This week as I sat down to plan our meals I began thinking about our upcoming vacation to Disney World. I don’t like for stock our fridge full of food only to head out of town. I also hate to let food go to waste. So as I though about our upcoming vacation I knew that I had to scale back the meal plans for this week, to save money and eliminate wasting food.
Here are my tips for having a week without meal planning
Check your cabinets. Chances are you probably have the makings for soups or chili in your cabinets, look around and see what you have that can make a quick and easy meal.
Check your freezer. I am always freezing leftovers and stocking up on quick meals from Trader Joe’s. I know that in my freezer I have Sloppy Lentils that I froze from early this summer. Just defrost and I will have a quick hot meal.
Pasta, pasta, pasta. I can guarantee that almost every house has a box of pasta and a jar of sauce somewhere in the house. Even if you don’t have sauce there are tons of quick and easy pasta dishes that can be made from the contents of your cabinet. I like this sesame noodle recipe or this easy pasta in aioli sauce.
One dish meals. I like to make something like soup which we can enjoy more than once during the week and then I can freeze the leftovers before we go away.
Sandwiches and salads. Sandwiches and salads make quick, easy meals for when you have more important things to worry about like packing, making last minute Fast Pass + selections or painting your nails.
Brinner! Also known as breakfast for dinner. Who says pancakes and waffles are only for the morning time, add some bacon and you have a full meal.
Stay off Pinterest. Seriously, I have a problem when I see a great meal or fun new recipe I want to try it right away. I get in the mood for things. So I have to control my urge to go out and buy a bunch of ingredients that will likely go bad just so I can cook up a fun new dish.
Rotisserie chicken. A rotisserie chicken is great to pick up a few days before you go away. You can use the chicken in sandwiches and salads. We have a small family and I definitely get a few meals out of it.
I don’t just skip meal planning before a vacation, I also skip it about every 4 -6 weeks just so we can clean out the freezer and cabinets. It is also a great way to save money.
Do you plan meals every week or do you take some weeks off or do you never plan meals?
Excellent suggestions! Pasta is usually my "what the heck am I going to make for dinner tonight" go-to. As sort of an off-shoot of that, my daughter taught me how to make risotto which I make at least once a week with whatever vegetables and/or protein I have on hand. It feels a little fancier than regular pasta. Of course this works well since it is just my hubbie and me at home – not sure my kids would have gone for it when they were younger and picky eaters!
These are great suggestions when you're getting ready for a vacation, or a party, and don't want to have to think about pulling a meal together.
Ha! I don't really plan my meals. Usually just see what we have or what needs to be used before going bad.
We have been trying to clean out the pantry and freezer. So making meals with what we have in the house is like putting together a puzzle.
Great tips!! Wish I had somewhere to go! Enjoy your trip!!
Ha! I have 3 boys and a husband…I barely get any chicken myself with a rotisserie chicken…actually last time I did not get any!
Great tips thank you!
I will have to get this for my MIL!