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Meal Planning for Minimal-ish Moms

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Capsule Pantry, Meal Planning · February 15, 2022

3 Meal Planning Mistakes (that are costing you time + money!)

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Are you making crucial meal planning mistakes? They could be costing you time and money! Plus get a free kid-friendly menu! Pantry organization | grocery budget | healthy meal planning | meal planning template | minimalism | free printable | capsule pantry

You gave meal planning the ole’ heave-ho. But it just hasn’t worked out. Or it’s frustrating because you’re making one of these meal planning mistakes.

I believe meal planning can work for anyone and everyone. And if I’m going to put a statement like that out there, well, I’m going to have to back it up.

I’m going to get right to it because these mistakes are costing you quality time with your kids and causing you to live for bedtime.

You’re tired. You need a solution. I’ll give you one of those too. Because, well, I’m not going to point out all these faux pas without giving you some hope that things can change.

Meal Planning Mistake #1: You don’t know where to start, so you never do

Paralysis by analysis. Oh man, this is me 110% and what prevented me from starting to meal plan for so long. I kick myself now, looking back at the weeks that turned into months that turned into years of just getting by every evening.

There are just too many options: paper or digital meal planner, weekly or monthly, 81 bazillion recipes on Pinterest.

You can’t make a decision when you’re confused or overwhelmed so instead of taking a step in the right direction, you just put it to the back burner and say you’ll try again next week.

The problem is that next week never comes. And 3 out of the 7 nights you ate last week were either stressful, or you gave up and gave in because you just didn’t have the energy.

Solution: I’ve created a step-by-step plan for you to complete your first meal plan. And your second, and your third…

You know the old chinese proverb:

Give a man a meal plan and you’ll feed him for a day but teach him how to meal plan and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.

That’s not it? Ok, ok… so I replaced fish with meal plan, just go with it.

But seriously. Once you learn how to create a rotating meal plan (and how to do it quickly), you’ll know the system. And you’ll be able to do it over and over and over again.

That’s what the Capsule Pantry Blueprint does. It teaches you the steps (I literally walk you through it, in order). So you can eat for a lifetime.

No more paralysis by analysis.

Meal Planning Mistake #2: You either have no recipe ideas or too many

What should you put on that meal plan?

You don’t know how to cook, you have picky eaters, or you just don’t know where to begin to figure out what to make.

There are so many options out there (thanks a lot, Pinterest!) that, just like #1 above, it can be paralyzing. Then, even if you’re craving Chicken noodle soup, you go to find a recipe for it, and there are 273 recipes claiming to be the best one. Gah.

Solution: I’ll show you how to narrow your choices, quickly find the recipes that fit your family’s needs, and create a recipe library. So you’re not scrolling through Pinterest looking for Chicken noodle soup and end up pinning pictures of the new hairstyle you want (uhh…I may have done this yesterday ? ).

So, you’ll not only learn how to meal plan, you’ll also learn how to quickly find the perfect recipes to mix and match, and create a recipe library.

Now you know what to make.

Meal Planning Mistake #3: You try to do this alone

Okay, I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this one too. #onlychildsyndrome

Meal planning isn’t rocket science so you probably thought you didn’t need someone backing you up.

Wrong-o. Just like any other life-enhancing habit, having an accountability buddy is so crucial.

If you want to lose weight, or get up earlier, or stop binge-watching the Blacklist every night and read a book instead, having someone to talk to when you really. don’t. feel. like. it. helps so much. (p.s. I’m working on all these things as we speak)

Solution: A community of other moms learning how to meal plan right along side you. It’s a private community on Facebook where we’ll share the struggles, ask and answer questions, and share meal planning wins.

You can even get a buddy to partner with.

From a recovering DIBMYer (that’s ‘do-it-by-myself-er’ if you didn’t know), trust me, I know how crucial support is. That’s why I think this group is so important to your success in the Capsule Pantry Blueprint.

It might just be the most important part.

Now you’ll have the support you need to change something that will change your everyday life.

All you need is some gumption.

This, my friend, is the first step.

Draw a line in the sand, and say “it doesn’t have to be like this”. If you’re struggling with stressful dinnertime or living for bedtime, the Capsule Pantry Blueprint was tailor-made for you.

C’mon, I get it. The frustrations of the entire day all seem to gather at 5 pm and everyone is a little more snappy, a little more touchy, or just plain cranky. This is the witching hour where temper tantrums, meltdowns, and sibling quarrels are at an all-time high.

And, for crying out loud, you don’t have time for this. You have to get dinner on the table.

The thoughts that run through your head (or maybe even come out of your mouth):

“Could you please just stop so I can make this frickin’ dinner.”

“2 hours and 41 minutes until you go to bed. Two hours and forty one minutes.”

“You’re going to bed right after dinner.”

“Where’s the wine?”

That’s no way to live.

Don’t spend those precious hours with your kids every night just getting by.

Spend them laughing, talking about their day, reading a book, watching a movie, playing a board game.

Anything except being stressed and frustrated and counting the minutes until you’re alone. If you’re not ready to jump into the Capsule Pantry Blueprint just yet, grab the FREE Capsule Pantry™ Checklist & Planner today:
Download our free Capsule Pantry™ Checklist & Planner

In: Capsule Pantry, Meal Planning

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*Warning: This will change how you make school lun *Warning: This will change how you make school lunches forever. 

@mealplanningblueprints 👈🏼 follow

Here’s a super simple way to plan your kiddo’s lunch every week. 

And you only need a post-it note! 

I call it the Lunch 3x3 and it’s pretty simple…
✨ 3 main dishes
✨ 3 fruits
✨ 3 vegetables 

Now you just mix and match those by picking one from each, and throw in a snack (or better yet, have your child check the post-it note and do it themselves!).

Comment with a 🥪 if you’re going to try this! 

#backtoschool #backtoschoolready #schoollunchboxideas #kidsschoollunch #schoollunchideas #schoollunchbox #kidslunchideas #lunchideasforkids #easykidslunch #kidslunchboxes
Sorry but this isn't an "all things meal planning" Sorry but this isn't an "all things meal planning" account. 

@mealplanningblueprints 👈🏼 follow

I only talk about the Capsule Pantry method here and it’s because I 1000% believe that it’s the simplest and easiest meal planning method.

Buying fewer items and learning how to mix and match them is what’s going to help you get dinner easily on the table. 

Spending one weekend a month making freezer meals or every Sunday meal prepping for the entire week won’t actually save you time. 

#Sorrynotsorry

Follow me @mealplanningblueprints and learn how to customize a Capsule Pantry that’ll work for your family!
I used to think buying groceries locally meant the I used to think buying groceries locally meant they were always more expensive. 

❌ And that’s just not always true!

@mealplanningblueprints 👈🏼 follow for simple meal planning and grocery shopping tips

These eggs are 1.74 less than Walmart (for an 18 pack)! 

🥚Do you know how I found my egg dealer? (DEALER. LOL)

In a Facebook group! A local mom who had an abundance of eggs from her chickens wanted to get rid of them and I messaged her and she actually delivers them to me every week!

So check Facebook groups, and your local farmers markets, and farms. 

Check out CSA boxes (Community Shared Agriculture) and Meat boxes. 

Because you can get eggs, meat (even sausage and bacon!) and produce sometimes way cheaper than the grocery store.

👉🏼 Share this with mom friend looking to save money on groceries! 

#mealplanning #buylocal #supportyourlocalfarmer #grocerybudget #savemoneytips
If you have trouble sticking to your meal plan, he If you have trouble sticking to your meal plan, here’s some tips to help you.

👉🏼 follow @mealplanningblueprints 

🍓 Recycle and remake favorite meals. No use in recreating the wheel here!

🍊 Use an ingredient-based plan instead of a dinner-based plan. When you start with the ingredients first, there’s more flexibility because you can mix and match them!

🍋 Buy fewer ingredients. Decluttering your pantry will help with the overwhelm!

🫑 Make it simpler. Check your calendar and make sure you’re being realistic about dinner fitting into your schedule. Don’t complicate it, it’s okay to keep meals super simple, especially in a busy season of life. 

Loved this post? Then you’ll love the Capsule Pantry method! Go to my bio @mealplanningblueprints and watch the free training that’s linked.
I had to jump on this trend! 😂 Who else loved I had to jump on this trend! 😂

Who else loved these books as kid?!? 

#littlemiss #mealplanning #mealplanningblueprints
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