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.
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GIVEAWAY
MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me in a comment your best secret, tip or tricks to get your meals on the table.
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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.
buy quick cooking entrees like salmon or ground meat or chicken breasts. keep lots of frozen veggie blends. keep pasta and minute rice on hand. dinner in minutes! you can make the same basic ingredients every night and have them taste differently by adding different herbs and spices.
I choose meals that use 6 ingredients or less and take less than 30 minutes to prepare.
I plan and shop a week ahead for my meals
My best tip is to use the crock pot as much as possible. You can anything from a roast to bbq ribs in there. Thank you!!
I love to cook and bake, so I really don’t encounter problems getting meals on the table. For complicated meals, I like to have things prepared and stored ahead of time.
http://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/110016767518183424
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Weekends I usually try to double-batch at least one item I cook (chili, stew, etc) and then freeze half for a quickie meal when I don’t have something planned so we can just re-heat and eat. I grocery shop on weekends and I try to plan a meal a night while I’m going through the store.
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Do your prep work in the morning. Leave just a few tasks for the evening rush
Deci Worland recently posted..Swirly Ear Cuffs- Tutes
During the summer we cook out alot. It is so nice to put chicken
breast on the grill and make a big toss salad and corn on the cob
for a nice summer meal. It is fast and healthy. During the winter
I use my crock pot all the time. It really helps with making dinner
since I work all day. Summer time use your grill Winter time use
your crock pot. Thanks
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My best trick is to put my meal in a slow cooker and let it cook all day. That way is ready w/ we are ready for dinner in the evening. It works great for me during the school year. Thanks for the great sweep and hope to win 🙂
I always plan my meals a week early.
best secret, tip to get your meals on the table is to prepare ahead
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Plan a week ahead.
chestnutyouth(at)hotmail(dot)com
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I’ve been making double portions when I fix dinner (trying to make 2 different big meals on the weekend when life is a little bit less crazy). I then freeze the second portions and have them as ready, easier backup for during the week when it gets crazy!
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I keep my meals simple, making recipes with only a few ingredients and a short preperation time.
https://twitter.com/#!/mbm218/status/110104525729312768
Just planning ahead works for me. If I know others are expecting something specific I am likely to cook it.
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Tip:
Steam your sides to get them on the table faster.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/luckyduckytoo/status/110160155299164161
I dislike cooking, but it is the best way to save money. My best tip is to make sure you make something simple if you are feeling tired, cranky, or just impatient. Trust me
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I follow on twitter @rsmstahley and tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/rsmstahley/status/110172749544161280
roast a chicken, with potatoes and veggies, so easy
tweet – https://twitter.com/#!/Emma__Peel/status/110200004840402944
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shop often in small trips
Thanks so much!! Janna Johnson jannajanna@hotmail.com janna@feedyourpig on gfc
I got an app for my phone that has 40,000 recipes. Its cool cause I can chose different food combos that take less than 45 minutes. : )
My best tip for getting meals on the table is occasionally utilizing prepared foods from your local organic grocery, like a roasted chicken or a side of steam bag veggies. I find this helps speed things up!
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My tip is to keep is to keep items on hand that you can throw together for a quick meal, like jars of pasta sauce, frozen vegetables, eggs, cheese, etc.
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