The Art of Meal Planning
Carrie Sullivan
Do you ever find yourself in a rut, making the same dinners every week or at the grocery store every other day because you didn’t make a plan? Some days you may just give up and get take-out instead. Enter the art of meal planning. As a working mother of two, I understand the importance of menu planning. Planning a menu and finding a system that works for you or your family is different for everyone. There is, however, an art to it and if done correctly, you can eat healthier, save money, save time, control food waste, enjoy the cooking process and make sitting down together a priority.
When I sit down to plan the menu for the week, I typically do it on Sunday mornings. I take a look for what is left over in the fridge or pantry from the previous week that needs to be used up, check the sales ads for the week, check the weather, look at my schedule for the upcoming week, scan through recipes that I’ve bookmarked that I’d like to try and base my menu around what I find. Creating your weekly menu around what’s on sale allows you to use produce that’s in season and also helps save money. I like to only plan five meals for the week so that leftovers can be used up. Something inevitably comes up on the remaining two days and we are not home, or I just don’t feel like cooking.
When planning the menu, it’s good to make things that can be used in different ways throughout the week so that you’re not spending hours in the kitchen every day. For instance, I will cook or prep all of the vegetables when I get home from the store. I’ll cook extra protein and use it as a base for other meals or to have two nights in a row, then just have to make new side dishes or salads to go with it. I make a pot of soup every week because it stays fresh for multiple days, can be easily reheated and can be eaten for lunch or dinner. Some weeks, I will plan a crockpot meal, as well, for those days that I’m out running around.
Benefits of Meal Planning
- Healthier meals
- Time-saving
- Less food waste
- Budget friendly
Tips for Meal Planning Done Right
- Have a well-stocked pantry
- Do it on the same day every week
- Stick to four or five meals a week
- Use your weekend wisely for prepping and cooking
- Have a theme for each day
The goal of menu planning is to find a process that works for you, makes cooking enjoyable and helps you get back to the dinner table.
Carrie Sullivan is the owner/operator of The Gathering Table, where gourmet meals are made fun and easy by offering hands-on cooking classes for all skill levels. She and her husband, Hayes, have two wonderful food-loving kids who love to attend The Gathering Table kids classes. Carrie has worked in every aspect of the hospitality industry and was a personal chef/caterer prior to having kids. She is mostly self-taught. Her passion has always been bringing people together through food. To learn more, visit gatheringtablefl.com
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