Sustainable Weekly Meal Plan

This year meal planning has finally been implemented and I could not be happier.

It simplifies EVERYTHING.

My cooking is more creative and varied because I have a structure in which I can try new recipes. 

I'm no longer cycling through the same old dishes week after week.

I no longer need to come up with on the spot dinner creations when I'm already hungry, because I have already decided what's on the menu and I have purchased all the ingredients I need.

That not only makes me less hangry when I cook, but it drastically simplifies grocery shopping and helps me maintain an intentional food budget.

Last but not least, I've noticed that the meal plan helps to eliminate food waste.  As a zero waster, I totally love that.

The weekly meal plan includes space to try out a new recipe, a day for a favourite meal (Pizza is ours, but yours might be something else), and several occasions for finishing leftovers (at lunchtime, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays).

Of course the meal plan also has a space for weekday breakfasts, more elaborate weekend feasts and a spot for baking or making a treat. I recently decides on this weekly baking project in order to curb buying candy, cookies, ice cream or other treats. 

MEAL PLAN	TO BUY
MONDAY       - NEW RECIPE   . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
TUESDAY       - HOMEMADE PIZZA   . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
WEDNESDAY      - LEFTOVERS   . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
THURSDAY      - SOUP or SALAD    . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
FRIDAY       - BURGERS or SANDWICHES    . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
TREAT of the week        . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
WEEKDAY BREAKFAST      . . . . . . . . . . .                                                 . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
SUNDAY BREAKFAST            . . . . . . . . . . .	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .
STAPLES      - TO REBUY	. . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .        . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .     . . . . . . . . .      . . . . . . . . .

The categories of this meal plan are supposed to simplify the decision making.  Recipe ideas go on the left (I will list some of my favourites ↓) and the ingredients needed are added to the right.  At the bottom of the meal plan I've also added a space to jot down any grocery or household staples that need to be replenished while shopping.  Once the plan is all filled out I purchase the groceries from this list.

 RECIPE    FAVOURITES  

- Pot Stickers (Recipe)

- Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie (Chloe Coscarelli, Chloe Flavor, p.201) 

- Homemade Pizza (Recipe)

- Annabell's Campfire Farro Salad (recipe coming soon)

- Summer Rolls

- Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

- Chips and Salsa for dinner (Recipe)

- General Tso's Tofu (Chloe Coscarelli, Chloe Flavor, p. 176)

- Sweet Tamale Cakes

- Chips and Salsa for dinner (Recipe)

- Vegan Potato Salad (Recipe)

I wanted to share this meal plan because it has been working so well for me and my husband.  Maybe it can work for you as well. 😃

♡ Nina