In order to journey simple, I need to meal plan. And I don't necessarily mean making fondue and fancy meals. I desire fairly fast, very frugal, and simply delicious. I desire to make a plan and then work the plan. I want to plan ahead so I have what I need to make it happen. If I already know what I will do (the plan), then when that day comes not much thinking is required. I don't have to wonder if I have the ingredients, I already shopped for it! This is important for me since I am working right now and my hours are unpredictable. I have been trying to do meals that I successfully maintained when I was staying home. Well they have been a royal flop since I started working during the dinner hour. My work situation changed and therefore, meals must change too.
I am posting this for organizational purposes, because I love to organize and plan. But of all the organized ways I have, this is one area that's gotten tangled up pretty good. I meal plan but the problem is too many meal options and choosing meals that don't mesh with our lifestyle. I have fought to no end to maintain the meals I have always done but without fail, I end up failing to fit it in and then running to McDonald's and feeling completely disgusting afterwards.
So here are a couple tips to simplify meal planning:
1. Acknowledge the season you're in. If it's busy, say so. Be honest and accept that canning your own vegtables might not fly during this season and save it for another. (And know, you can still be frugal and healthy.) It is not worth the stress and negative energy you'll bring to your home, trying for something that doesn't fit.
2. Know your options. Go through and find the frugal and simple meals that your family likes and still fits your season. Keep these seperate from your surplus of books and recipe cards. Keeping your options for this season in their own reference book, card file, computer file, what have you, will simplify selecting meals when you plan.
3. Embrace where you are in life. In other words, bloom where you are planted. Though I would love to make my own bread and do all of the time consuming and rewarding activities there are in homemaking, I simply can't do that right now. So where are my bread recipes? They are PUT AWAY for another time. I am choosing to embrace and enjoy the lifestyle now. Finding other ways to be frugal and healthy. It is so important to be content and thankful. Be creative with the options you have now.
So my next post will be some simple meals compiled that I have found to fit this season in our life. It is a busy season, so it's got to be fast. It's a boating season, it's got to be simple. And it's a school season, so it's got to be frugal. Fast, simple, and frugal meal suggestions to come.
I am posting this for organizational purposes, because I love to organize and plan. But of all the organized ways I have, this is one area that's gotten tangled up pretty good. I meal plan but the problem is too many meal options and choosing meals that don't mesh with our lifestyle. I have fought to no end to maintain the meals I have always done but without fail, I end up failing to fit it in and then running to McDonald's and feeling completely disgusting afterwards.
So here are a couple tips to simplify meal planning:
1. Acknowledge the season you're in. If it's busy, say so. Be honest and accept that canning your own vegtables might not fly during this season and save it for another. (And know, you can still be frugal and healthy.) It is not worth the stress and negative energy you'll bring to your home, trying for something that doesn't fit.
2. Know your options. Go through and find the frugal and simple meals that your family likes and still fits your season. Keep these seperate from your surplus of books and recipe cards. Keeping your options for this season in their own reference book, card file, computer file, what have you, will simplify selecting meals when you plan.
3. Embrace where you are in life. In other words, bloom where you are planted. Though I would love to make my own bread and do all of the time consuming and rewarding activities there are in homemaking, I simply can't do that right now. So where are my bread recipes? They are PUT AWAY for another time. I am choosing to embrace and enjoy the lifestyle now. Finding other ways to be frugal and healthy. It is so important to be content and thankful. Be creative with the options you have now.
So my next post will be some simple meals compiled that I have found to fit this season in our life. It is a busy season, so it's got to be fast. It's a boating season, it's got to be simple. And it's a school season, so it's got to be frugal. Fast, simple, and frugal meal suggestions to come.
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