Do you ever dread meal planning?

I don't know about you, but when I think about meal planning, I get slightly (actually REALLY) overwhelmed (This white table with a lovely latte on it is supposed to conjure up the opposite feelings...peace, simplicity and inspiration :) ). Not only does it take precious allotted time to plan out meals, but most recipes have a long list of ingredients as well. This makes the cooking itself quite time consuming and more often than not, expensive. I'm not saying I don't enjoy great recipes, but in every day life, it's not always practical for me.

After a friend asked me about how to eat well, but less expensively, the wheels in my mind started turning. This is something that's been bothering me for a while. I wish I could eat EVERY health food out there (especially fun snacks and drinks!), but I honestly can't afford it all. I also wish meal planning wasn't so time consuming and complicated. At first I wondered, "Is there even an answer to this"? Maybe being healthy is only for those who are well off financially.

After my post on simplicity, I went back to the idea of keeping everything as simple as possible. I think this could be one of the biggest keys to stress free grocery shopping and cooking. There are plenty of ideas out there on making detailed grocery lists based on current sales, using coupons and extensive meal planning. If you feel you'd like to go this route, I have a few blogs I could recommend. For me though, this was still too elaborate. If you want to know one thing about me: I like to keep things SIMPLE. Most people may not like this idea for meal planning, but I wanted to share it because for the first time I felt excited and less stressed :)

Here is a simple formula I came up with:

1. Have a BRAIN STORMING SESSION. Write down all your favorite whole foods (Proteins, grains, fats, fruits, veggies, etc.) You can refer to my last post to get a better idea of whole foods :) If you haven't tried eating whole foods yet, give yourself permission to experiment. Try a new vegetable out (I tried parsnips for the first time and was amazed how similar they tasted to french fries when they were cooked with coconut oil and salt!) Use this step as a time to discover your favorite nutrient rich foods.

2. Once you have a good idea of what you like and have a good list in front of you, start to think of SIMPLE MEAL IDEAS with these foods; think protein, fat and good carbs (fruit, veggies, grains). The key here is to realize that meals can be simple, and when you're eating high quality foods, you start to appreciate simplicity and savor the beauty on your plate. Another idea for planning dinners, is to make the same meal each day of the week. This way, you always have a "go to" meal and you can switch it out whenever you have extra energy or new ideas :) A book I would recommend for inspiration is Olive Oil, Sea Salt and Pepper by Jenn Crovatto. I would just substitute a different oil for olive (refer to last post) when cooking.

3. SHOP! This is where I have yet to do more research, but I do know you can find decently priced organic food at Trader Joes or Costco. Try out different stores and compare prices. Get a good feel for what stores you like best. Cutting out obscure ingredients and fancy snacks will end up saving you a lot. Remember to shop the perimeter of the store :) Of course you won't be able to buy everything you want, but part of this is about making choices; in my opinion less is always more :)

4. ENJOY the freedom and peace that comes from a fridge stalked with nutrient dense foods that you can make multiple combinations with! Remember it's ok to repeat meals (especially breakfast and lunches). As you stalk up on grains and oils, you won't have to buy them every week. As you learn about different foods and what you like, this whole process will start to become second nature. 


This would be your essential food plan and for those who have a tighter budget, you can stay close to this plan most of the time. If money allows, you can always add in a few more entailed meals depending on your preference and time constraints. You can also add in (what I like to call) "fancy" health food snacks depending on your budget. In my next post I'll give you some fun snack ideas for on the go :)

I know this is a lot of information (especially combined with the last post!), so please feel free to ask me any questions you might have :)

Happy Meal Planning!