I Stopped Meal Planning for a Month, Here's What Happened
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- Опубліковано 3 лип 2024
- After planning out my meals every week for the last 3 years, I decided to stop for a month to see what would happen... and here are 7 things that changed!
⬇️Watch this next (Meal plan and cook with me:)
• Meal Plan with me AND ...
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📄Free meal planning printables!!! ⬇️
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 What these UA-camrs keep telling us
0:55 Husband: What's for dinner?
2:11 One: Junk food galore
2:58 Two: We made a friend!
3:37 Three: Too many store visits
4:07 Four: Money money money
4:44 Five: Wasted food
5:16 Six: I had to improvise often
6:00 Seven: A constant state of stress
7:04 Is it true... Is meal planning necessary?
9:06 Here's what you can do next - Навчання та стиль
What is your go-to meal that you know everyone in your family enjoys? Mine is Chicken Parmesan served over spaghetti!
Please make more videos about meal planning!!! Lv your videos!!
Naan bread pizza! Take naan bread, top with either pizza or pesto sauce and any toppings you want. Bake at 375 for 10-20 minutes or until cheese is melted. So good! We’ve done pesto sauce, fresh sliced mozerella, sausage, spinach and basil leaves. Also done BBQ chicken, ranch, regular pepperoni pizza, etc. I serve it with a side salad. Super easy, quick and delicious and kiddos love helping with it. I get the Aldi naan bread, sauce and cheese which saves money too. 🙂
You lived like me for a month.😂 for me Lunch/Dinner is Pasta or take out.
Chili w/ crackers
Potato soup w/ fresh bread
Biscuits and gravy with fried potatoes and eggs
Lasagna, salad
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas
Spaghetti with heavy meat sauce
Tacos or Chicken quesadillas with refried beans and rice...a wonderful lady Rachel cooks with love makes easy and awesome authentic Mexican...Huge hit here.
Beans, greens, cornbread, and fried taters the day before Mexican...allows you to have your beans already made and just need to refry the next day.
Fried chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans
Sloppy joes, Mac and cheese, and mixed veges
Lunches can be leftovers, creative leftovers, PB and j with fruit, or any other salad or sandwich. I buy bulk sliced cheese at the beginning of the month so I can make grilled cheese often for quick lunches.
Definitely tacos!!! 🌮 🎉
Ariel, I'm not your target audience at all. I'm a sixty-year-old single woman with only myself and a 400 square foot apartment to manage. And yet, your videos inspire me -- and holy cow, are they entertaining! I just want to say thank you and congratulations on hitting 100k subscribers.🎉 I wish you all the success you can handle! ❤
Thank you Denise! 💞
I agree. such a waste when I don't plan ...and...you are entertaining. This was informative too.
I know... I'm an empty nester and this lady is great!
I feel this!! I dont have a lot in common with Ariel, but she is just so endearing I keep clicking on her videos!
Hi Denise I'm a sixty year old single woman with just myself in a small apartment and I tune In every week to be totally entertained and I pick up some great tips because she is awesome so I guess we are the targeted audience 😆 Lol.
I have never meal planned and always ignored the meal planning advice….but your video has finally convinced me to give it a try! Your no-meal-plan life is the perfect description of my life!
I also am going to give it a try. Thank you!!!
Same! I'm excited that you are going to do more meal plan videos!
2 tips I’ve found helpful as someone who always resented the meal planning advice because I hated it the first time I tried it:
(1) Start with 3-4 meals a week
(2) just because you plan what you’re going to cook each week, doesn’t mean you have to decide which day it is.
With 3 kids under 4 & thyroid condition, our days are incredibly unpredictable & deciding which day for which meal often failed. I started by saying “these are the 3 of the things I’m going to cook next week” and then picking between those 3 things each day I have the brain space to cook.
Don't meal plan never eat out and cook big meals to last 2 days
Ok, this 72 yr old is finally convinced. I’ll try meal planning. But pancakes for dinner will still be on the list 😅
i really appreciate your videos! every other sahm youtuber is putting such a show on with fancy filters and expencive lifestyles, i never leave your videos thinking i need too buy more pretty things to be happy, but to be content right where i am
We'll do a hybrid of meal planning, batch cooking and keeping basic pantry items in the house to pull together meals quickly. I stopped worrying about those certain meals being on that particular day of the week and just made sure we could get those meals in for that week instead, which definitely helped! One kid would change their mind on what we were having a lot, so that little bit of flexibility made things easier with them. I do agree that meal planning does save you money. The little trips to our little supermarket add up quickly!
Wow, I think you finally convinced me after years of NOT meal planning consistently. I didn't even realize some of those things were happening to me because of a lack of planning! THANK YOU!!!
Yes!! Me, too! This talked me into it way more than any of the "how to" and "things you must do" videos!
I agree with all of this.... AND I also believe that being able to make a meal or twelve from a half stocked kitchen with like 3 sticks and a chicken breast is a life skill we all need to have.
Girl I didn’t even expect this to hit me the way it did. Bc your month without the planning is what my life feels like and k didn’t even realize it lol
Honestly same, the trips to the store all week and everything.
Laughing because I literally binge-watched a bunch of your Flylady videos & all 3 of your meal planning videos late into last night and here you are with a fresh one!
I had a few ideas I wanted to share with you about meals prep that I hope you find useful (I use my oven a lot):
* bacon - put it on a sheet pan & bake in the oven. I can cook a package on two sheet pans - it takes about 15-20 min depending upon your oven temp - saves on stove top clean up & requires less time overall
* sausage - I take the meat out of the casing or buy ground sausage & cook it all at once. Then I portion out the sausage into smaller bags, throw them in the freezer & just take out one at a time as needed for that day's meal. You can do this with ground beef too - season, cook all, portion out & freeze - quick taco filling, nacho topping, spaghetti sauce addition, etc.
* sausage again - I throw links on a sheet pan & bake those as well. Then I throw in sauce or serve with meal as needed
* meatballs - this was a game changer for me - I premake a ton of meatballs. I have a recipe that I found on reddit that is fantastic! I buy 3lbs of beef on sale, 1.5lbs of sausage/ground pork & triple this recipe. I freeze them 6 to a bag & then take out for spaghetti, serve on their own (we like them with homemade mac & cheese), or make meatball sandwiches with them. (recipe: www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/ff2gzs/my_86_yearold_nonno_makes_the_best_meatballs_and/) Tip: I brown the meatballs on the stove then bake them on a sheet pan for about 10-15 min. I prefer them slightly undercooked before I throw them into the freezer because they will be heated up and I don't want them dried out. If defrosted, they can cook in the oven 12-15 min to heat up.
* lasagne - for quick lasagne we use a small 8" square baking dish, but you can make a bigger pan. For the 8" pan, I boil 5 lasagne noodles broken in half (cook for less time than box says since it will bake). I layer them 3 per row (top row gets 4) with ricotta, mozzarella, sauce (of course) and throughout the layers I sprinkle a bag of ground sausage or beef I cooked previously & saved in the freezer. Oven for 1 hour. Prep is 30 min tops.
* if your budget allows, use foil in as many baking dishes/sheet pans as possible. Saves on that end of day dish pile since you don't need to soak. Also highly recommend using parchment paper under things you're cooking in the oven - we use it constantly & not just for cookies. I don't have to spray down my pans & then I don't have to scrub off the baked on oil that is almost impossible to remove.
Love your channel, your sense of humor, and your commonsense approach. Bonus family cameos!
excellent tips. Yes, real time savings and eliminates repetitive clean up to cook meat in bigger batches and freeze in small portions.
Invest in some silicone mats and use instead of both parchment paper and foil. Saves $, time, your health and the environment. Aluminum foil is toxic especially at high heat.
As a working mom who often doesn't get home until 7p, I've had to add 1 more prep step that has revolutionized our meal planning.
Batch cooking meat! (Thank you Dana K. White!!!)
I'll make a crockpot of boneless chicken thighs, shred, and freeze in portions. Same with hamburger. The night before a meal that uses those meats, i put the frozen container in the fridge to defrost. When I need to throw together spaghetti, Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or casseroles, the meat is all ready to add. I can get home at 7 and frequently have a meal on the table a half hour later, instead of an hour later.
This is what I do too. That slow cooker base can become so many meals to pull out of the freezer!
What do you use to freeze the portions though to keep them well sealed and from ice crystals and freezer burn ? Freezer ziploc bags ? Tupperware ?
@@SleeplessinOC zip lock bags with all the air squeezed out of them. I've now changed to silicone ones to be able to reuse, same process. Hope this helps
@@SleeplessinOC - I let cool in completely in the fridge with the bag slightly open to let out moisture. Then I squeeze out all the air I can, and seal. I keep these bags in larger 2 gallon bags in the freezer so I don't "lose" them in my chest freezer, lol. I also typically use them up in a 1-2 months, so freezer burn hasn't really been an issue in our household.
We always batch cook Sheppards pie and spaghetti sauce. Freeze some for later and just reheat
I've never been good at meal planning. I don't have the energy to think that far ahead. We buy various things that can be used in a bunch of meals. If a veggie is going bad, we chop it up and freeze it or just throw it into whatever meal I've decided to make. I just look in the fridge and come up with something interesting. I find it freeing most of the time.
Hahaha I used to live 25 miles from the store. There is no running to the store. Keeping a pantry of staples and being creative are essential. 😀🙏🌞
If meal planning was a company, it should have been the sponsor of this video! 👍🏼 I don't even have a family and now you have me wanting to meal plan. 😁💐❤️
I don’t think I could function without meal planning, but I think that is just my personality. We are a family of 10 and each week I make a menu for all three meals a day, then make my grocery list accordingly. I am not stringent on which meal to eat which day, but I have to have the direction. To me, it is one less decision and I can determine early in the day how to function based on what kind of meals I’m planning. Sometimes I will make a month’s menu out at a time but that takes quite a bit of time. It is worth it for me, but some people are naturally spontaneous and good at it. I think it largely depends on your personality type. Great video, as always. ❤
How about rotating/repeating monthly or weekly plans. Do it once - save the plan - use it again in 4 months.
I have done it both ways. In myvyounger days, it was a help. Now, older in our late 70's, flexibility is easy. I know what we eat, I can keep track of what I have on hand and fix meals accordingly. I guess with age comes a certain ease with familiarity, if that makes sense?
This is the most motivating meal planning video I have ever seen. You make me want to try something that I have been avoiding but need to do.
I have seen videos on WHY you should meal plan for years but I've never seen someone do the reverse and THAT'S what finally got me meal planning! And I LOVE it, THANK YOU
I have an intermediate way of meal planning: I plan as many dinners as I know we'll eat at home that week (so if we're planning on visiting friends, I'll plan only six meals). Then during the week, I pick one of the meals that sound appealing to me. There are always easier and more time-consuming meals, so I can choose which fits the day. Gives me a feeling of freedom and allows for flexibility, whilst still having the benefits of meal planning.
Once I started meal planning, I noticed how hard it was to function without it.
It costs me time, money, and health when I don’t do it.
If I don’t have time to plan the whole week, I at least plan the next 2-3 days.
I live alone with my pets. I found recipes for small crock pots for 2, how to use the instant pot for small meals, I sauté often. My new plan is to add salad daily, can be simple or elaborate. I designate a theme for the days of the week, then Sunday smorgasbord of leftovers.
The sad face veggies were so cute and hilarious. I really appreciate that edit.
Meal planning seems super great if you have already learned how to do it and have a bank of meals you're already comfortable preparing! If it's new to you, it probably has all the benefits *except" saving time. I think the learning phase is tough for a lot of people (myself included) since it takes a lot of discipline and trial and error for a while. Fortunately, I don't have the full mental load for feeding the family as my husband is a pretty good chef!
I can never get past the first week or so. I'll make a list and then find myself improvising anyway after the first few days.😮 for no reason, I just can't seem to follow through on it.
True! The hardest thing for us is busy school/work/event schedules and changes to it… and sometimes we eat the entire meal and other times there’s lots of leftovers, so it’s hard to plan. Instead of a week I plan four meals at a time, sometimes those meals only last four nights, other times a week, then go grocery shopping after that or eat out of the pantry/freezer. With kids at sporting events and music practices, sometimes we have to eat at different times and sometimes they’ll grab something at their events to eat. I’m
You're totally right, the learning process does take a while. My first meal plan took me like 5 hours just to plan. Getting my list of meals took a while too. But once you get there, the benefits are so worth it!
@@katiel3457yes! I typically only plan 2-4 meals a week. It helps that my husband is “in charge” of 2 meals a week, but expecting to ad-lib or change it up if I’m just too fatigued helps.
I also don’t pick days. On my days to cook I just think about which of the 2-4 meals I have the spoons to tackle.
@BriannePitt … I started my bank of meals by taking about a month w/out meal planning & just writing a list of the meals we’d cooked & liked. I then asked my husband if there was anything he wanted added to the list.
If you don’t cook much at home now, don’t try to start cooking all meals at home right away … ease into it & good luck!
In Germany we have a great solution for 'whats for dinner': Abendbrot - eating sliced bread with sliced meat and cheese ect. 😘
I meal plan one week a month and wonder why it doesn't work lol. Your video inspired me to actually take the time to meal plan the whole month and stop the dinner chaos I thought was normal. Thank you.
I didn’t even realise that some people DONT meal plan until now. I can’t imagine life without meal planning- It prevents decision fatigue creates and mental energy for me!
My parents and I share a house. My family has NEVER meal planned. EVER. And I’m in my 40s!
Two weeks ago while out grocery shopping I planned an entire week of dinners based on what I bought , and listed them for my dad to choose from the list , my mom to make when they got hungry, and I would know there would be leftovers when I got home from work.
BREEZIEST WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. My dad didn’t pester my mom for food as much, my dad bought less fast food and my mom wasn’t stress.
Except the work going into planning which is so new to me. I was so busy that weekend I immediately reverted back to doing whatever. Immediate chaos ensued!
Your video was SO SPOT ON on how our lives normally work. I’m constantly bitter and overwhelmed at home and I think about a third of that is about lack of meal planning!
You just convinced me to spend that 2 hours a week planning and shopping. Really not a huge investment for all that time and money savings and my parents actually consuming veggies.
I have no idea why you popped up on my feed but so thankful you did.
I'm planning the day before - but I'm living on countryside. I have a pantry, two freezers, a vegetables and fruit garden and a gardening neighbour. Too much planning causes lack of flexibility if your neighbour rings the bell and gives you 8 cucumbers or a bucket of tomatoes, or if your pear tree donates you 100 pounds of pears in 4 days. It depends on your situation if a plan for a week helps or not so much.
I’m also an over 60 year old follower. Love your content ❤
I find that if I plan out meal it does save money, time and most importantly stress.
I eat the same breakfast M-F usually oats, yogurt & fruit. Weekends are eggs brunch stuff. Lunches tend to be salad kits with beans or other protein . I plan out 3-4 dinners - eating leftovers on another day. One dinner is either takeout or clean the fridge out. 😊
I look thru the ads and the internet to decide what dinners might be. I keep a couple of frozen pizzas/entrees for those nights when it’s just not gonna happen. 🫤
We do a hybridized version. I think about the meals that we like to cook and try to have things on hand, or take meat out of the freezer on the night before, but I couldn’t tell you what specific meals we will eat in the coming week, but I always have options.
During the busy week...crockpot and soups are your friend! Plan a few of those and first thing in the morning put them in and focus on anything else you want all day!
Make a list of ten meals...at least a third of them go into the crockpot. Make one meal for the crockpot and one for the freezer....one mess equals two meals each time...then your second half of the month is all that easier😁
I love the thought of one mess equals two meals! Sometimes it's just a mindset for me!
Yessssss crock pot or instant pot meals for the win!!!❤❤
Darn I was hoping I wouldn't have to start meal planning... But this is so accurate. I know what I must do.
Another great video. Love the idea of using one meal for multiple meals! Two other meal plan ideas I like are: Lena Patterson Plans has a video called meal plan with me monthly and weekly planning where she mentions theme meals for the days of the week like pizza on Fridays and The Secret Slob video Meal Plan Day 19, where she writes a list of meals for the week but do not assign a specific day to allow for flexibility.
I don't meal plan as such but I make the same simple meals on a pretty regular basis. I always have a stockpile of basics in the house then once a week I go to the greengrocer and see what is on sale, what is in season and what looks good then make a mental menu for the week.
People often complicate meals by always looking for something new and different to make but at 62 year's old I know what I like and just stick with that.
Sitting down to meal plan now... thanks for the inspiration! And I laughed out loud when you asked your husband what's for dinner! The look on his face! You make an awesome pair! 😂
how to cut bell peppers - much easier - no waste - first cut around the stem base (cut in a circle as close as you can to the stem base circle. Then pull on the stem and the stem and the inside seedy part will come out. Cut pepper in half the long way, turn upside down, holding it over your sink and spank the pepper firmly (this will cause the loose seeds to drop out into your sink (you could rinse out the seeds but this way you get a dry pepper to put in salad or saute). Then you cut your pepper. reading this takes longer thatn doing it.
By far, and I mean FAR, the best meal planning video on UA-cam!!!! 😂 Im in. I'm getting the index cards right now to plan the meals this week! Thank you!
This is a great video! Thanks!
Loved this video! Made me think! Thank you!
Thank you for this video! 😀🌸
Nope, no meal planning until a couple of days ahead - I keep proteins in freezer, buy a week’s worth of veg (things that look good/on sale). I usually have potatoes on hand, pasta, rice, tortillas if I remembered to buy them. I have flour, oil, butter, sugar, milk, half & half, frozen berries, frozen peas & spinach, plan yogurt, eggs…a good aged cheese, good sausages of some sort in freezer. Aromatic veg, ginger, good canned tomatoes, assorted spices, chiles, and condiments. I make a pot of dried beans or chick peas most weeks, too. We rarely throw anything out and we eat quite well. I did more meal planning with small children at home, as they were less flexible!
Brilliant video!
Great video. Thanks Ariel.
OMG! This is so great!
this is perfect! I appreciate this take on it. I have to meal plan. I have 4 kids and my grocery bill is outrageous when I don't meal plan. I use a two week meal rotation, with one night a week planned for leftovers- which I do on garbage night in case I end up tossing the leftovers we forgot about from two weeks ago that no one liked. every few months I tweak the menu based on what meals the kids liked and what's in season.
Here's a good idea for meals, make a list of regional foods. Italian, Spanish, Mediterranean, Asian, American, German style, Polish style, even Greek. Then, think of main dishes that can go under them. American can have hamburgers, steaks, BBQ, pot roast, loaded Baked potatoes. Mediterranean can have kebabs, or roasted and stuffed veggies, couscous salad with a fresh lemon herb dressing, Roasted or fried leg of lamb or goat, Moroccan style vrs Turkish style foods. Polish Pierogi, kielbasa sausage and cabbage rolls. etc. Chinese vs Thai, dishes. You know them all. Italian spaghetti, ravioli, pasta fagioli, and homemade pizza! Cheesy herbed Garlic bread, well you get the idea, it's just a column list that at a glance you can decide that morning what you may want to make for that night. Taco's or enchilada pie? see the idea is to know what you have in the pantry and go from there. Without having to run off to the store for herbs, or seasonings.🦋
I need to get back to this! Thanks for the reminder!
I’m so glad to see that my theory has been validated 😂 Great video!! ❤
Haha!
Excellent video Ariel!
I started meal-planning after watching your videos and it's made such a positive change in our home! Thank you so much! 🤗
Very well done! Extremely persuasive!
Loved this video - this is my experience too.
I am inspired. Thank you, Ariel!
You are SO talented!!! Enjoyable post.
We are going to try this … thank you.
Yes!!! Love this Ariel
So, so true...thsnk you for doing the reverse!
I have a golden middle route for this issue: i have some basic ingredients always at home in the pantry ( which is just 1 big cabinet) and meat and some veggies in the freezer, sour cream and cheese in the fridge, eggs, etc. Even if i cannot cook what i want to, i can always whip up something from this. But i weekly make a menu, or at least what i want to use, and what i really need to buy. But i never allocate these dishes to a day, and it has wiggle room and changes. Like for this week i had written beans with ham, and at the end i baked the ham with potatoes, and the beans will be chili, so got 2 different dishes from the original idea. And i cook for 2 days, so i am not cooking every day.
Funny story my stepmom when asked what was for dinner she’d respond “food”. What type of food? “Edible food”, lol. She learned quickly to meal plan and put the list on the fridge so no more hearing 12 kids ask what’s for dinner, lol. Great video that holds a lot of truth about meal planning.
That cucumber salad looked amazing. Thanks for this video. It got the point across very well by sharing your experiences.
Excellent video.
I struggle with meal planning, but I'm so much calmer when I do it. Decision fatigue is huge in the later afternoon, so having to figure out what to make for supper can be really stressful. Meal planning takes all decisions away - you already figured that out.
Oh wow... thank you sooo much ❤ perhaps I start planning meals.
I didn’t know I need meal planning in my life until now!!! Thank you! xx
I love your new back drop! I also love your new room transformation
The new filming location looks great!
Wow ~ didn’t realize this would describe me! Def looking to do meal planning
What a talent! Thanks for another fun & inspiring video Ariel & love your channel xo 😘
My meal plans are very “loose” in that I don’t try and assign a certain meal to a day of the week. Because it never fails that we won’t be in the mood for whatever I wrote on that day. Instead, I list 4-5 meals that I have all the ingredients for and make whatever we’re feeling like that day from my list. We also have hodgepodge nights to use up leftovers and that can include a bowl of cereal or can of soup if we want. Frozen pizza with salad is also a life saver to avoid takeout.
Thank you for the lovely 🥰& inspirational ideas 💡 in your video, delivered in such an entertaining, funny way…😂😂😂
I agree, having a hard time getting back to meal planning, just the kick I needed!
Ariel, I agree with you! Meal planning saves me money, time and stress!!! Great video!
Thank you so much for this video. I have never been good at menu planning on a regular basis but sat down this afternoon and planned out this week's menus and grocery list. Maybe there is hope yet. I love watching your videos, they make me smile.
Love the new background!
I love watching pro home cook he makes his meals on the fly. It gives me a lot of inspiration and creativity.
great video!!
Very good quick video to encourage us to meal plan! My newest version is a two week (10 meals) rotation. So having the same thing every other Monday, etc. So far it’s working pretty well for taking a lot of the stress out of planning! (I’m homeschooling three kids 😬).
Great idea for a video! I’ve gotten out of the habit of meal planning and yes we’ve been grabbing take out way more. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the new filming spot. The makeover video with Emily was great!
I hate meal planning with a passion, but you’ve inspired me to try!
It seems like you'd be carefree, but fact is if you don't meal plan, you obsess about what's for dinner from the minute you wake up, you obsess about the extra money you're spending. My best stressfree days are when I have a crockpot prepared at 7 am. And I tend to get more done overall when the dinner issue is addressed early on.
Ok fiiiiiine! I will start meal planning. I too have watched all the other UA-camrs and none had me convinced except you.
My deal with planning meals is I don't know what will be on sale at the grocery store. I do plan in a way, but in the form of buying the food I need to make dinner for a few days, as well as the basic supplies we need for breakfast and lunch. I can cook pretty creatively with what I have on hand, and I don't rely very much on recipes. We never do take-out or delivery, and eat out moderately according to regular family schedule and not necessity. Anything that causes you to buy super-costly pre-made food is going to be out of budget for the vast majority. That money has ten other places you could invest or spend it better.
I just learned to make good tortillas, which promises to be a great money saver.
Yes someone who sort of plans like I do. Walking through the grocery store is a what meats are at an affordable price. Some week none. Thanks for the preplanning in the freezer. Other groceries are like you the basic supplies that are always there. Grocery store shopping is only once a week. The closest one is 15 minutes away and the other ones are 25 minutes. Take out does not happen due to the same time thing and also no one will deliver where I live. By the time we get home who wants to drive 15 minutes minimum in, wait for food and 15 minutes back. My stomach will not do that to say even more for my wallet. Basic cupboard stocking is the best grocery solution for both time and prices. To say nothing about only once a week and thinking first. I'm with you.
That’s why I like to reverse meal plan. I’ve stocked up when items on are sale so I can just shop my freezer and pantry for most of my meal plan. Then I just have a few missing ingredients that I have to buy each week. When something’s on sale I buy enough to last three to six months so I don’t have to pay full price for a while.
Shopping sales & choosing fresh produce is a big one for me too … For my grocery list I like to add non-specific line items like “fish meal” and “herbs for chicken” or “vegetable for pork chops”
For those that have family members that are picky, have each person decide “what’s for dinner” one night a week, from a list you have prepared. Let them choose the veggie to go with the main dish, if one is needed. It’s a great way to teach kids why they need certain foods to help them “grow big and strong.” Healthy meals are one of the most important things we can do for our families. Make it fun for them, let them help cook, you will be surprised what they will eat when they cooked the meal and learn why to chose the different foods that will help them “get bigger.”
Great advice!
This really helped. Thank you! Explained my everyday life. I didn’t know meal planning could do this.
I don't formally plan meals, but I always have ingredients on hand for a variety of easy meals (the only kind I make - easy). We can decide what we want when my husband gets home from work. Sometimes he wants the same thing three nights in row. That's ok with me. We almost never get take-out, and we eat out only a couple of times a year.
Okay! What are your easy meals?
This is how my mom always did it! I love that method, but unfortunately I’m a little too extra when it comes to trying new recipes for this to work consistently for me… 🫣
My husband was always against meal planning until he started being the main cook lol ! I *hated* being the one who had to decide what I was cooking each day. Now we sit down once a week and discuss what we are going to eat - I have 3 teenagers and they all pitch in. It also helps to look at our nutrition on a weekly basis - are we eating too much red meat, what veg are we going to have etc. It also means that you can easily switch up the days if something happens and yet you still have all the necessary ingredients. And it means anyone can start dinner if need be.
Your new room makeover looks fabulous in the background 🎉 hope it's working for you. I love the colour ❤ I'm terrible at meal planning!! I'm always at the store!! 😢
Another great video. Really helpful. I am living a no meal plan life for 8 years now and it's exactly how you described it
Great videos, you are funny, informative, inspirational and the videos are so professionally done. Thank you!
Thank you! 😊
Thank You!! You've convinced me! I know it would have been extremely helpful with my family of 4, but now it's a household of 1 but still seems chaotic and I know it will save me money and time. I LOVE your videos!! Entertaining, informative and motivating!!
You're so funny! This is a great video showing the true cost of not planning. Your remodeled room looks very nice in the desk footage.🌺
Congratulations on hitting one hundred thousand subscribers! 🥳👏👏👏 I’ve been meal planning for years, and highly recommend it. My husband and I started before we even had kids, because we found it saved time only shopping once a week. WITH kids, it’s vital. It also saves food waste and money!
I used to meal plan and I just let it go. Thanks for the motivation to start again.
Thank you for putting things in perspective Ariel. I struggle with consistency. I’ll meal plan sometimes. But others my life gets crazy and that’s not what’s on my mind till it’s too late.
I need to reduce my stress and I think meal planning might help with that. Thank you Ariel for the great encouragement!
Good video. You’re very talented. I ❤❤❤
We are renovating our kitchen and haven’t had a real kitchen for six weeks. I am with you. My vegetables are going to waste and they NEVER did. I just ate Oreos for lunch. 🤣
Technically I’ve been meal planning, but it’s so stressful trying to cook in our situation that I don’t follow the plan. You’ve motivated me to make a extra simple meal plan that I will stick to no matter what since our kitchen won’t be done for another month.
Do you have a grill? Most sheet pan meals can be put in a foil packet and cooked on the top rack of your grill like an oven. For over two months, I cooked with an electric skillet, grill and a 40+ year old hot plate that barely cooked canned veggies so I understand. Cast iron pizza on the grill is fast and delicious too. I wish I would have known how much an instant pot would have helped me out.
You’ve made great points fantastic video what a great idea to do meal planning in reverse
I love your humor!😂❤
I have been working on improving things in my life and this is one area I have failed in. Thank you for the reminder and the encouragement to make this a priority. 😊