Meal Plan & Family Plan

When meal planning becomes a lifestyle; family planning becomes part of the process. Each week as I think through my meal plan and dinner ideas, what the family has going on is also in the planning. Creating the family dinner plan, my meal plan, and the activities plan for the week all flow together.

This coming week the wild one has swim classes, on that night, I plan an easy meal with short cooking time because I know we’ll be coming home a little later. Another night, I know we have plans for the soon to be brother-in-law to join us for dinner. And another night I know we will be finishing up our chocolate covered pretzel valentines, so that night I plan for a dinner of leftovers.

It seems silly, but planning requires you to write it out in some form if you want to stay on top of it. I use a dry erase board, our big family calendar and my planner to keep it all together. Even with all that, it can be madness, but it’s a little easier to manage when I have a plan I’m rocking to.

Some people use pen and paper, some use their phones, or an app. The important part isn’t what you use to plan, it’s just that you plan and take into consideration what all you have going on in the week.

Meal Planning for Two

Meal Planning for two; WOW! That all I can say, it’s tough, especially for two people that eat different things. Today I did a ton of meal prepping it felt like, but very minimal was for myself. My other half has decided to start making healthier choices, which means for me as the Shopper, the Chef and the Momma Bear; I have to have a house prepared for more healthy habits or everyone will eat all the healthy food I’ve prepped for myself. (Lesson learned from last week)

The first part of meal planning for two is understanding everyone is different, my meal planning consists of making a meal plan and prepping and going from there. I pack my lunch each day based on my meal plan and know what I’m eating.

The other half, shoots from the hip, making it up as he goes but tracking at all in his app to make sure he stays within his plan.

When planning for two, the basics are key. Think of the simple things that can be comingled between the plans. Yogurt, eggs, carrots, oatmeal, chicken, bananas, apples, string cheese, wraps.

How you use the food in your plan doesn’t have to be the same. These are core foods that I buy every week and make sure we always have in the house as healthy options. Now just buy more of those to make health habits for consistent options for everyone.

Here’s to another week of crushing healthy habits with the fam.