One of the best ways I have found to reach a more peaceful state of mind, and what makes my hectic week so much more bearable, is to create a menu plan and do the grocery shopping in advance. I often counsel my clients to do the same as it is one of the best things you can do to manage your time as well as practice mindful eating. Of course, taking the time to create the plan can be tricky, but it is so worth it in the end. Kinda along the same lines as the old saying, “an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure.”
A few months back, I stumbled upon a great website, I’m an Organizing Junkie, that links up tons of websites for Menu Plan Monday (MPM). Also, her free downloadable menu planner is one of my favorites as it has space for your meals, the source of the recipe and your grocery list all on one page. I put mine on a clipboard that I keep next to my refrigerator and I take it with me when I go grocery shopping with any coupons I might be using attached.
I’m going to start sharing my menu plans weekly here. Of course there might be slip-ups from time to time, but one of my SMART goals for this year is to create a menu plan for the upcoming week every weekend (either Saturday or Sunday depending upon our schedule) and do the grocery shopping on the weekend as well. This also fits nicely with one of my business goals, which is to blog more often and timely in 2011.
So, here is what we will be eating this week:
Monday: Tofu and veggie stir-fry over brown rice
Tuesday: Smoky Shrimp, Hominy and Tortilla Soup
Wednesday: White Bean and Sausage Ragout with Tomatoes, Kale & Zucchini with Flax and Sunflower Seed Bread
Thursday: Pineapple Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Collard Greens
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Going to a party but need to bring a dish (thinking about Chicken and Mushroom Wild Rice Casserole)
Sunday: Dinner out for my mom’s birthday
I realized after I made my plan that I didn’t include any fish for this week, though shrimp is on the menu. I will have to do better next week on including fish (and maybe I’ll eat it Sunday night wherever we go out for dinner).
Feel free to post comments on what you are having for dinner this week. Also, go over to I’m an Organizing Junkie and look at not only what her menu plan is for the week, but also at all of the other links to blogs that post their own menu plans. It is a great way to get inspiration and ideas!
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