How I Plan My Meals
As I have mentioned before, gluttony is one of my “regular” besetting sins. To help me in this area I have to make a plan for my meals and then execute the plan. I begin with reviewing my calendar and determine when I will not be eating out and plug it into an excel spreadsheet. (I usually do just two weeks at a time but since I will be out of town for a week in January I went ahead and did the month.) Then I determine how many meals I need – this time I needed 23 breakfasts, 20 lunches and 17 dinners.
Using some old recipes as well as new recipes I then start plugging meals into the spread sheet (breakfast usually doesn’t change.) Here is my spreadsheet with a few days plugged in:
The recipes I used this time were Lime Chicken (4 servings), Easy Turkey Meatloaf (8 servings), Mexican Chicken Casserole (8 servings), Autumn Glazed Pork Chops (4 servings) and Vegetarian Chili (15 servings). Once the spreadsheet is filled out, I can then make my grocery list. After going to the grocery store on Friday night, I cooked Saturday morning and made yogurt, the five recipes, bag of brown rice above as well as eight smoothies. All are frozen in single serving sizes and I will thaw each out as I go through the month.
By doing this I save LOTS of money, calories and stress. Let me know if you try doing this as well.
Becky,
You are awesome! After reading your post for the last 3 months, I felt like I did 9 years ago when you were here…. and I am still in awe of the wisdom you exude!!
I am going to try your menu ideas and would love more receipes on the smoothies and low calorie dinner meals you might have. Also, do you buy regular oatmeal or the individual packets?
Let me just say, I sure wish you were closer because I would pray I wouldn’t miss one class you would be teaching! I think you need to video so I can purchase them to watch!
Love ya and keep the post coming! I so enjoying your blog!
I praise the Lord for you and your faithfulness. Keep me and my family in your prayers, I will pray for you!
Thankful for the season Christ placed you in my life,
Robin
Robin, you are a dear!! Thanks for you kind words.
I am going to record my Sunday school classes on place them on this site. Let me know if you do get a chance to listen to them.
I use regular oatmeal and not the packets only because I am so frugal. I put cinnamon, truvia and a splash of milk. I also use a protein powder that I put in my smoothies and in my oatmeal.
My smoothies are frozen strawberries (1 cup), one frozen banana and 16 oz v-8 diet splash. Throw it all in the blender and it is good to go. I make up a bunch at a time (5-8) so that they are ready for me in the AM. I take one out when I come down for my quiet time so they can begin to thaw. I don’t drink it until after my work out so it is pretty slushy by that time.
Love you, too, my friend!!
Becky
Becky -
I’d like to budget my spending like what you did. Is there a way that you can show me the tip? Did you shop at certain place, coupon involved? etc.
I am not worried about my calories that much..just cooking large meal (save some in the fridge for later) tip and how to spend the money within the budget and how you keep track etc. Did you go to grocery once a month?..what about fresh vegetable? I have tried since 2008 but it seems I spent more in 2009
because of eating out situation…you are the answer of my prayer.
Thanks Becky,
NL
Hello, Nitaya!
I think the key to the budgeting is just planning your meals out ahead of time. Do as much prep beforehand is great to so that when it is 5 pm and we are exhausted coming home from work it is not a burden to think about putting something on the table.
I do not use coupons and usually shop at Kroger. This month was the first time I shopped for a month. There is an entire week this month were I will be out of town so it just made it easier. I use lots of frozen veggies but will know that I have to go back to the store to pick up some milk and a few other items – still less than $20.
Avoiding eating out is so critical. It is expensive. Make a plan and then stick to the plan – even if you are tired at the end of the day. If you want to visit more about this, please give me a call. Blessings!
Well… that’s just a little too organized for me and I don’t like leftovers. I usually have a couple low cal meals in the freezer for the times I don’t cook. I cook most every night for mother so she has a good meal. Nutrition, especially when you are 93 is very important. I like to have fresh veggies at our evening meal…sometimes we just eat all veggies – just put everything is the steamer and we like that a lot. Everyonce in a while – weekends or such I’ll get a pizza from Piasano’s (do you remember that) or lasagna – very good. I don’t mind cooking but the cleanup is yucky.
Susan bought 4 tupperware plates for us last Christmas and they are wonderful — I highly recommend them as they are perfect for reheating an entire meal in the microwave. And they go right into the dishwasher. Check them out – we all use them. I always try to watch my carbs especially. You’re wise in controlling it now — it will be so much easier as you mature like your mama and me.
Thanks for the tip about the Tupperware plates. I could see how helpful that would be. Leftovers aren’t my favorite but I was just spending too much money and too many calories by eating out. I would be exhausted when I got home and if something is not ready to go for dinner I would over eat and/or eat out. I also enjoy an all veggie dinner and will often roast a pan of veggies in the toast oven. Yummy!!