Last updated on August 23rd, 2023 at 09:34 pm
So, remember when I shared Tip #4 with you not so long ago? Yeeeeaaahhhhh…….that’s because this gal here knows a little thing or two about Meal Planning, friends!
You see (are you ready for this???): I eat a mostly Ancestral/Traditional/Paleo type diet…….and my husband is – Vegan.
YUP…..you read that correctly!!! We jokingly call ourselves The Cavewoman And The Bird.
Oh, and did I mention my son is perhaps the pickiest eater in the entire world???? AND, he is a Vegetarian. Yup! More on that in a later post, Mama’s!
So I DEFINITELY know some seriously useful tips and tricks to get dinner on the table as easily as possible and in as little time as necessary! Let’s speak plainly, here:
The information in this post is seriously valuable for SANITY!
So, I am here to make your evenings MUCH more effortless, my lovelies. That’s what I’m here for! To make things easier for you!
As we find ourselves in a world with no shortage of access to information, most families today are also finding themselves more educated in the source of where their food comes from (it is this very reason my husband decided to become Vegan!) plus diet preferences and restrictions are increasing or evolving much more frequently. This is causing dinner time to become more complicated than it used to be, and the act of getting dinner on the table much more of a chore!
You see, it happened when I was pregnant and we ate an all-organic, whole-food diet as a couple. But in my first and second trimesters I could not stand the smell of cooking chicken (which was traditionally what we ate!) so my husband announced one day, “You know, I’ve been watching some documentaries and reading more and more about being Vegan…..so, I think I am going to try it.”
And, friends, just like that: hubby became Vegan.
I know, it’s disgusting. His ability to acquire and attain self-discipline is beyond aggravating!!! My husband, dear readers, is perhaps the most self-disciplined human being on the planet. sigh
Ummmm………you want ME to NOT eat cheese???? Are you CUHRAZY TRAIN????? Don’t even TRY to take my cheese away!
Sorry: moving on. Since I have had autoimmune issues my entire life, I too educated myself and learned that the type of diet I feel the best on is an Ancestral Diet. I was actually Vegan back in my twenties for a few years….and honestly, friends: I had never felt worse. 🙁 I truly believe that every body is different and that certain people need to eat a certain diet protocol in order to feel their best. For instance, my husband feels great on his Vegan diet!
I adore animals and it pains me to eat them….but when you deal with as much chronic pain as I do and you DO feel significantly better when you eat an Ancestral Diet, well – just trust me: you go with what takes the pain away the most!
I do eat all organic, grass-fed, responsibly raised, and butchered animals. So, I do the very best I can to support those who raise and farm animals for food the ethical and right way. I cannot tell you how critically important this is, as consumers, to spend a little more for higher-quality, responsibly-raised food. Like, it’s CRITICAL.
So, back to making your life easier…..
HERE ARE SOME TIPS & TRICKS TO STAY SANE IN THE KITCHEN AND GET FOOD ON THE TABLE @ DINNER TIME:
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FIND COMMON GROUND FOOD ITEMS:
Since so many restrictive or categorized diet protocols zero-in-on the food(s) you cannot have, let’s spin this the other direction and focus on the foods you all do enjoy! Write these common ground food staples down on a list that hangs permanently in your kitchen so you always have them on hand and on your grocery list! For instance, in my family we all enjoy rice and avocados. So, we often have vegan burritos on flour tortillas and my version with sprouted corn tortillas, soaked beans, and soaked rice! Add some yummy organic veg, Cilantro Essential Oil for flavor, and my side o’ pasture-raised meat and Wallah! Dinner is served!
Find these common ingredients and what style of cuisines often contain them and #rinseandrepeat!
What I mean is, choose 4-5 different dinner recipes that contain these common ground food items and ONLY make these dishes on repeat! Why complicate it??? Seriously: if you aren’t a Michelin-rated chef WHY are you trying to make it hard for yourself??? Trust me, it took me more time than I’d like to admit to realize the advantages of sticking to my core recipes…..but it’s actually a critical step in making for a more substantial life!
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DIAL IT IN:
Ain’t no problem with variety, either, dear readers! Stick with me, here. What I mean is, dial it in with a Meatless Monday for example! Cutting down our intake of meat is a win-win! Or, sub-out the absolute deal breakers for each family member by making them sides. I keep a Pinterest account for inspo, and I just make sure to focus on, say, a Vegan + Gluten Free meal whilst roasting my grassfed chicken or beef and add it in the meal later! This way, I am keeping my vegan hubby happy, my vegetarian kiddo satiated, and ensuring my body is getting the fuel it depends on in order to work as efficiently as possible!
Find food bloggers you love who specialize in each eating regime category your family members follow. For instance, I absolutely adore this blog in order to dial it in on a vegan meal with a meat side for myself; this blog is my go-to for Ancestral recipes, and this blog is absolutely my go-to when I am feeling creative and know I can muster up something delicious for everyone! Basically, I put meat and cheese on the side and then add in where appropriate! Now THAT’S dialing it in, folks!
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MEAL PLANNING IS NOT ONLY YOUR FRIEND….IT’S YOUR BEST FRIEND:
I cannot stress this ENOUGH. Meal planning will be absolutely C.R.I.T.I.C.A.L. to your success in simplifying dinner time.
You absolutely, without-a-doubt MUST MUST MUST meal plan in order to create sanity around dinner time. You don’t need a special book or to even write down your plan! How old school! With this service, it does all the hard work for you! My life completely changed after both utilizing this free service – but I really stepped up my game when I found Plan To Eat. No joke, friends: MY.WORLD.CHANGED. World Changed = Sanity.
I cannot say enough great things about how easy it is to plan out my online monthly meal calendar! I have the app on my phone, so I always have my grocery list at-the-ready! Mind.Blown.
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BE A REALIST. IT’S OKAY:
The last thing on earth this blog is meant to do is make you feel inadequate.
So, friends, if you need to have some (healthyish?) premade/boxed meals on-hand for those nights when you barely survived the previous 14-16 hours……well, I say have those meals at-the-ready! Whatever you do, just try your very best to not make these types of meals a regular thang. That, my dearies, is the line you don’t want to cross! Your health – and your family’s health – is FAR too important to get into that bad habit!
Just make a deal with yourself: you won’t eat boxed meals with ingredients you cannot pronounce more than once a month. Sound reasonable? Well, with ALL the other steps above – this SHOULD sound reasonable!
So, hit up Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods or whatevs and have a boxed meal or two that satiates someone in your family so once a month or so you have a super easy night! You deserve it….
And, lastly…..my all-time favorite piece of advice (but, I find, all-too-often not utilized enough)…..
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DON’T FORGET TO DELEGATE:
Ahhhhhh, yes. The ole’ reminder to tell your peeps how to get off their bums and help!
Do it! I am not going to say ANYTHING else, other than JUST.ASK.FOR.HELP.AND.DELEGATE.
It may be just setting the table, or prepping some veg….but seriously, dear readers: these small steps can totally transform your dinner-time-routine and chip away at any or all angsty and overwhelmed feelings you may have experienced on-the-regular beforehand!
So – feel better yet?
You should! All you have to do now, is actually bring these concepts into fruition! That, lovelies, is up to you!
I even have one last special offer for you!
JUST for you, my special readers, Butcher Box has offered a very special deal:
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I assure you, though: take action with these tips on the regular and your sanity around the dinner time craze will be quelled. You will take a deep breath, pour yourself another glass of red, and relish in the sound of your peeps doing those dishes for you….REMEMBER: you deserve this!
Always Here,
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