I find that everything in my kitchen (or lack thereof) lives and dies on the plan.
Fail to plan? Plan to fail.
There, I said it. My top tip to ensure healthier eating is to meal plan.
It’s not sexy. Nor difficult (this point is arguable).
There are a million ways to meal plan and I’m definitely not the person to tell you HOW to plan meals. I’m just sayin’ if you want to succeed, you need to have a plan.
Planning is not my favorite. And I don’t do it every week. But every day about 4pm I’m either thankful I did or wishing I had planned.
My routine is to plan on Sunday and shop Monday. Usually I brainstorm 4 or 5 meals for the week and write them in my planner.
I’ve had all kinds of methods to meal planning. Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday, use a whole chicken once a week, needs to be fast on Tuesdays, etc. It doesn’t matter the matrix or the intricacy of the plan, just make a plan. Then get the groceries.
In the Lazy Genius podcast #245 how she personally plans, Kendra said something that was like a gong in my brain.
… not everything can matter. For meals especially, you cannot hold equal priority for the following words: quick, easy, healthy, homemade, and cheap. And frankly there are dozens of others you could list.
At this point in my life, I want food to be healthy, fast, and everyone like it.
Not gonna happen.
Well, it might one night. But not the remaining 364 nights.
Realizing that not every priority can hold equal weight was freeing! Some meals take more time. Sometimes the fast meals compromise high quality ingredients.
Lazy Genius #76 Meal Plan, #174 Fall Formula Meal Plan
Meal Ideas I’ve Written Before
Tips for a Perfect Roast I’m making roast weekly this winter.
Baked Oatmeal - I’ve made weekly for a decade.
I’d love to know what recipes you’re trying in 2023. Reply to this email and sent it to me.
Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be,
Julie
PS - celebrate with me, this newsletter is 4 years old!