Slightly new system we have going. If you were an avid follower before you will notice that I am not just noting dinners, and there is now a specific section for both freezer contributions and boosters/snacks and lunches.
Here is how the timing of Natasha's system works:
Thursday - brainstorm meals and needs for the upcoming week. I will be posting ideas on how I go about picking meals to make. I also make the grocery list based on the meals and needs of the week.
Friday/Saturday (whatever day ends up working) - Hit the grocery store for non farmer's market items. Stick to the list!
Saturday - hit the local farmer's market and buy up the vegetables and other goodies needed.
"Veg" to me means whatever I can find at the Farmer's Market, and then whatever is on sale, looks good and is local and organic/sustainably farmed at the grocery store. So there is no list to take to the market. I will have an idea of what I want (like Asian bowls means mushrooms would be good and I always buy kale or chard to add a pile of greens to dinner).
Section types in Natasha's meal plans:
"Freezer Contribution" - The story is we got a large standing freezer for the garage to hold staples like our homemade stock, whole lambs and things we buy in bulk (or specialty gluten free items). It has turned out to be an absolute lifesaver with an infant to have meals prepared and just ready to defrost in our freezer (I made about a month's worth of food before she was born). It's like a triple yay factor - we made it so we know what went into it; it's gluten and dairy free; and it's ready when you are too tired or have a baby that just doesn't want to be put down so you can chop or cook (like mine!). So every week or two we make a few things that can be frozen and eaten later, just to make sure we have ready made food on hand. Freezing does take some of the nutritional edge off, but when you are juggling a lot of things and have a new baby - it's about balance and managing as best as you can.
*I need to add that finally buying a Foodsaver vacuum packer was a great combination to make this system work too.
"Booster/Snack" section is my way of making sure I also buy things at the store to keep blood sugar regulated throughout the day and add 'booster' foods to my diet. Booster foods are things that are super power houses for nutrition, but you really don't need to eat much. Like spirulina, spices, seeds, and nuts.
"Lunches" are both leftovers and things I specifically plan. Sometimes a dinner is so good, there are no leftovers. Or, you just want something else!
Here is why I made these changes and what benefits we have found:
1. I am home, with a baby. If you have done this - you know - sometimes you don't get to eat if you don't have it just ready. If you have not done this before, pretend you have a job that goes 24 hours a day and cries at you and you have a serious emotional and hormonal reaction if you don't respond to that job :)
2. Ben and I have become really good at identifying when a reaction to one of our food sensitivities hits. And it was happening often because most restaurants are not good at managing cross contamination. Particularly for me, finding out that nightshade family foods were bothering me (peppers, tomato, potato, eggplant) on top of dairy and gluten - try finding a place you can eat off the menu with all those. It's possible, but limited. Very limited. So it's easier to get crafty and make the good stuff we love at home on our own.
3. I feel like I know where my budget goes on food. I love budgets - it's a sick thing, but I do. And having this game of how much we spend each week and how we manage the eating each day is just super fun for this geek.
Oh, I might change this again as I continue to write about it, but I will always explain it!
