Importance of Planning

Since I've begun this adventure I have found that planning is essential!  Last week, I made up my weekly menu, went to the store, and bought all my food for the wonderful suppers I had planned.  I had also planned to make chicken stock that week so I made sure I had all the ingredients for that as well. 

Here was my menu in no particular order:

• Chicken Soup
• Chili Soup
• Chicken Wraps
• Sausage Spinach Pasta
• Chicken Fajitas

The week started off well (okay, MONDAY started off well) and then, Tuesday I decided to make the chicken stock.  I made tons of it and it was very labor and time intensive.  That night, I had planned to make chicken noodle soup with the left over stock; however, the stock was really fatty so I had to let it cool that night; therefore, chicken noodle soup was out.  I ended up making chicken fajitas instead.  No big deal, right?  Well, the chicken noodle soup was supposed to be lunch for the next day.  Usually I'd just make something else for lunch, but Wednesday mornings I'm not home... I didn't have time, I didn't have a back up plan, and I didn't have any freezer meals on hand.  We ended up doing Wendy's for lunch.  On occasion, I know that fast food drive thru's are going to happen.  I personally felt like I should have been more prepared.  That night we ended up eating supper out (which was not planned, but hey, we just bought our first house!) and the following morning (Thursday) I went to a Mom's group.  So again, I had nothing for lunch.  My husband grabbed lunch for a second time and I ended up making scrambled eggs for my son and I.  That's when I began thinking I need to have back up meals available.

I'm not big on freezer cooking, but I know a lot of mom's who are.  I feel like I barely have time to make daily meals let alone, extra meals to freeze.  From now on, I need to have quick and easy back up meals in place where there's not a lot of prep work.  If I don't have a plan in place, I feel overwhelmed and my family doesn't get the best.  I'm hoping to freeze some meals in the near future.  I also plan to have at least 1 to 2 back up meal a week.  When cooking without processed foods it's hard just to have ingredients on hand and/or ingredients that will stay good for an extended amount of time - that is why back up meals need to be planned out on a weekly basis.

I have found that making extra meat and freezing it is very helpful and can be a life saver!  Chicken is super easy.  I just purchase chicken breasts; put them in a crock pot, shred, and then freeze. If your on a budget, cooking a whole chicken can save some $$$, but make sure you're okay with the dark meat (which I am not a big fan of ;)). If I'm ever making ground beef or sausage, I cook at least 3 pounds at a time and freeze the rest.  Freezing meat has saved me quite a bit of time.

Planning is so very important.  I find it very helpful for me because I have 2 very young kids.  I can't go to the grocery store everyday and get the food I need.  I also think planning helps us eat better because I know what we're having that day/night so I don't have to rely on fast food or frozen pizzas.

This is such a learning process for me!  I'm definitely learning something new every week!

"When diet is wrong medicine is of no use.  When diet is correct medicine is of no need." Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb