Last updated on August 19th, 2020 at 03:21 pm
I know, you’re sick of hearing anything about meal prepping, planning, etc. I get it – I really do! But, because I tend to be a positive thinker, I am going to attempt (once again!) to talk you into giving it a try.
EVEN IF you’ve tried many times before and you find you just.cannot.stick.with.it.
I’ll remind you, lovely readers, that being self-disciplined is not my number one attribute. Heck, it might not even be my 30th attribute. 🤨😋
BUT, saying that, batch cooking once a week and then eating it all week really IS something we do! Not all the time, but when I can, I DO. And, honestly, the reason I am stressing this so much to you is:
a.) because I want to make your life easier, and
b.) if you commit to it, the rest of your week is AHMAZINGLY simple! (which also has A LOT to do with just.making.life.easier.) #lifegoals
And, there’s A LOT of quality of life in that…..isn’t there?
So, like many of you out there, I have failed in the past at meal planning. It took me quite awhile to figure out (since I’m NOT a natural meal planner) just how to do it. Successfully. Like, REALLY. I do this now on-the-regular!
Here’s what I have found, dear readers, to be the REAL TRICK in meal planning for muah: BATCH COOKING.
That’s right. It really has been a game-changer for me! You see, I was totally overthinking it beforehand: I’d write out a different meal for each night, which is completely insane considering everyone in my family eats differently. Or, I’d pick super complicated meals that ended up disastrously OR I was just exhausted and grumpy.
The list went on and on. So I’d give up….
So, here’s what I want ya to do:
FIND INSPO FOR YOUR MEALS!
The key is to find inspiration for your meals, write them down or save them, and then repeat them! I know: too easy, right? I find Pinterest to be the easiest way to do this, but feel free to use whatever recipe-saving website or physical saving of recipes suits your personality best! For inspo from me, check out my Pinterest Meal Planning board!
For me, the physical writing of the meals each week really makes a difference. I have, simply out of hope, created a lovely FREE TEMPLATE you can print out! Should you be the type who writes down the meals to keep you on-point. I find if I actually DO write them out, I stick to my batch cooking much more successfully! So, that is one of the things I want to stress most:
WRITE NEXT WEEK’S MEALS OUT WITH PEN AND PAPER ON THIS.
After you’ve done both the above, create a grocery list for FREE using Mealime. Unlike SOOOO many meal planning apps out there, Mealime is FREE! Yippeeeeeeee for free! 🙌
Simply add whatever else you need onto your Mealime Grocery List and you’re all set! Make sure to download the app onto your phone, too! I don’t have any affiliation with them – I just find that their website is easy to use, and in a day-and-age where I feel like everyone is asking for money – their app is FREE!
NOW, HEAD TO THE STORE! YOU GOT THIS!
With your handy-dandy Mealime list, go out and get everything you need for each batch-cooked meal you’re planning on making. If you get really good at this, just order your much-needed staples each month from my favorite online (ethical!) grocery store!
Also, make sure that you stick to your batch cooking schedule! Routine makes EVERYTHING EASIER……
This would be a good time to add some seriously critical info, too: whenever you meal plan or batch cook each week, you will find you save some serious $$$ each month! I was shocked at how simply knowing ahead of time what I was going to do truly streamlined my grocery shopping experience! And, I am totally one to get sidetracked by this new hot Trader Joe’s item or that sale item at my favorite ethically-minded food co-op. But since I plan ahead – I seriously do NOT get swayed and stay on course. I think you’ll find the same results, too!
GET BATCH COOKIN’!
So, here’s where the work starts. YES, you will be workin’ your toosh off in the kitchen for a day. But guess what? You will be SOOOO happy you did the rest of the week because you are literally going to just do one of the following:
- Slice, re-heat, serve!
OR
- pull out of the freezer, thaw out, and dump in your Slow Cooker or Instant Pot, set timer, and wallah! Dinner’s cooking! *I’ve been able to do about 20 or so meals in one day, y’all….*
OR
- review what food in the fridge MUST get eaten so it doesn’t go bad, and create a 15-minute-meal around it! Again, this is where Pinterest really does help! Just search by your main ingredient and then add “15 minute meal.” Such as, “Chicken 15 Minute Meal.” You’ll find tons of yummy options!
So, while YES – there is some work and commitment on your part – I guarantee that IF you attempt to adopt this system you will be AMAZED at not only how much easier your life becomes during the work week/weekdays, but also how much money you save from that monthly grocery bill! Total win-win!
ALWAYS BE ONE-STEP-AHEAD….
Here’s the thing, though (and I cannot stress this ENOUGH): you HAVE to always think ahead. It sounds so easy, but we all know how crazy life can be and how easy it is to just give up and go get take-out! But if you truly commit to sitting down, looking at your schedule for the upcoming week, and design your batch cooking meals AROUND said schedule, you simply cannot (and will not!) fail!
The other piece of advice I’d give is to start with dinners ONLY. Trying to batch cook for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be too overwhelming! Set yourself up to succeed! Start with dinners only and batch cook just those meals for about a month or two. Then, when you have that into a regular routine and you’re rocking it…..THEN you can attempt to batch cook lunches, and then breakfast’s (or, the other way around, of course!)
Lastly, definitely don’t do what I did and choose super complex, Michelin-chef type meals! Just choose simple, one-pot, or ready-in-15-minute-style meals! And definitely rinse-and-repeat! Remember, the whole point is to get this system on auto-pilot for ya! 🙌
Also make sure that if there are any ingredients that tend to ‘go bad’ more quickly, use those in the beginning of the week and the heartier items with a longer shelf or fridge life towards the end of the week. Simple little tweaks like this really do make all the difference!
THAT’S IT! YOU’RE READY!!!
If you follow the steps above, I guarantee you’ll find more time to relax and put your feet up during the week! Batch cooking really isn’t hard, you just have to find the ways to make it successful for you and your family!
Since my husband is Vegan, my kiddo is a Vegetarian, and I try to follow an Ancestral diet – well, just take it from me! 🤣Batch cooking will TRULY change your life for the better and bring you more quality of life!
I’d LOVE to hear from y’all how batch cooking has improved your lives! Or, please feel free to comment below and ask any questions about how to get started!
Don’t forget to print out your handy-dandy FREE TEMPLATE BELOW!
My weekday evenings are an altogether different scene now, dear readers.
And, I hope this post will bring you the same quality time to chat with family members, work on any side projects, do homework with your kiddo(s) without feeling completely overwhelmed, or just Netflix-binge with a glass o’ wine and your partner….
Remember: you deserve this! Put in that little bit of time one day a week to batch cook, and get ready for a completely improved (and more sane!) lifestyle!
Always Here,
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