Back to school isn’t just for kids and it’s not just for college and university students, or schoolteachers. In a way it’s for all of us as September brings a sort of newness or a re-set for many and triggers the following:
- Summer vacations are over and everyone is back to work
- People move from indoors to outdoors to work on projects they’ve been putting off
- It’s harvest season for farmers, and they are rewarded for their year long labour
- Fresh local summer fruits and vegetables fade away as we make way for the new autumn bounty
Overall, there is an air of starting fresh, and getting back into the groove of the regular scheduled routine. For many people it’s a time of setting goals, looking back on what they have accomplished in the first part of the year and setting or revamping goals. Perhaps career goals, or health and fitness goals, even family and friendship, educational goals. For many people this is the time to get back on track after falling off the proverbial wagon.
“It’s time to get back on track, after falling off the wagon”
You yourself will probably be getting into a new schedule, whether it be dropping the kids off or picking them up from school, starting a new job, reviving your fitness routine, taking personal interest classes, revamping your healthy eating routine. Whatever it is, it will be a change, and change isn’t always easy. But you can do it.
“Change your mindset, and remind yourself every day why you are doing it, and stay focused.”
Meal planning efficiencies
Saying focused isn’t always easy, and being a busy mom or dad isn’t always easy either. But when it comes to food and nutrition you need to make the best choices possible and planning is essential to staying healthy and eating nutritious food.
I know too many people who don’t have a dinner plan. They come home, check what’s in the fridge, and open the freezer staring into it like some magical dinner recipe idea will jump out at them. This is a classic case of: no plan, no recipe, and no time. If this is you, you probably wish there were an easier way so that you could be more productive in your evenings so you have time for yourself and those that you love. Put an end to this and start planning your meals. Here are the easy steps you can take to turn mealtime around.
“This is a classic case of: no plan, no recipe, and no time.”
5 Steps to Meal Planning
- Sit down with your spouse on Saturday or Sunday (before you do grocery shopping) and find out which evenings you do not have to cook (are there late nights at work, or events, or appointments, dinner at someone else’s house)
- Based on that, which days do you need to cook? If not cooking, are you having leftovers or going to someone else’s house for dinner?
- Plan out the menu for the week using recipe books, or recipes you have found online. (I love the Yummly app)
- Choose a different protein or theme for every evening. In our family each meal hosts a different meat: chicken, beef, fish, seafood, pork, or vegetarian. If you have kids, they love the idea of theme nights: Italian, Mexican, Chinese etc.
- Make sure to use weekly flyers to see which produce is on sale so you can minimize your grocery bill.
- Also make sure to plan for leftovers which can be eaten for the following day’s lunch
- Make sure to write down the menu. I have ours displayed on a chalkboard in our kitchen and also in my phone for quick reference.
- Choose a different protein or theme for every evening. In our family each meal hosts a different meat: chicken, beef, fish, seafood, pork, or vegetarian. If you have kids, they love the idea of theme nights: Italian, Mexican, Chinese etc.
- Really take a look at each day’s dinner plan, and determine when you need to take meat out of the freezer to thaw, if and when prep work needs to be done, and if it can be done a day or two in advance. I like to prep a night or two before, so that when I get home from work I can just put everything together – bake, BBQ, or cook to save time.
- Tip: Use your smartphone calendar to remind yourself to take the meat out of the freezer, or when to marinate it, or when to chop your vegetables.
- Pack dinner leftovers and breakfasts in lunch bags and store in the fridge for quick and easy morning grab and go. If you make morning smoothies, ration out the frozen fruit in a freezer bag so you just toss in the fruit with the liquid, blend and go.
If you are not used to planning your meals this way, think about your current system of doing things: Could you be more efficient? Are you wasting time in the evening waiting for meat to thaw, or are you franticly chopping vegetables or waiting an hour until your dinner is finished cooking? Are you finishing dinner too late in the evening with no time to spend with your loved ones? Are you going to bed right after dinner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to bring some efficiency to your meal planning and preparation routine. The trick is planning, and thinking ahead. Leave nothing to the last minute.
How are you keeping you and your family fit-tritious? Make nourishing meals with real ingredients a part of your everyday routine.
“The trick is planning, and thinking ahead. Leave nothing to the last minute.”