planning

so i failed to photograph my lunch. but that's okay because it wasn't pretty anyways. i didn't pack enough sauce, so the pasta was slightly dry. and instead of showing it to you, i've decided to share my method of meal/grocery planning.

i started with an excel spreadsheet. i set up each week, allowing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. then consulting the "possibility" list at the bottom, i can see what i can make just by using what i already have, or things i've been craving and meaning to make. that way i can either use up existing stores or fulfill that pancake craving i've been having for a week. i put the "possibility" foods into the schedule.

(and though my sheet is set up for a whole month, i only plan a week at a time. it is shown as a month so that i don't repeat and get bored.)

i know that i work certain days and have school certain days, so i plan around that. things have to be made quickly on work mornings and can require, at most, some microwaving to eat. same with school days. will i be able to eat at home or on the go?

planning in this way also helps me to use up leftovers. i can see when i can eat them later in the week, without eating it four meals in a row. and if i don't eat all of my leftovers, they go in the "possibility" list to be eaten the next week.

after inserting the "possibility" foods, i insert additional meals around them. i didn't know what to make tuesday night, so decided to wait to check out the whole foods prepared meat selection. at the grocery store i decided on the buffalo chicken wings. i then popped it into the menu when i got home.

this helps me grocery shop too. because when i add something to the menu, i add its ingredients to my shopping list. which i'll write about on another day.

i hope this helps you plan out your meals. and gets you excited about cooking.