Day 1: Starting Over (Again) — This Time with a Plan
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tried to stick to a meal plan.
I’ve made the lists. I’ve pinned the pretty templates. I’ve even gone all-in on grocery runs with high hopes and good intentions. But somehow, by midweek, I’d find myself standing in front of the fridge—tired, overwhelmed, and wondering, “What’s for dinner?”
Every time I’ve tried before, I either made the plan too complicated… or I didn’t really plan at all. Either way, it led to burnout, extra grocery trips, food waste, and way too many takeout nights. And I’m over it.
So this month, I decided to do it differently.
A Smarter Start: Using What I Have
Instead of starting with Pinterest, I started with my own freezer and pantry. I made a list of every protein, veggie, and staple we already had—and I used AI to help me create a meal plan that made sense with what was on hand.
It felt like someone came in and decluttered my brain. The result? A full monthly dinner plan, cooking 4 times a week, with Friday pizza & movie nights built in (because that’s sacred in this house 😅).
Less stress. Less waste. Less money flying out of my wallet on impulse grocery runs.
Meal Prep for the Win
I spent Sunday prepping snacks and simple lunch components—not because I had extra time, but because I’m tired of fighting the midday chaos.
And just because I’m a stay-at-home mom who homeschools doesn’t mean I have all the time in the world to stay in the kitchen. My time is stretched, just like anyone else’s. Prepping ahead is my way of protecting it.
I sliced the fruit. I cut the veggies. I repurposed the crusts from uncrustable sandwich snacks. And just like that, Monday felt… smoother.
Day 1 Recap: Small Wins Matter
Breakfast:
French toast bites made from leftover crusts = zero waste and no cooking needed this morning.
Time: 15 minutes from start to clean-up.
Lunch:
DIY lunchables + pre-cut fruits and veggies = easy assembly and zero complaints. Minimal mess, minimal effort.
Dinner:
I knew what was on the menu, so I pulled it from the freezer first thing. By dinnertime, it was thawed, marinated, and ready to go. No last-minute panic. No mystery meat guessing game. Everyone knew what we were eating—and I wasn’t rushing or dreading it.
Chicken stir-fry with frozen veggies from the garden.
Why I’m Documenting This
Honestly? Accountability.
I’m not doing this because I suddenly became super organized. I’m doing this because I’m a stay-at-home, work-from-home mama who’s tired of wasting time, energy, and money on food decisions that shouldn’t be this stressful.
If this journey helps anyone else feel a little less alone—and a little more empowered to just start where they are—then it’s worth sharing.
Day 1 is done. And that’s more than I could say yesterday. Stay tuned for what Day 2 has to bring.