Basically I started out researching which certain foods I wanted us to be eating regularly, so we get all the vitamins and minerals from them we need. So I had that list of foods.
Then I made a list of all the different meals we like, and most of which could contain 2 or more of those foods from the first list, or contain them as side dishes.
Next I decided which types of meals for different nights. For us personally I chose:
-Fast-Food night (home-made healthier versions not take out! decided to include pizza in this one too)
-Soup meals night
-Rice meals night
-Fish type meals night
-Pasta meals night
-Meat and Vegetable meals night
-Other meals which you can have with potatoes or fries, and baked beans/spaghetti or vegetables.
Then I decided which days for which types of meals.
I also divided up all the meals in the earlier list into those above meal type categories.
I even made a list of side dish options to go with each meal too!
I now have a 12 week plan ready to go, and then be repeated. Ofcourse some of the meals are repeated several times within those 12 weeks, because we enjoy those meals more so we want to have them more often, family favourites etc. It does look very varied, not too repetative hopefully.
I plan to start making some of the meals ahead of time and freezing them for future use to save time in the evenings, Like on days off from work I will cook them and then reheat on certain nights and add the relevent sides.
All I need to do now, is put each meal on it's own sheet, along with the side dish options, a list of all the necessary ingredients, and where needed -the recipe/cooking instructions! Time consuming, but hopefully worth it!
Have I missed anything? Anyone have any other helpful tips they use?
Then I made a list of all the different meals we like, and most of which could contain 2 or more of those foods from the first list, or contain them as side dishes.
Next I decided which types of meals for different nights. For us personally I chose:
-Fast-Food night (home-made healthier versions not take out! decided to include pizza in this one too)
-Soup meals night
-Rice meals night
-Fish type meals night
-Pasta meals night
-Meat and Vegetable meals night
-Other meals which you can have with potatoes or fries, and baked beans/spaghetti or vegetables.
Then I decided which days for which types of meals.
I also divided up all the meals in the earlier list into those above meal type categories.
I even made a list of side dish options to go with each meal too!
I now have a 12 week plan ready to go, and then be repeated. Ofcourse some of the meals are repeated several times within those 12 weeks, because we enjoy those meals more so we want to have them more often, family favourites etc. It does look very varied, not too repetative hopefully.
I plan to start making some of the meals ahead of time and freezing them for future use to save time in the evenings, Like on days off from work I will cook them and then reheat on certain nights and add the relevent sides.
All I need to do now, is put each meal on it's own sheet, along with the side dish options, a list of all the necessary ingredients, and where needed -the recipe/cooking instructions! Time consuming, but hopefully worth it!
Have I missed anything? Anyone have any other helpful tips they use?
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