Oh hay Friday, didn’t see you there (JK I always see Friday).
I thought it might be helpful to show how well I stuck to my plan and what I actually ended up buying and making for a week of Whole30 meals.
Meal planning and food prepping can seem pretty daunting at first, but if you’re strapped for time during a busy week of classes or work then it can actually be a life saver when you’re focusing on eating healthy, nutritionally dense foods. Meal planning is helpful when I feel like I’ve gotten into a food rut, which I often do. If I don’t try to do something different I’ll end up eating the same thing… over and over and over again. Is anyone else like that (having a fall back meal that you stick to)?
As for the prepping? This past Sunday it took me approximately an hour and half to make everything I needed for the week. (Next week I’ll do a better job at actually taking pictures of prepped food) After that my fridge was full of delicious building blocks I can use throughout the week.
My best analogy for a meal plan using items that you prep is that it’s like those fashion magazine features where they show you how you can have a week/month’s worth of outfits using 5 main staples. With the main components in place, you’re free to adapt your sides/sauces/preparation based on how much time you have and what your body (and taste buds) want.
It’s funny, some days or meals I know exactly what I’m craving whether it’s for taste or nutritional value (most often both) while other times I’m just hungry and a little agnostic, which is why having the plan is so nice to fall back on, rather than staring into the fridge hopelessly in a downward spiral of hunger, waiting for answers that never show themselves. So it’s nice to have some food ready or a plan or both.
What I had planned for this week:
get the blank printable of this meal planner here
What I Bought:
In purple are things that weren’t on my list (oops). This week’s list was a little pricey (my average week of groceries is anywhere from $40-80 depending on what I’m buying) but I suspect it will come down because I won’t have to buy a lot of those items again next week (olive oil, nuts, seeds) – Also I did have some butternut squash in my fridge which is why it was on my prep list but not my shopping list.
What I Prepped:
On Sunday I’ll show you a full recap of everything I made (and ate).
See my first two days of Whole30 Meals
Learn how to plan, shop and prep
Hear why I’m doing the Whole30 (Again)
Follow along on Instagram
Your Turn:
- Do you make a shopping list each week?
- How closely do you stick to it?
- What’s your favorite impulse buy?
This is really helpful! You definitely have a good system.
Even though I’m not doing this challenge, it is really fun to read about your experience…see how much prep…money…and meal ideas you come up with. Very inspiring! You go girl…Passing your blog along to my friend in Philly. I know so random, but I think she’ll like all your recipes and YOU! 🙂
Yuummy 🙂 sounds like a lot of great healthy food! might be using some of your ideas as im trying to eat even cleaner as you can read about on my blog! 😀
I agree with what everyone else has said, wholeheartedly! This is all very detailed and easy to follow. I follow a lot of other fitness/ diet blogs and have yet to find one that has laid everything out as helpfully as yours has! Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth to get people to list what kinds of foods they eat as well as how often they eat them ( and if they do, they charge an arm and a leg. So long story short, don’t ever feel unappreciated because we seriously appreciate you!!!You have awesome ideas!
I totally impulse bought at the store the other day… Justin’s Hazlenut butter was on sale so I had to, right?
If Justin’s is on sale you can’t NOT buy it. I’m pretty sure that’s a law…
With 4 kids, meal planning is a must. Love your meal planning template, cute!
Thanks Jen! Meal planning, even flexible/loosely is a life saver. Hope you can use it 🙂