DAY 6. Meal Planning ‘Insurance’

One of the biggest reasons meal plans can fail is because modern life is unpredictable.

Plans change.

It happens.

But instead of throwing in the towel and missing out on all the benefits of meal planning…

There is another way!

I like to think of it as meal planning ‘insurance’.

It’s all about allowing yourself some wiggle room.

This way your meal plan can adapt to changes and be a dynamic, useful tool that makes your life easier.

Instead of something you abandon after the first week.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN TODAY:

• 3 principles of meal planning insurance
• 13 simple pantry backup recipes

3 Principles of Meal Planning Insurance

1. Don’t plan every single night.
Simple Meal Plans include 5 dinners each week to give you choice and flexibility.

That doesn’t mean you need to buy all the ingredients each week.

It’s up to you to decide.

You know how much volatility your schedule usually has.

If you think it’s likely you won’t be home every night, schedule a ‘wild card’ / pantry / takeaway / eat out night or two.

Be realistic and adjust your shopping list accordingly.

2. Use the waste avoidance strategies
If you have ingredients in the house and your plans change, don’t panic!

Just check out the waste avoidance strategy at the bottom of the recipe.

99 times out of 100 you’ll be easily able to store the ingredients to use them for a future meal.

3. Have a pantry ‘plan B’.
Your pantry is there for more than just supplying staples.

It’s an essential part of your meal planning ‘insurance’.

All you need is 1 or 2 backup meals using ingredients that can be kept in your pantry / fridge / freezer for weeks or months.

This way when you’re tired and hungry and you haven’t planned anything to cook, you’ll be able to whip up something healthy and tasty with minimal effort.

13 Simple Pantry Backup Recipes.

Where the ‘pantry’ recipe contains an ingredient that only keeps for a few weeks in the fridge I’ve made a note for you.

• Easy Spinach & Feta Frittata
• Yuuummy Spiced Tomato Soup
• Broccoli & Bacon Bowls (freeze bacon)
• Big Pea Bowls with Goats Cheese & Olives (omit the fresh mint, freeze chicken)
• Darya’s Egg Fried Cabbage (whole cabbage will keep for 3-4 weeks in the fridge)
• Salmon, Pea & Feta Bowls
• Broccoli Pantry Curry
• Fergal’s Egg & Pea Fried Rice
• Pea & Pesto Soup
• Super Yum Bacon & Cabbage (freeze bacon, cabbage as above)
• Addictive Green Curry of Broccoli Soup
• Green Shakshuka
• Spinach Soup with Smashed Feta & Walnuts

For more ‘Plan B’ ideas, see the ‘Plan B’ Challenge.

ACTIVITY

STEP 1. Choose 1-2 pantry recipes.

STEP 2. Buy the ingredients for those recipes to stock your panty / fridge / freezer.

STEP 3. Relax. And next time you need an emergency meal, head into the kitchen instead of dialling a pizza.

Tomorrow is our last day in this little training.

We’re going to be having some fun.

Can’t wait!

Have fun in the kitchen – even when your plans change!

With love,
Jules x

ps. How are you finding the training? Leave a comment below – I check them every day 🙂

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