Blog.EmealsForYou

I have written several Meal Planning post on this blog dealing with the methods and the reasons behind planning our meals. ( see Meal Planning Category )  Yet still many of my readers have a hard time getting into the habit.   If we look at my website:www.emealsforyou.com as the easiest method; completing the meal planning function for you as the top level we should also create an easy, free and comprehensive method as well.  In this and the next posts I will introduce The Meal Planning Game… a way of encouraging you to begin the planning function and involve your family to help you.  Using this method we will teach you to create your meal worksheet; the place you go to get meal ideas.  Next we will work on creating your own “cookbook” for these recipes; providing a source for your personalized shopping list.  Finally we will put it all together and you will be amazed at how easily you will “slide” into meal planning and enjoy all the by-products of this: saving money, saving time, feeding your family better and stressing out less.

Step 1: Completing the Meal Sheet.

Our first step is to sit down and write a list of our “usual” nightly meals.  Here is a worksheet to assist you (Meal Sheet); I also have this in an Excel format, see the note at the bottom of this post to obtain it.  Simply put down your Meat/Fish (protein), any starch (Potatoes/Pasta and any Vegetables you usually make with this meal.  Don’t worry substitutions will be allowed later. If you typically tie one meal into the next, via the leftover route, simply put the meal on one line and then the leftover meal on the next.  Later on, when we begin to choose meals you will place these meals on your meal plan on consecutive days.

You are probably saying I don’t have any “usual” nightly meals; you certainly do and I think you will be amazed once you take the time to think about this just how many you really have.

Okay, so now we have a list of Meal ideas, from this list we can create a Special Meal, a weekly menu, or any number of weekly menus.  Next week we will discuss how to set up your “personal cookbook”.

Note: to obtain the Meal Sheet in an Excel format simply send me a message including your email address and I will forward the file to you.  Also, please, please send me comments and questions.  I truly want this to be a useful product and without your feedback I may miss something important.  Remember, if you don’t want to have your comment posted simply tell me in the comment field, I read each one before deciding to post them and I can delete your comment without posting it.  You may also send me an email for a personalized and private response.