actually eat a solid meal. I have no idea what sort of little boy psychology is at work in these miracles but it is a whole thing and I am here for it.

Once we’ve chosen our meals, I make sure they’re all in the Cookbook App. Which is the most lovely invention of all time (and no, they don’t pay me either). If it’s something we’ve made before, it’s already in there. Otherwise, I can just take a picture of a printed recipe or import directly from a website in under 30 seconds and add it to the recipe box. Then click the day you want to have that meal, and boom! Meal plan for the week is made!

I haven’t even gotten to the best part – then it makes your grocery list. YUP. I cross-check that list against what’s already in the pantry/fridge (2 minutes), add anything that’s been added to the Alexa list throughout the week, send the whole thing to the grocery store and then pick it up, because that’s the kind of lazy mom I am. When it’s time to cook, we open the app, click on the day/recipe and it walks us through the steps. I’m telling you, technology is a wonder.

I do not plan breakfasts or lunches but keep the staples on hand so those are usually on the Alexa list when we’ve run low. Oatmeal, eggs, peanut butter, yogurt, bread, deli meat, baby carrots, etc. I always make at least one extra serving of supper, pack it into a meal prep container, and those are quick lunches on days we don’t want sandwiches.

Here is an example of our meal plan but we have one every week and I’ll send it to you when we make it. All you have to do is subscribe to the blog and it’ll arrive in your inbox. Is this some fancy curated, nutritionist approved meal plan? Nope. It is most certainly not. It’s just our family living life but we’re happy to share it with you. And if you have the Cookbook app, drop me a note and let me know and I can just share the recipes directly – much easier!

All I ask is that you send us some of your favorite recipes to try!

Our meal plan and shopping lists (Cookbook generates these products):