Saving a "Mountain" of Time in the kitchen!

See this on the wall behind me? Yes, that is an old fashioned "wall calendar"! I love it when I trip across great ideas and wanted to share one of the best things I've done in a long time!

Many years ago I used to "meal plan". I recently started the practice again, except with an updated twist! For both lunches AND dinners, I've created catchy fun names so that we can easily remember what meal day it is. I thought I was being funny, and it's turned out to be amazingly beneficial!!!

I easily came up with 10 ways this has crushed it in the kitchen for me!!

#1 The Meal Names are written across that wall calendar which is just off the kitchen (and behind my desk). Super visible location makes it easy to follow.

#2 I no longer waste all that time figuring out what to eat; no rummaging through cupboards to see what can be thrown together.

#3 We're eating healthier these days and this keeps us on track. -20 lbs and counting!

#4 On shopping day, I literally state the meals out loud, check the freezer & pantry, and confirm if an item needs to go on the list. (Easy breezy!)

#5 Major $avings at the grocery $tore! No longer buying items that will never see the light of day.

#6 Major TIME saver at the grocery store! Bye-bye aisle meandering.

#7 I created an intentional food flow to ensure leftover meat can be used the next day (or so) for other menus. Reduced waste and...

#8 Less lunch prep by using leftovers! Additional #timesaver.

#9 Every dinner has a title that allows flexibility. For example, Tuesday night is Cock-a-Doodle Tuesday... We can grill, bake or saute that chicken, switching up seasonings, salads, and veggies! Viola! Variety.

#10 Saturday night is a fun food night, usually testing new ideas in the kitchen.

I have not had this much combined fun and success with food... ever!

Each day has a ring or special meaning to the name. If you adapt this idea, have fun creating your own special days! This is how I came up with my meal names (full menu below)... Starting with Sunday, we go to early church and, when we're not cooking at home, we enjoy Sunday Brunch on the Beach. Later that evening, the roasted chicken allows us to end our weekend with no cooking, completely Relaxin'. The Master Chef Junior episodes run on Monday, so that was easy to name. It's then a great way to use some of the leftover chicken from Sunday. I also boil eggs over the weekend so they're all set for the Chef Salad, Tuesday wraps, or high protein snacks!

My apologies to the Charlotte's Web fans, but I wanted to fit in pork on Wednesday and could not come up with another "W" word. Please enjoy my lighthearted humor!

Thursdays - "Throwback" means a lunch food we ate in the past. That could be PB&J, Boloney, Grilled Cheese, etc. What's your Throwback?! We have upscaled to fit our healthier plan, ie, grilled cheese quesadillas made with low-carb tortillas! (Left over chicken works great here, too!) Note -We use low carb tortillas or lettuce leaves for most of our wraps and sandwich type meals, although, we have temporarily postponed PB&J. That doesn't really work well on wraps and romaine!

For "Thirsty" Thursday night, I've taken creative liberties with the name. It means anything that swims ...aka, fish, shrimp, etc. (I'm not sure though... Do fish drink? Or does a shrimp swim??) Nonetheless, leftovers are then ready to roll for Fish Taco Friday. Next, our Friday nights continue to be an experiment with the "Frites" which I've not yet fully mastered, but the name fits, so I carry on. I am also attempting Sweet Potato Fries for a healthier option.

And finally, Saturday! Whether you're single or a family, this is one of my favorite nights. It allows you to think of a country you'd like to visit and then have fun finding a new recipe! -Or you can cheat a little and simply have fun food like Pizza (Italy)... or Frankfurters (hotdogs) of Germany! We've been using riced cauliflower to save carbs, so this is sometimes our Chinese Food night. I once made Polynesian BBQ and picked up some $4 tropical looking flowers from the grocery store to decorate the kitchen. Regardless of how you spiff it up, if you don't have plans to go out for the weekend, this is a fun, budget-friendly way to make Saturday night special... even if you're home alone. Bon appetit!

Here's how I created my days:

Lunch Dinner

SUN Sunday Brunchday Relaxin' Roast ($5 Rotisserie from BJ's)

MON Master Chef Monday (Chef Salad) Big Mac Monday (aka Ground Beef night)

TUE Egg Toss Tuesday Cock-a-Doodle Tuesday

WED Chicken Wrap Wednesday Wilbur Wednesday

THU Throwback Thursday "Thirsty" Thursday

FRI Fish Taco Friday Steak Frites Friday

SAT Tuna Salad Saturday International Date Night

Meal planning has completely crushed my kitchen challenges. It's given me back time, dollars, and better health... while having fun! I hope I've inspired ideas to help you conquer some of your food mountains.

Inside or out of the kitchen, if you would like to talk about any of the mountains you are currently facing, please feel free to email, call, or text. I'd love to encourage you over that hurdle, and initial meetings are always complimentary!