Amy: Week 27 - Meal Planning Made Easy!

Nothing is more central to weight loss than well-balanced meal planning. For me, meal planning can be my saving grace or my Achille’s heel. If the day falls apart and I can’t make it to exercise, I can at least salvage the day with smart choices that compensate a little. Or if I’m forced to work late, a healthy casserole in the fridge can keep me from the verge of doom and gloom at the McDonald’s drive thru. You can see clearly in my weight loss chart how essential thinking ahead on the food I’ll consume each week translates into success.

But it ain’t easy. We’re busy, whether it’s work or family or just life draining the sands from the hour glass each day, we’ve got a lot to do. Planning seven “jump-start” breakfasts AND seven “moderate, but filling” lunches AND seven “don’t blow it now” dinners AND oh, don't forget healthy snacks (not of the Oreo variety) in between isn’t a snap for me. To say nothing of keeping variety and what your family will actually eat in mind.

That’s why I was so excited to meet my new gal-pals Tricia and Cortney at Blissdom in early February.

Tricia and Cortney @ Blissdom, photo by Jenny at Mommin' It Up

These wonder-women started a blog apparently just for me - Once A Month Mom! They have worked out a system to prepare 15 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 15 dinners, neatly and orderly once a month. That’s right, you cook the lion’s share of your monthly meals on one day (usually takes 4-8 hours), freeze them and viola - no more fluster and frustration wondering what to cook each day.

(For those of you with little, little ones Cortney and Tricia also offer a homemade baby food track - also once a month - it looks so great it almost tempts me to have another baby! Almost!)

But it’s not just a bunch of recipes and a wish of good luck that Tricia and Cortney offer, they’ve laid out the complete grocery lists for everything, recipes and instructions on preparation in the once a month mode, tricks and tips to be successful, plus they’ve done all the math - SCORE! Basically all their hard-earned expertise and time-consuming work is handed to you and all you have to do is read, shop, cook and freeze. Well, and thank them for each yummy bite!

I’m am super excited to try it out. Their system is set up for a two-Mom approach. I’ve recruited my sister in law to join me on the adventure. We’re gonna do our cooking day on Saturday and I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes next week. Wish me luck!!