Do you ever dread the question “What’s for dinner?”, either because you don’t know the answer or you don’t want to hear the response “But I don’t like that”. Or even just the thought of putting together a meal plan makes your head spin.
When I first started meal planning, it was to try and avoid those conversations (even though it was just my husband and I, and I was just asking them of myself at the time haha!) . I didn’t have a huge pile of recipes to choose from at the time, but I knew I spent too much time thinking about dinner and I thought there must be a better way.
At the time we already did our grocery shopping weekly, but it was kind of just throw a list together of things we will probably use and then work out what to have for dinner from there. Then we had a baby and all of a sudden I was faced with having to prepare food for a new eater, who didn’t know what they liked and didn’t like, and it was up to me to help them figure it out!
And so, I started on a journey of changing our meals from pasta bake, spaghetti & meatballs, and quiche (there were probably others but those stick out in my mind) to what we have now which is a variety of meals that fill each season and allow me to do complete meal plans for 90 days.
It’s so refreshing to see the completed meal plans in front of me and know I don’t have to think about it again for 3 months! I also feel a lot less stressed about meal times, and I’ve narrowed it down to these 5 reasons:
1. My meal plan means I have the answer to “What’s for dinner?”. Always.
When I get asked this question (which is something as we’re sitting at the table eating the current night’s dinner), I can answer with confidence and engage the kids in further conversation about the food we are eating until their little minds are satisfied and move on to the next thing.
2. My meal plan means I’ve eliminated most mentions of “But I don’t like that”.
We have enough variety in our meals now that most nights are meals that everyone enjoys, and if not they have safety in knowing a delicious meal they love is not far around the corner.
3. My meal plan means I can be flexible and spontaneous
Because I have everything planned out, it means I have the ability to be flexible when something unexpected crops up, and spontaneous if we decide to do something else! It’s a true oxymoron, but organised spontaneity really is the best!
4. My meal plan means I’m not ‘always’ at the supermaket and I don’t have a running shopping list.
My system means that my pantry (and the rest of the house) is organised in such a way that I know how often items last and when I will need to buy them next. I can comfortable not think about my shopping list until I next need to go because I won’t run out in between time.
5. My meal plan means I have headspace and therefore energy todo other things I enjoy.
Batching has been a game changer for me. By doing all the work in one go, it’s out of my head the rest of the time and I don’t have to think about it again until the next time I need to do my meal plan. I can put the energy I would normally spend thinking about dinner into something else.
These 5 reasons are the basis behind my meal planning and why I do it for 3 months at a time. I’m passionate about empowering others to take the stress out of meal times through teaching my 90 Day System. Come and join my FREE community, Meal Planning and Life Organisation with Siobhan Mundy to get started.
Recent Comments