how i prep for the work week

I have been frequently asked some of the following questions:

• How do you plan meal wise for your week?
• Do you cook EVERY day?
• Do you go grocery shopping once for the entire week or make multiple trips throughout?
• What types of foods do you “prep” for the upcoming work week?

I have to be perfectly honest with you. I will not tell you, “Oh, I just come home from work, look in my fridge, and make whatever comes to my mind”. Heck no. I am a planner — I spend a lot of time actually planning out what we will be eating over the course of the week because of my work schedule. During the summer (when I am off) is a different story, but for the most part, I need to have a plan. 

1. How do you plan meal wise for your week?

Once per week, I sit down with a master grocery list which Meg so graciously shared with me. I cannot take credit for this, but it is FABULOUS. Throughout the week, I can check off things we need on an every day basis for breakfasts and lunches (cereal, oats, peanut butter, milk, etc.). On Saturday, I sit down after breakfast and plan out my meals for the week. I sift through recipes and adapt them to make them my own, or I grab a few recipes from a few blogs that I have been meaning to try. I then look at what I will need for the week for ingredients and check them off on my grocery list.

2. Do you go grocery shopping once for the entire week or make multiple trips throughout?

I really try to go to the grocery store once per week. I try to stick to Saturdays to do my grocery shopping so I can hit up the local farmer’s markets. I spend a lot of time grocery shopping — so, if you hate grocery shopping, I’m sorry. I love it. I usually go to a variety of different stores, based on what I need for the week. When I need bulk items, I’ll make a trip to Whole Foods. When I need baking items, I usually go to Trader Joe’s (their maple syrup, agave, etc. is cheaper). For my boxed/canned goods, I usually go to Wal-Mart or Jewel Osco. For my produce, I try to go to a local farm stand or farmer’s market if it is available.

I go with my grocery list in hand and stick to it. I have a very strict grocery budget which I asked the Husband to put me one. Otherwise, I would spend our life’s savings at Whole Foods. Knowing I only have a certain amount of money to spend really helps me to stay on track.

3. Do you cook EVERY day?

In a sense, yes. However, if you couldn’t tell from the fact that I have a food blog, I love cooking and love eating food. There is nothing more relaxing to me than coming home, (now) putting on my apron, and creating something delicious for the husband and me to enjoy for dinner. If I could spend my days cooking in the kitchen, I would be the happiest person in the world. I usually plan to cook 4-5 “dinners” per week. The other days we may be busy, so the husband and I fend for ourselves. Some days we just have to eat through the leftovers that are piling up in our fridge. On the days I don’t cook a dinner, I usually bake or find some reason to spend my evening with my head in a cookbook. If that’s not your thing, so be it. However, the meals I make usually don’t take long. I use simple ingredients and don’t have unlimited amount of time. So, if you’re a worker out there like me, believe me… it can be done!

4. What types of food do you usually “prep” for the upcoming week?

Usually on Saturday or Sunday, I spend a lot of time baking in the kitchen. I don’t buy processed foods — unless you count the husband’s cereal and ice cream. I like to buy foods in their purest forms and make something instead.

Every week I whip up a batch of cookies for the Husband to enjoy throughout the week (he likes them crumbled over ice cream in the evening). I have just started to dabble in the art of making homemade bread for the husband as well.

Most weekend, I’ll make some sort of baked good for myself to enjoy. I usually eat muffins or scones as late night treats (toasted and crumbled with nuts, dried fruits, almond milk.. I swear, it’s delicious) so I tend to bake a different kind each week. I also make homemade bread for myself (gluten free) if I do not have any left. Most baked goods for myself, I freeze so they get a longer shelf life as it takes a while for one person to go through it all!

Yesterday, I prepped a lot of food. I made cookies, soaked beans for chili for today, and I made something new… gluten free crackers! I figured it was worth a shot, and they turned out pretty good. I still need to tweak them, so I’m not going to share a recipe quite yet. They were a little too hard and a little too thick — maybe I’ll whip up another bath tomorrow since Costco isn’t carrying my Crunchmaster crackers anymore! 

When I am in the kitchen on the weekend, it is an absolute mess. The Husband hates how messy of a cook I am, but I get too excited and wrapped up in what I’m making to care about if a little flour gets on the floor.

I also have my laptop set up in a convenient location so I can see recipes if I’m following one — the little ledge next to my oven makes a great spot!

Hopefully this gives you a sense of how things are run around here. I will admit, I have to do a little more work than the normal joe because of my food allergies. However, I am committed to eating clean and healthy, so it is worth my time!

Question: Do you meal plan/prep as well? What does your schedule look like?

Tagged as: food prep, meal planning, meal prep, work week prep