The 2 Seasons

A mother/daughter duo, residing in two different parts of the country, team up to write a lively blog about their homes, decorating, food, fun, and their world-wide travels.

  • About Us
  • Travel
  • Projects
  • Recipes Index
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Sides and Salads
    • Mains
    • Desserts
    • Beverages
  • Adoption

Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

By Jordan | Food, Things We Bought

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OrganizeWithBrilliance #CollectiveBias

 

If I have learned one thing about motherhood and being a mom, it is that I need to be organized.  This is key for me and for my family.  So many times before Little Miss was home, meals would be a last minute scramble.  You probably know that conversation –  “What do you want for dinner?”  “Hmmm, I don’t know…….let’s just go out.”  When it was just the two of us, we could easily go out for dinner at 8 p.m. and not think twice about it. It was easy then, but now family dinner time is one of my favorite parts of the day.  I learned, though, that I need to plan, be prepared, and be ready.  Little Miss sometimes has a melt-down when I am cooking dinner, so I have learned to follow the code, “always be prepared” when it comes to meal planning.

 

Meal Planning Tips for your Family 737x1024 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

I have some easy tips on meal planning today that I thought I would share.  Not only do I need to be more prepared since a little one is in the mix, but we have been eating healthier this past year, and that takes a little more planning. I cannot wait till dinner time to start planning what we will eat that evening.  There needs to be a plan already in the works.

IMG 1237 683x1024 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

My first suggestion is to sit down once a week and write down a menu for the week.  Make a shopping list at the same time.   I like to do this first thing Monday morning before anyone is awake. I made a free printable weekly menu that I print out and take to the store. I browse through some cookbooks and online sites and pick recipes that are tasty and healthy.  I also want the meals to make enough so that Yankee can take leftovers with him to work. Before I do my grocery shopping, I take a quick look in my cabinets and pantry to make sure I don’t buy something I already have and to make sure I haven’t missed something I don’t have.

 

 

IMG 1244 856x1024 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

My second suggestion is to cook once but eat twice.

We have a few special recipes that our family loves.  Luckily, they freeze well, so I can double the recipe and freeze enough for another day.  Chili and pulled barbecued chicken are two that come to mind.  Both of these recipes can be prepared in a slow cooker which makes those meals even easier.

 

 

IMG 1199 875x1024 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

My third suggestion is to prepare healthy snacks to have on hand.

Since we have been on a healthier kick and since I want to introduce good eating habits to Little Miss, I like to prep snacks and have them ready to go in the fridge.  Carrots are a huge hit for everyone in our home. It is easy enough to prep some one evening and have them and celery sticks ready for quick snacks when we are trying to hold out for a meal.

 

 

IMG 1210 1024x683 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

My fourth suggestion is to have cut onions, garlic and celery on hand.

We are a soup family, and this time of year I am making a lot of soup.  When I prep my snacks, I like to go ahead and cut up some onions, garlic, celery so it is already prepped when I am ready to make some soup.  This tip helps save time in the dinner department.

 

 

IMG 1236 683x1024 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

My fifth suggestion is to have the right storage containers on hand.   Enter Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™. Food storage containers are in our lives to make life easier, and I need a brand that works and can be trusted. Before I started using Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE, Yankee had a few food mishaps when he took leftover soups to work for his lunch. The soups leaked creating one hot mess and left him with nothing to eat.  Now that I am using Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™, he hasn’t had that problem.  What sold me on these containers was the 100% Leak Proof, Guaranteed.  Yankee’s soup mishap is the number one reason I use them, but they have lots of great qualities that separate them from your typical food storage containers.

 

 

IMG 1222 1024x683 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

They are also so sturdy and stack perfectly in the refrigerator and freezer.  The container is crystal clear making it easy for me to see what is inside.  Since chili is a favorite of mine, I love that these containers are stain and odor resistant.  Until I started using them, my other storage containers were full of unappetizing stains.  The  Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ has a great 10 piece set that is available nationwide at Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Amazon and other fine retailers.  I am so glad that they became part of my food storage routine.

 

 

Meal Planning Tips for your Family 737x1024 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family

I hope these tips for meal planning will help you in the meal department.  Do you have any other tips that are helpful in meal planning?  We would love to hear them.

Cheers!

 

 

 

Related posts:

IMG 9370 - Meal Planning Tips for Your FamilyTips to Make Entertaining Easier default - Meal Planning Tips for Your FamilyEnd the Last-Minute Meal Rush DSCF3044 - Meal Planning Tips for Your FamilyTips for a Stress-free Thanksgiving Screen Shot 2015 11 02 at 4.30.09 PM - Meal Planning Tips for Your FamilyTips For a Stress Free Thanksgiving – Revisited

Share This:

Comments

  1. Samantha K says

    February 3, 2017 at 11:35 pm

    Great tips! My weekends are filled with planning for the week. I love how crystal clear the containers! (client)

Jordan and Janette

HOUSE TOURS

ADVERTISE

CONTACT

Subscribe to our Blog

Where We Shop

  • Amazon
  • Baggallini
  • Etsy
  • Lands' End
  • Nordstrom
  • Wayfair

Search

Favorites

  • DIY Cook Top DIY Stove Cover
  • Finished no words 275x275 - Meal Planning Tips for Your Family How to Turn Bi-fold Doors into French Doors
  • How to add storage to your kitchen cabinets - The 2 Seasons How to Add More Storage in the Kitchen
  • Transparent pie - The 2 Seasons Recipe for George Clooney’s Favorite Pie

Categories

Archives

DHgate kitchen supplies​
It’s time to pull out the patriotic pillows for It’s time to pull out the patriotic pillows for my second favorite holiday. Bring on the #redwhiteandblue #pillow #july4th #homedecor #familyroom #mybhg
A lucky yard is getting a truck full of #hydrangea A lucky yard is getting a truck full of #hydrangeas #flowers #gardening #landscape #landscaping
Ready for guests, and we just can’t wait!!! #gue Ready for guests, and we just can’t wait!!!
#guestroom #entertaining #frenchcountry #blueandwhite #traditionalhome #thecollectedlook #embroidery #bhg #mysouthernliving #blueandwhitedecor #mycollectedlook
✨Welcome to Week 72 of Beautiful Decor Home Tour ✨Welcome to Week 72 of Beautiful Decor Home Tour!

Come join us to meet new friends & discover beautiful decor. You will  be inspired !
.
.
PARTICIPATING IS EASY! .
. ✨1. Follow All Hosts and Guest Hosts

@oliviapitts1014 
@southernspangled
@coloradohousetohome
@thevidalnest
@vanfleetfamfarmhouse

Guest host ~ 
@vintagejoycemarie 
@j.m.g.designs 
@our.sweet.abode
@bloom_jennybrooks 
@highlandlace .
.
.
✨2. Follow the hashtag #BeautifulDecorStyles
✨3. Follow all accounts posted under the hashtag you enjoy & find inspiring
✨4. DM a permanent host to join the Tour & start making new friends
.
Beautiful Decor Tour runs weekly ~ Monday, 8 pm EST - Wednesday, 8 pm EST.

#beautifuldecorstyles72v .
These two kids are celebrating 74 years of marriag These two kids are celebrating 74 years of marriage today. Happy Anniversary to our parents and grandparents. #loveislove #happyanniversary
One of my favorite things about having a courtyard One of my favorite things about having a courtyard garden is picking flowers and herbs and bringing them inside. Flowers always brighten up a room. #gardening #flowers #flowersofinstagram #bouquet #bouquetofflowers #homedecor #frenchcountrystyle #bdsdaily3
Same table cloth with two different July 4th looks Same table cloth with two different July 4th looks. Which one do you like?  #tablescape #tablescapes #holidaytable #july4th #redwhiteandblue #cottagestyle #traditionalhome #colorful
Travel gives me the opportunity to find interestin Travel gives me the opportunity to find interesting art at affordable prices. These two ladies came from Cuba. I found them in the corner at a large art venue. I couldn’t love them more. #art #travel #cuba #homedecor #bathroomdecor #mybhg #cottagecore #traditionalhome
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

All Content © 2021 · The 2 Seasons

Designed + Created by Jelly Design Studio

Advertise | Privacy Policy