But I've realized it doesn't have to be set in stone. I often have to switch mine around because of things that pop up during the week. It's actually pretty easy to be flexible after you've made your initial plan. Take my meal plan for last week, for example:
FOODS TO USE UP: Cilantro, goat cheese, kale, eggs, orange juice, pesto (I realized the jar in my fridge is expired - oops!)
MEAL PLAN:
Saturday: Quinoa with roasted winter vegetables and pesto with two fried eggs.
Sunday: Pork tenderloin with an orange Dijon pan sauce, wheatberry salad with raisins, beets, and citrus vinaigrette, and roasted broccoli.
Monday: Beet salad with grapefruit, goat cheese, and spinach with avocado oil, balsamic and mint plus quinoa and baked salmon.
Pretty picture:
What I actually ate:
I had planned to have the pork tenderloin dinner on Monday night, but then I realized I shouldn't keep my raw pork sitting around in my fridge for three days, so I decided to make it Sunday night instead and have the salmon (which I defrosted from the freezer) on Monday.
Tuesday: My version of Kindfood's Buddha bowl.
Wednesday: Leftover pork, Brussels sprouts and wheatberry salad.
My original meal plan had pasta for Wednesday's dinner and leftover pork for Thursday's lunch, but I had to change it around because the Chef at work offered to treat me to lunch on Thursday for helping her out with something.
Thursday: Whole wheat pasta with pesto, spinach, chicken, goat cheese and pine nuts.
In my initial meal plan I was going to have pumpkin and goat cheese pasta, but then I realized that I had pesto I needed to use up, so I made this instead. And I'm glad I did because it was awesome!
Friday: I went out for sushi with some friends at Ozen - not the best atmosphere, but great sushi!
Notable lunches: Lentil and mushroom burger from work, leftover pork and wheatberry salad with massaged kale, sweet potato and kale hash with two fried eggs and buckwheat toast, trio of Asian salads from work.
Notable breakfast: Pancakes for Pancake Tuesday! Made with Maple Grove pancake mix with banana, blueberries, soy nut butter and maple syrup. Yum!
GROCERY LIST: Apples, bananas, grapefruit, beets, tomatoes, avocado, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, spinach, mint, salmon, pork tenderloin, eggs, canned pumpkin, vanilla Greek yogurt, sesame oil, milk.
How do you stay flexible when meal planning?
Did you celebrate Pancake Tuesday?
I didn't :( didn't find out about it till wednesday sadly...and i try to stay flexible by making one or two meals ahead of time on the weekend and then filling in the rest as i go
ReplyDeleteDelicious meal plan!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Mardi Gras was also Pancake Tuesday! Do you know why its pancake tuesday?? I celebrated Mardi Gras at least, since I'm putting myself on a budget for lent I splurged on a case of beer and froyo...I'm SO healthy, I know lol. Anyway, I like your take on meal planning! I'm currently not busy enough to need to do that, but I know I will be in the near future - I'll be taking a leaf out of your book! Also, pesto is probably one of my most favorite sauces to put on pasta nom nom nom :-D
ReplyDeleteI know I say this all the time, but it bears repeating again: your food always looks SO good! I'm intrigued by the pan sauce you made for your pork, I'm always looking for ways to dress up tenderloin. I love meal planning, but I agree that you need to allow for flexibility. You never know when last minutes plan are going to come up or change (or when you're going to notice that something in your fridge needs to be used up ASAP).
ReplyDeleteThe boyfriend was sick on Tuesday, so we held off on pancakes until dinner on Wednesday. Cinnamon banana pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. Delicious.
Loving the flexibility! I move things around so much! Or I see something else I would rather have. Or I make plans with friends. haha I have never made pork tenderloin before (I don't know if I have ever had it!) I want that to change I think. No Pancake Tuesday for me, but I celebrated early on Saturday haha
ReplyDeleteI don't meal plan so I can't stay flexible haha I'm sure I would though because if I don't feel like eating something one particular night or don't have the ingredients then I make swaps as I see fit! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteMmm..your meals look fanTASTic!! What a great variety.
ReplyDeleteI like planning out the meals for the week as well. I usually try to use up fresh meats for the first few days (or freeze them for later,) and use up the fresh veggies early on as well. The frozen things or vegetarian dishes are used for later in the week to keep everything fresh.
And I am totally jumping in on the Pancake Tuesday Bandwagon. :D
Didn't know about pancake Tuesday!!!! But I guess I'll have one this Tuesday lol. Your meals are awesome. I like to have two options for lunch/ dinner. I usually don't like to have something different everyday. I don't know why... probably bc growing up I had rice beans and protein pretty much everyday. With the occasional pizza, pasta or Chinese!
ReplyDeleteYum. All your meals are always looking and sounding superb!! Love it. I definitely don't meal plan (oops) so definitely wouldn't be flexible ha. I think that's probably the reason I don't meal plan actually;)
ReplyDeleteBut I usually end up seriously regretting this when I get busy on days.
There's always so much color and variety in your meals, Chelsea! YUM. I'm jealous! Since this weekend was really busy, I'm hitting the grocery store tomorrow (I usually go on Saturday or Sunday). And guess who's meal planning strategy I'll be following? Yep, that would be YOURS! :D I'm excited about having a list, and sticking to a plan this week. Thank you! <3
ReplyDeleteThere was no way I was going to miss out on Pancake Tuesday last week! I celebrated with a stack of my favorite pancakes, and have actually been celebrating every morning since. Tomorrow I think I'll change things up a bit, though. However, at the rate I've been going, I won't be surprised if the pancake cravings are kicking again. ;)
Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Love you! <3
That Buddha bowl looks SO delicious. I am a sucker for Asian-inspired tofu and vegetables. I love the color in that dish, too!
ReplyDeleteI need to start planning better once I get back from reading week, right now I'm just trying to use some things up/survive until I go home. Some of those meals look delish though, particularly the pesto pasta and the Buddha bowl!
ReplyDeleteThese all look SO good. Just found your blog today, I am also studying to become an RD. Love your great tips and pictures.
ReplyDeleteI am sitting here with my mouth hanging open (and I'm also drooling, but for now, that's besides the point)...I am always SO impressed with what you cook up throughout the week...especially since I know how busy you always are! I have my moments where I am successful at meal planning, but usually, my "plan" just involves cooking a bunch of chicken/tofu/whatever protein and roasting up an obscene amount of veggies...I never really KNOW what I plan on doing with them...which is why I guess I almost always eat salad for dinner.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks absolutely wonderful! The pork tenderloin with orange Dijon sauce, wheatberry salad, those beets!, the pasta pesto dish with goat cheese?! Pleeeeeeeeease come cook for me!! I'll make you pancakes...that DON'T come out of a box! ;)
And of COURSE I celebrated Shrove Tuesday...it would be downright sacrilege not to! lol