Fresh Eats》Meal Planning

Hello there! I know that for some time I have been hinting at creating ready made meal plans for you all to try out! And today is the day!

Now firstly I wasn’t always such an avid meal planner. But in the last few years I have become more and more in love with the idea. It certainly cuts down and food costs and helps answer the endless question of “what is for dinner?”. Also especially considering the last year of new difficulties (COVID), it just makes good sense to cut down on the amount of time your are spending in your local grocery store!

So with that said, lets dive in! Firstly I like to sit down at the start of the week (usually on a Sunday or Monday, or whichever day works best for you) and look over a few of my recipes on my blog, favorite cook books or even check out Pinterest for new ideas and or recipes to try! I even have a Weekly Meal Planning schedule on my fridge where I like to write out what we are having on each day. It helps keep things straight and makes it easy for other family members to easily check out what the plan is. Now that being said… Just because you’ve written out to have a certain meal on a certain day, does not mean it absolutely has to be that way!

Once I have written out my meal plan I write up a detailed grocery list of all the ingredients I will need for each meal. Be sure to look over all the recipes you have decided on to make sure you have everything you will need on your list. And also check over you pantry and fridge as well, to avoid ending up with multiples of things. I also like to keep a list going on my fridge where I can add anything I may have run out of during the week (it helps a great deal and lets be honest, we all think we will remember when we use up the last of something, but we never do!). Having a detailed list really helps, and to go back to something mentioned earlier… just because you’ve written out a certain meal to have on a certain day, doesn’t mean it absolutely HAS to be that way. The great thing about creating a detailed grocery list is that you should already have all the groceries you need for each meal! So feel free to mix it up!

Many of my recipes here on the blog contain easy to find ingredients, so your grocery shopping can be simple and maybe even a little bit more enjoyable! I do usually make a few different stops at different shops (because I like shopping certain deals) but you do what works best for you! That being said there are a few things I buy from the Italian Centre Shop that are hard to find in other places, but I will always let you know in a note on the recipe if a certain special ingredient has come from there!

So? How does that all sound? A lot more simple then you thought right? Meal planning doesn’t have to be a difficult thing! It can be fun, maybe even enjoyable. Also every dinner doesn’t have to be a complicated recipe with a million steps. Feel free to add in a few of your favorite family meals as well as a few new ones! Trying out new recipes is fun, but can be stressful especially on week nights when you are short on time and you need to get dinner on the table! Save the complicated recipes for the weekend or for when you have a little more time on your hands. Also pre-reading your recipes before you start can help avoid mistakes or any surprises and really it helps to know the plan ahead of time! I even plan a free night each week, because again lets be honest…nobody wants to cook supper EVERY night… Its okay to order in occasionally or pick up some yummy frozen thin crust pizzas or a premade dinner from your grocery store (Costco for example has a amazing selections of pre-made dinners, as do other local grocery stores!). Make dinner fun again! Mix it up, try new things, try familiar things, do what feels right! There is no proper way to meal plan, but I hope this helps! Feel free to message or email me (s.donaldson9@live.ca) with questions, comments or concerns! I will do my best to get back to you and help you on your way to making meal times for enjoyable!

Now that being said here is a few ready made meal plans to start you off! You will notice almost every week I plan for a free night, usually on Saturdays… But that does not mean that is exactly what you have to do! Feel Free to make changes, or add meals you enjoy from your own repertoire!

WEEK ONE

MONDAY: Mac n Cheese with Roasted Butternut Squash, Chicken Tenders & fresh Cucumber Slices

TUESDAY: Southern style Fried Chicken, Wedge Fries & Coleslaw

WEDNESDAY: Broccoli & Cheddar Soup with B.L.T.s

THURSDAY: Rainbow Tortellini in Alfredo Sauce with peas & chunks of ham & Garlic Toast

FRIDAY: Calzones & Cesar Salad

SATURDAY: FREE NIGHT

SUNDAY: Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Scalloped Potatoes & Green Beans

WEEK TWO

MONDAY: Steelhead Trout Rice Bowls with fresh Mango Avocado Salsa

TUESDAY: Pulled Pork Buns, Coleslaw & Kettle Chips

WEDNESDAY: Teriyaki Chicken, Rice & Roasted Broccoli