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.
Having a short list of quickie meals. Such as pancakes, Waffles, French Toast, , a skillet meal. Pre planning by having ingredients on hand AND not using the list too often.
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/karenb834/status/111583335381352449
If it’s last minute and I don’t have anything planned, we’ll make something easy like a quesadilla or scrambled eggs
My best tip is to make a weekly menu and stick with it.
http://twitter.com/#!/ms_fleur/status/111602768787148800
http://twitter.com/#!/MissPearl13/status/111621371775295489
http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/111630335116185600
I have my super secret cookbook/notebook that I filled with easy and quick meals for those times I need a meal fast for my “starving” bunch.
I Like the MVP GenerationGo Fan page and commented on their Page.
Brandy B
Tip Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/mrssquigg/status/111666650067124224
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Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/mrssquigg/status/111666854979837953
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Brandy B
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Brandy B
Sometimes I make a double batch of a dinner like Spaghetti Sauce or Beef Stew, or even Meat Loaf and freeze half of it. Then I know I can just put the frozen meal in the microwave or pressure cooker and have a decent dinner nearly ready, just add salad or rolls or store bought mashed potatoes.
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
I try to do a lot of prep on the weekends, chop, marinate, etc, that way all I have to do is throw it in a pan on the weekdays!
http://twitter.com/#!/prismperfect/status/111776338381246466
tweet on 9/8
http://twitter.com/#!/1amypugmire/status/111803289670135810
http://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/111806676293783552
9/8 tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/MeandBells/status/111807248409432064
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I try to make sure that I have all the ingredients handy the night before – so if something needs to be thawed or chopped up, I do that before bed, so I’m not scrambling around dinner time the next day.
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http://twitter.com/#!/threedifferent/status/111813236365602816
9/8 rt
http://twitter.com/#!/auntiethesis/status/111833351421300736
I try to make different components for meals during the week so I can just heat them up on Sunday. It makes dinners go more smoothly, thanks
http://twitter.com/#!/Hotsnotty2/status/111840875600027649
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My best tip is to let the kids help…it lets them learn and gets dinner on the table faster
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My best tip is to plan a weekly menu and shop according to your menu. I also like to utilize my crockpot for meals on especially busy days.
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https://twitter.com/#!/mbm218/status/111889365495590912
Tweet.
http://twitter.com/#!/mgoss123/status/111897313491943424
tweet – http://twitter.com/#!/Emma__Peel/status/111912779321061376
emmaspeel(at)gmail.com
dinner before watching television!!
quick meals
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amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com
I have a few dishes that I make on one weekend a month and freeze in small batches . . . that way, if I don’t have anything planned I just thaw out and reheat one of those dishes (our favorite is a chili recipe that slow cooks and is made with a bottle of beer!)
I follow you on twitter and I tweeted (faithhopelove20)
http://twitter.com/#!/faithhopelove20/status/111929032597188609
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I just always have something easy on the shelves…something like spaghetti or hot dogs for when there isn’t much time or motivation for anything else.
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/karenb834/status/111941881792966656
make everyone help!
Make a timetable and stick to it. Start early!
I tweeted the giveaway:
https://twitter.com/#!/smdrm/status/111959147838308352
I follow newyorkchica on Twitter as smdrm and I tweeted as directed:
https://twitter.com/#!/smdrm/status/111959550298554369
daily tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/disneyfan40/status/111962784010481665
I cook enough for at least two, sometimes three nights, on Sundays when I have some extra time.
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
i prepare some meals in bluk, then i freeze them,then i pull them out and heat them up when i need a quik meal
http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/111982737761636352
http://twitter.com/#!/ms_fleur/status/111990491721113600
my tip: It’s obvious, but plan ahead.