It's Tuesday, but I'm already working on my shopping list for this coming Saturday.  We shop every two weeks (paydays for us) for 2 weeks of groceries.  So it's a large undertaking with a larger family.  The way it seemed to work best in the past took lots of time, but was worth it.  I've just gotten lazy over the years.  And I know that when I was successful losing weight in the past, it was partly because I planned out my meals ahead of time and made the subsequent shopping list.  So,.... here goes nothin'!

I'm going to start with looking at what we already have in the house.  That means taking stock of the fridge, freezer and the deep freezer.  The benefit of this is that we wind up using what we have without overspending, and it gives me ideas of how to use what's already there.  I can also look at my family's schedule and figure out who will be home that night (I have a teenager that works a lot of evenings), and meal plan for that group (my son who works is also a very picky eater, so we try to have meals that we enjoy/he doesn't when he's not around.  I also take into account any plans that my husband and I might have out with friends or such, and try to make easier meals on those nights.  So as you can see, to do this RIGHT right means:

1. Knowing my family's schedule ahead of time (as much as I can)
2. Knowing the contents of my freezer, fridge, pantry and deep freeze
3. Understanding the dietary limitations for everyone, including myself

It.Takes.TIME.  But again, it's every 2 weeks.  And if I'd get smarter about the freezer list, I'd post it on the fridge and cross off things when I use them, eliminating the need to look in the freezers every time.  I've never quite gotten very good at that, but maybe it'll be my new year's resolution.  Lol.

Then I lay out the list of raw foods we have and figure out what night I'd like to make what.  I work from home a few days a week, so I can afford to make longer prep meals or crock pot meals on those days.  I don't feel like cooking anything that takes too long when I'm getting home at 6 pm.  I'm tired and we're all already hungry, so it's about speed on those nights.  I try to lay it out enough that it'll say something like "Meatloaf, green beans and rolls".  Then all those items can go on my list.  It makes sure that I don't have to think so much about food later, and it also ensures that we use our fresh produce before it goes bad.  A lot of times the first week after shopping will be loaded with fresh veggies, and the next week will have more canned and frozen ones.

In addition to my family dinners, I plan my own breakfast and lunch.  On the days that I'm home, that can involve cooking.  And potentially cooking for food prep for the next day, when I'll be going into the office.  Otherwise I need to do that in the later evenings, when I'd rather be doing just about anything else.  Lol.  It's easiest if I completely pack my breakfast (I tend to eat at work vs. at home) the night before.  Because I am NOT a morning person.  Lol.

I'll do this in chunks this time.  I'll start today with assessing what the pantry and freezers and fridge currently has in it.  Then I can plan from tomorrow through the next shopping trip.  I wouldn't need to do tomorrow (Wed.) through Friday if I'd planned correctly last time, but this time I'll need to do it.

If you fail to plan, you may as well plan to fail, as the saying goes.