I started the draft of this post well before the Covid-19 pandemic was underway and had no idea how relevant it would be today. Planning ahead is more important now than ever! Whether it’s for reaching/maintaining your weight loss goals or just being prepared, here are a few tips that have helped me:
Write it down: Whether it’s on a menu board like mine or in your calendar, writing down your dinner ideas is a great place to start. This process always helps me choose what to make each night and is a reminder in case I need to prep something ahead of time. I also like to include where the recipe came from and list the page number. Pinterest recipes get a screenshot and saved in my phone’s recipe album. This way I always have them right at my fingertips!
Make and prep ahead of time: Do as much as you can ahead of time, even if it’s just remembering to take meat out of the freezer or chopping your veggies. I typically try to do as much as I can the night before or in the morning before work. Set up your food prep area ahead of time too. Leave out the appropriate cookbook, spices, canned goods etc. Having your mise en place or everything in its place, will help make putting dinner together go smoothly.
FREEZE: Whether you only have the one attached to your fridge or if you have a freestanding one, a freezer will help you make the most of the food you have. I literally freeze everything from veggies, leftovers, and pretty much anything I make such as bread or cookie dough. You can also freeze things like nuts and flour, just allow them to come up to room temperature before using. Also, remember to label and date the items, marking quantity or weight. This will help you be on point with measurements and minimizing waste.
I hope this post will encourage you to start meal planning and start seeing results, whether it’s weight loss or simply being more organized. It’s helped me lose over 40lbs and also maintain it.
Enjoy and stay safe!
Susan
sewpurlsouthern 
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