Plan To Eat

Let's talk a little bit about food and a lot about meal planning.

Having a husband, three children, and a busy life; meal planning isn't something that is a "one day" in my life. It is a necessity. If I don't take time each week to plan our meals (by meals I mean dinner) for the next seven days, mass chaos ensues. We will live on a rotation of frozen pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, leftover pizza, cereal, and leftover pizza...do you see a theme here?

I make meal planning a priority, just as I make exercise, being everywhere at once, and coffee a priority. It takes time and it takes creativity to plan meals.

As I stated earlier; I plan dinners for a week. That is the basics; I plan a dinner six of the seven evenings, leaving one evening for leftovers. I usually make Thursdays leftover night, because for me Thursday is the longest and most difficult day of each week; and leftovers are pretty easy. I also plan lunch for each Saturday and Sunday; lunch may be leftovers or sandwiches, it is generally not a real taxing meal. This meal planning system is for when school is in session. During the summer and holiday breaks, I plan breakfast, lunch, and snacks for each day.

If you got past that last sentence without an eye roll or heart palpitations - pat yourself on the back. I'm not a supermom, I have slight OCD, and planning is relaxing for me. I have found benefits for meal planning; and the weeks I neglect meal planning, I feel the consequences.

The benefits I have found include:

• Saving Money - taking time to write down each ingredient needed for recipes, checking what is in the cabinets and fridge, and sticking with one or two meats a week allows for savings. I don't walk up and down the aisles picking up items I "might" need, but stick with what is needed and in turn save money. I have found the weeks I meal plan versus the weeks I don't meal plan there is a forty to sixty dollar difference in our grocery bill.

•Save Time - I can compartmentalize the grocery list  into categories such as produce, frozen, meats, dairy, etc. this saves a lot of time because I am not walking from one side of the store to the other.  My husband and I also use the app "Wunderlist" when we go grocery shopping together. We split up in the store and mark off the items as we get them, that is another time saver. But a major time saver I found just this week is grocery pick up!  I made my meal plan, sat down with my phone, shopped online, and picked up my groceries at the store. Someone else picked up what I needed and brought the items to my car. That saved me a good hour and half!

• Reduces Questions - what is the one question every parent hears on a daily basis?  "What's for dinner?" My children know the menu is located on the fridge and they know each day what is for dinner. It greatly reduces the repetitive question!

•Saves Some Sanity - besides each thing mentioned above, meal planning saves my sanity because I know what to expect!  I know what we will eat each night and I can usually plan my day right so dinner is ready by the time my husband gets home from work. I can have most of the legwork done before I pick up my kids from school. It is a true sanity saver.

A key I have found in menu planning is to not compare your menu to others.  I share my meal plan on social media to encourage other parents to meal plan, but also to get ideas for my menu. It is pretty easy to look at someone else's menu and think their menu is so much better than yours, but that should never be a thought that goes past the frontal lobe of your brain. Each family has their own dynamics in everything and that includes meals!  When you make your menu, be proud!  Be proud because you're providing an amazing service to your family and to yourself!

If you don't already plan your meals, you may be wondering where to start.

First, find out what method of planning works for you. I love using a chalkboard for my menu. Others use apps on their phones or planners. Find what works best for you and use it!  It may take a few months to figure out what works for you, and that's okay.

Second, consider what your family prefers. Two of my children hate spaghetti and two love spicy food. One hates vegetables and one asks for vegetables. Like everything else in parenting, meals are trial and error. Think about what your family prefers and make your menu based on those.

Third, find recipes!  I use Pinterest to find recipes. A few girlfriends and I have a shared board we share recipes on; I also ask other parents what they make. A few girlfriends and I get together once a week, we make a meal trying different recipes. It is a lot of fun and we get to experiment with what other households are cooking. It definitely takes you out of any box you're in.

Finally, follow through. Get the recipes. Make your menu. And cook your dinner!

If you're overwhelmed right now, that's okay. It seems like a lot but once it gets to be a routine you will really enjoy it.

A huge tip before I sign off - use your menu as a guide. It is not set in stone. If you have cabbage soup set for Tuesday and leftovers for Wednesday, it is okay to switch it up. If you really aren't feeling what is on the menu, make sandwiches (or frozen pizza).

This week make it a goal to plan your meals!  A goal without a plan is just a wish...so plan to plan!

You Can Make A Change

Parenting is easy, said no one.  Ever.  Of all the things I have done in life, parenting is the hardest, but most fulfilling.  Being a mom means to question all you do, if it is good for you, is it also good for your children?  Parenting is a constant trial and error, you hope you are doing something positive and at the same time praying you don’t ruin these little human beings entrusted to you.

My children are older, by older I mean the youngest is five and the oldest is eleven.  It’s not all old hat to me, but I am not at the beginning of my parenting journey either.  When my oldest was born, social media was not as big as it is now.  If I needed an answer, I would ask my mom or look at “What to Expect the First Year” by Heidi Murkoff.  The pressure was little to fit into a certain mold of a parent.  Sure, there were expectations, but they were expectations I allowed to inundate my life.

I have true compassion for new moms in this day of social media, mom wars, and having 145 opinions of each question you have.  We have all had things that worked best for our children, and we want to help other moms with that, but not everything works for every child.  In my own mom journey, my two oldest slept through the night from the get-go, they enjoyed sleeping.   My youngest didn’t sleep through the night for three years; yes you read that right, three years.  Through groggy eyes and coffee induced energy I mothered my three children for three years.  I tried everything that was put on social media about helping your child sleep through the night.  It was a very hard period. 

As a mom who is now confident in my parenting and that I am, hopefully, doing a good job rearing my children, I look at what other moms who are doing as great.  I don’t see them as aspirations most of the time.  I admire them.  I respect them.  And sometimes, I will incorporate what others do in our every day routine.

I want to encourage moms to “do you”, do what works for you.

If you mill your own wheat and make all your own food, do it well!  If you buy bread and microwave dinners, be proud!

If you use cloth diapers, good for you.  If you use disposable diapers, good for you.

If you breastfeed your baby, formula feed your baby, or use a feeding tube; good job feeding your baby.

If you homeschool your children, have fun!  If your child attends public school or private school, enjoy the experiences!

If you work outside the home, be proud.  If you are a stay at home mom, be proud.

With social media, we are able to see everyone’s highlight real, and it is amazing.  I love that we can share our lives so easily.  On the flip side, there is the comparison trap.  Don’t allow yourself to get caught up in comparing your life to others.  What is easy for one family may not be possible for another family, and that is okay. 

Moms, parents, lets encourage each other.  In a world where there is a constant rival, let’s make motherhood peaceful.  Also, when we see another mom needing some encouragement, jump in to encourage.  Encouragement doesn’t have to be a comment on a facebook post.  Some of the most encouraging times for me came in private.  The mom who sent me a little note to let me know they think I do a good job – getting a note in the mail is amazing.  The moms (yes plural) who brought me Starbucks because they knew I was surviving on coffee and Jesus.  The mom who stopped by and held my baby so I could sleep or shower.  As I have continued in my parenting journey, I have been able to pay it forward for other moms.  It is sometimes difficult to ask for help and even harder to accept it.  But it is needed.

On this second day of 2017, make it a goal to make this year a bit kinder.  Make it more cheerful.  You can be the change.

Hello One Seven

Hello 2017!  As yesterday was ending, I don't think I have been happier to see a year end and a new year begin.  2016 was a zinger.  A doozy.  A roller coaster of epic proportions.

If I had to sum up 2016 in one word, it would be CHANGE!

A quick recap of 2016:

January - pre-op, pre-op, and more pre-op
February - major surgery to basically remove one entire body system
March - recovery
April - feeling better
May - youngest son turned seven
June - daughter turned five and we got the best dog ever, Tucker
July - I had another organ removed and my husband and I celebrated fourteen years of marriage
August - all three kids started school, the day after that my husband was offered his dream job
September - oral surgery 
October - our oldest son turned eleven
November - our sweet Tucker was killed in front of us
December - I turned 35 and all of the holiday extravaganza

See - one big whirlwind change!

Really positive things happened - I made some amazing friends in 2016, my confidence grew, I learned to slow down and to prioritize my time, and I think I may finally be an adult.

That is all for 2016.  I can put that one in the books and look forward.

2017 looks bright!  I have faith that this will be "my year".  The year that I take charge of me.

The organs that were making me so sick are gone...and I really don't think there are many more that can be removed.  So with that I am able to move forward with my health goals.  

Yes, I have the standard weight loss goal, but this year I have made an attainable goal and plan.  Last time I checked, when you turn 35 you don't get younger, so I need to get my act and health together.

Take Time for Talent - I have several talents that are hobbies, but this year I will take time to improve the talents.  Writing, art, lettering, and napping.

Family and Friends - I will be strategic this year in my family development.  It is time to implement all of the things I have read, and really be who I want to be for my family.  I will be purposeful in my friendships, developing them and making new friends.

Growing with God - Our oldest son bought me a new Bible for Christmas, the one I had was pretty worn out and missing Genesis and a Thessalonians (from fifteen years of use).  I am excited to mark this one up, and get into it. Today, I began reading the One Year Bible and I look forward to staying with it all year.  I really enjoy leading small groups and serving in my church, so I plan on continuing those and developing my leadership skills.  My husband and I are leading a married couples small group beginning in February, and we are so excited about this.

2017 is the year of Rebecca!

Tell me...what positive things are going to happen for you in 2017?!