Menu planning seems to be a big deal. That's because it is a big deal. Any real foodie out there will tell you that success to preparing real food is planning ahead. Here is my method of planning, alerting, and preparing our food each week. This is the first of a series I'm putting together on how real life meets nutrition; the nitty gritties of how to apply what we know about nourishing ourselves and our families, day in and day out. Welcome to my kitchen!
I'm sharing this at Monday Mania, Traditional Tuesdays, Real Food Wednesday, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, & Fight Back Friday.
That was awesome Katie. I'd like more list details. I'm new to smart phone technology. How do you make a list on your phone? Do you do that in the computer and then sync it somehow?
ReplyDeleteThank you! :) I have an iPhone and i just use the "note" app. that comes with the phone. Each store I go to outside of the farmer's market (which is basically only Trader Joe's), has it's own note as a shopping list. Another note contains my menu for the week like this:
ReplyDeleteMonday:
(breakfast)
(snack)
(lunch)
(dinner)
Tuesday:
And so on. :) I type it right into the notes in my phone as I plan my menu; no downloading or uploading.
I use the calendar on my phone to set alarms like "soak oats" or "make kefir" or "start sourdough," etc. so I don't forget and end up foodless at the end of the day. :)
Gasp! Katie! Renee from FIMBY reads your blog! Love you Renee and love you Katie. You are the moms I aspire to be like.
ReplyDeleteThis was very helpful! I like how you plan your meals around items you purchase at the farmers' market each week.
ReplyDeleteWe are in the process of learning to eat a more healthy diet and I am making many more foods from scratch. I look forward to learning more from you!
Have a wonderful day!
Very helpful and encouraging!
ReplyDelete... And, you look beautiful! You have the healthy "glow" that comes from having a cleaned out body - love it!
Oh - and L-O-V-E the mason jar!
ReplyDeleteHi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, I have to have a reminder for everything, especially when I'm working on the computer. I get lost in my own little world and before I know it the kids are home and nothing is out of the freezer, let alone in the oven!
Thanks for more great tips on using my Mac & iPhone to make life simpler!
Kelly
Loved this Katie! This was really helpful for me, especially utilizing an alarm for something other than wake up. Light bulb moment for me!
ReplyDeleteHi Katie,
ReplyDeleteJust thought I would say that I LOVE the idea of the phone alarm! I put oats on to soak tonight while making dinner and just love your idea.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi - I have a very similar meal planning routine, but must say it's much easier with the iphone app, evernote. I clip all my recipes from reader into evernote, apply tags (easily searched) and then copy paste ingredients into a grocery list note. Then I can access it on my phone at the store. It really streamlines the process so I'm not constantly looking at multiple screens and such. Thanks for posting the video!
ReplyDeleteEvernote? Cool, I'll have to check that out. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow, I've never thought of using my phone & laptop for menu planning! Do you type the menu plan on the laptop & keep it in the kitchen?
ReplyDeleteI'm surprising my dh this week with an email list of what he needs to pick up at the produce stand. Usually I hand write the list, and give it to him. I'm also feeling inspired to plan breakfast, lunch and snacks with the kids home from school for the summer in just a few weeks.
Almost forgot - I highly recommend Evernote! I use it for blogging because I can type a note on my smartphone and it will sync with the files on my laptop and our main computer.
ReplyDeletei am greatly encouraged by the simple steps you laid out. what stuck with me the most is that you enjoy it! i now try to approach it that way. i'm on week two feeling more empowered and actually a little excited to go shopping for my planned meals. thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKatie, you mentioned that your list of cookbooks was on the side bar. I can't find them. Will you help me locate them?
ReplyDeleteTIA
Hi there.
ReplyDeleteThe list of cookbooks are in the Amazon rolling sidebar to the right. They are mixed with my other favorite books, but they're all there. :)
LOVE your tip about setting alarms to remind you. You are correct - implementation is the key! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Katie. I was wondering how you decide what to get at the farmer's market before you've planned your meals. How much produce do you get and do you just know what kind of foods that your family likes?
ReplyDeleteDo you do one on one lessons? If so where do I sign up! I need your help!
ReplyDeleteI have a general idea in my head about what I can make with the produce. Or, I go to a website like allrecipes.com and use the "ingredient" search. I type in the produce I'm using and it pulls up recipes to use it in. Then, I make my shopping list, filling in all the ingredients needed for that dish. Sometimes, I'll choose a new-to-our-family produce and see what happens, but usually, I stick with what I know they like and go from there.
ReplyDeleteHey Katie :) I adore your blog and am becoming very intentional about the food my family and I eat. Thank you for all of your amazing advice! We are starting to shop Farmer's Markets more and I have a question... what do you do during the winter seasons when Farmer's Markets aren't available??
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind words! It really means a lot. :) Are you in CA? If so, I highly recommend signing up with www.abundantharvestorganics.com. It's a year-round, weekly delivery of CA-grown, organic produce that's harvested the day before it goes in your box. If you're somewhere else, I'd check http://www.localharvest.org/ to find sources for fresh produce.
ReplyDeletejust found your site, so far i've loved what i read! love the tip of the setting a reminder.. tats my biggest problem.. remembering to to the prep work like defrosting meat
ReplyDeleteWell, my dear, you are absolutely adorable. When I was your age, suggesting that "food is fun," or that planning a weekly menu might be interesting was a big no-no. My peers all wanted to be professionals or PhDs. Cooking was something you did when all else failed or if your hobby was giving gourmet dinner parties. I have slogged along for years making excuses for taking care of my family, worrying about factory food, etc, and now I find out I'm a radical homemaker! Turns out the fact that I have always avoided take-out does not necessarily mean that I am either oppressed or co-dependent - Who knew? :-)
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! I'm gonna order me some kefir grains right now! Love, Auntie Deedee
Love the weeping and gnashing of teeth!
ReplyDelete