Several weeks ago, I was asked to join the MVP Generation Go Ambassador Program to share a multitude of subjects ranging from community exploration, favorite recipes to time management and back-to-school tips. Along with sharing these topics, Kids Fun Plaza are generous enough to give away a $50 Visa Gift Card each week to one of my readers, which has been a very popular giveaway here.
Who can say no to free money? I know I can’t! {You can enter below}
What is MVP Generation Go?
The MVP Generation Go Program was established by MVP Health Care to help parents and children live a healthy lifestyle by getting families to get up, go outdoors and stay active. It’s a way to live well. They believe all children have the power to make healthy choices and that is the main reason they started the MVP Generation Go Program.
Since I joined the program a bit late, I missed a few weekly topics. This week I’ll be talking about Meal Planning.
My take on Meal Planning
Allow me to start off by saying I don’t do any meal planning, per se. I don’t write down any meals for the week on a calendar like some people do. My kind of meal planning is looking through the weekly supermarket circular and buying what’s on sale for that week. It makes it easier to figure out what meals I will make for my family while saving money. It also leaves time for me to do other things, such as watching our favorite TV shows together.
It doesn’t always work out that way. There are times where I am going crazy figuring out dinner because I didn’t pre-plan dinner ideas earlier so I am confronted by my kids with the unpleasant question, “What’s for dinner, Mom?”
You have no idea how I despise when my kids say that. By the time 5pm comes around, I know for a fact one of them will come to me with that question.
When worse comes to worse, we call for delivery. It’s usually pizza or Chinese food. Where we live, those are the choices we have when it comes to delivery.
As you can tell, my meal planning isn’t very efficient. So I would love for you to share your secrets, tips and/or tricks for planning your meals.
______________________________
GIVEAWAY
MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me in a comment your best secret, tip or tricks to get your meals on the table.
FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES
1) Like the MVP GenerationGo Fan page and add your tip on the best way to plan your daily/weekly meal.
2) Tweet your “Tips” comment with these hashtags: #GenerationGo & #MealPlan.
3) Follow New York Chica and Tweet this (Once a day):
Have a #MealPlan tip? Share it for a chance 2 win a $50 GC from @NewYorkChica Ends Sept 10th. http://bit.ly/r0gEXL #GenerationGo #Giveaway
4) Like this post (button is below this post).
5) “Like” New York Chica on Facebook. If you liked New York Chica already (thanks!), just say so in the comment. 
6) Subscribe by email for free updates. If you’re already a confirmed email subscriber (thanks!), just state it in the comment.
**For official giveaway rules, please click here.**
ALSO, please note, if you don’t see your comment right away, it’s not because it didn’t go thru – it simply means your comment went to the SPAM folder and I have to approve it. Thank you 😉
Disclosure: I am an MVP Generation Go ambassador. MVP Has provided me with compensation for this post. My participation is voluntary and my opinions expressed here are always my own.
Planning meals ahead is the only strategy that works for me.
Follow you on Twitter and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/109799747400896512
tweeted the tip:
http://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/109799935565770752
E-mail subscriber
My best trick to get my meals on the table is pick them up at a store already prepared. It sure makes it fast and easy.
karenb834atyahoo.com
I cook several meals on sunday for the week.
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/karenb834/status/109801468156067841
following you on twitter
karenb834
Like you on face book
(karen bernhardt)
karenb834
Every Sunday my husband and I sit down and make a menu for the week. Then we make a grocery list to cover every recipe, plus drinks and a few snacks. This helps keeps things organized and our grocery bill low.
Liked MVP GenerationGo on Facebook.
Tweeted my tips! http://twitter.com/#!/WINitAJ/status/109805462899277824
Following you on Twitter.(@WINitAJ) & Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/WINitAJ/status/109805651559067648
Liked New York Chica on Facebook.
Subscribed via email.
My best tip is to use a crockpot, especially in the cooler months. Slow cooked meals are a hit with my family, plus it’s quick and easy to prepare in the morning.
twitter follow + tweeted:
https://mobile.twitter.com/luckyduckytoo/status/109820236966002688
My best tip is to do most of your cooking on the weekends and just heat up doing the week.
Have all your ingredients and equipment(pans, pots, ladles, spoons etc) in one place the night before when cooking supper for the next day.
emmaspeel(at)gmail.com
I’m Following you on Twitter id- Emma__Peel & I Tweeted.
http://twitter.com/#!/Emma__Peel/status/109826782399700992
emmaspeel(at)gmail.com
I plan my meals 3 weeks in advance, I then go shopping for all the ingredients. It saves me a lot of time and I can swap out different recipes if I don’t feel like making something.
I cook and freeze larger quantities once a week, so I have some defrost & heat up complete meals
;e
I follow you on twitter as c5519
and tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/c5519/status/109839734867636224
nblexp at gmail dot com
My best trick is using the slow cooker so dinner is ready when we get home from work/school.
prep as much as you can the evening prior
tvollowitz at aol dot com
try to plan everything ahead in ur mind and be organized.. and be quick.. it always works for me
My best tip is the pre-cook and pack them separately during weekend so we have plenty of time to enjoy meals during weekday.
tweet tip.http://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/109886490150051840
Facebooked.http://www.facebook.com/MVPGenerationGo/posts/274832255860122
Like this post
jessiekatie S
“Like” New York Chica on Facebook.
jessiekatie S
I’m a subscriber
tweet.http://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/109885882986790912
I have several tricks for quick meals, including rotisserie chicken from the supermarket and pasta with sauteed vegetables. They can be ready in minutes.
Like MVP Generation Go on fb (Cynthia Conley)
Following you on twitter (clc408)
Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/clc408/status/109944320806760448
Tweeted my tip
http://twitter.com/#!/clc408/status/109945141246177282
Liked this post (Cynthia Conley)
Like you on fb (Cynthia Conley)
Best secret – prep in advance so cooking takes a lot less time
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/mbrennan37c/status/109951091273244673
Like you on FB as Mark Brennan
Having certain staples like pasta, canned tomatoes, chicken, etc. on hand helps me prepare meals quickly.
Cutting up veggies and other prep in the morning
work together to make the food
PLAN YOUR MEALS AHEAD OF TIME AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE INGREDIENTS ON HAND
ALREADY LIKE NEW YORK CHICA ON FACEBOOK
I live in a very rural area, so it takes us an hour to get to a large grocery store. We work around this by spending a day in the “big city” getting (almost) all our shopping done for the month…so I have to plan a monthly menu. It’s easy once you get into the rhythm of it. But until/unless you do, try doubling some recipes and freezing the extra. Then you’ll have meals ready to reheat on those days that you couldn’t get dinner together on time.
I like MVP Generation Go on Facebook and left a comment: http://www.facebook.com/MVPGenerationGo#!/MVPGenerationGo/posts/274913432518671.
I shared my tip on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AsTheNight/status/109971824334487552.