I feed the Hubby all week long, despite the fact he spends most days and nights living in a different state.
I feed myself too and our three ornery felines, one of whom is more food obsessed than me. I’m pretty sure feeding all these mouths on a regular basis makes me Superwoman. Then again, I have a high opinion of myself. Either way, I rock.
So I’m either a feminine superpower (insert superhero theme music here or the sound of an extra sharp whip cracking against your backside 😉 ) or I do a ton of food prepping on the weekends and willing take help from others whenever I can get it. While the former certainly sounds more exciting and obviously feeds my extra large ego, the latter might actually be more accurate. I still rock though.
Today I’m foregoing our traditional Week In Review recap, and instead I’m going to share how you can feed yourself and one other incredibly hungry human for an entire week. Of course I realize I’m breaking the rules of my own link up my party, but it’s my blog and I can cry if I want to, or switch the rules mid-post, sans crying. It’s so much less emotionally draining that way. Besides I did make and/or purchase an awful lot of this food in the past few days, and I’m still giving you a weeks worth of something. Fine, it’s a stretch; I’m doing it anyway.
I’m also going to link this up with one of my other favorite parties, What I Ate Wednesday. Yep I’m breaking more rules, throwing all caution to the wind and still justifying my errant behavior. I figure I’m doling out way more than a single day’s worth of eats, so it counts, and do you really want to argue with Superwoman?
I think not, but you totally want to know How To Prepare A Week’s Worth of Meals in a single weekend. I can’t say that I blame you.
Let’s begin.
Step One: Get Creative.
As much as I love lists and planning, I shockingly don’t create a formal meal plan every week. Instead I come up with some meal ideas loosely based on what ingredients I have on hand and what struck my fancy that week on the internet. For example, Saturday’s night Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala was inspired by the remnants in my fridge (half a can of garbanzo beans, about to expire cream, leftover lemon butter from Thursday night’s artichokes, an entire head of cauliflower, onions, carrots, bell peppers and a jar of Tikka Masala sauce), while Sunday night’s Crockpot Lasagna was something that simply caught my eye. It sounds fairly eye-catching, doesn’t it?
Step Two: Make A List and Shop.
You knew a list had to be a part of this. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to make a list and check it twice. Oh wait, that’s Santa, and I’m Superwoman today, although I’m fairly certain she had a pen and paper stashed in those boots. Either way, make a list. Scour your pantry, your fridge, and your rough meal ideas and write down any ingredients you need. Then get shopping.
Step Three: Get Cooking
Plan to spend a couple of hours in the kitchen over the course of the next day or so. It helps to have some tunes and perhaps a glass of wine handy. If you do your prep in the morning, a mimosa wouldn’t hurt. The point is to enjoy yourself, while trying to optimize your time. If you know you need carrots for more than one meal, cut up enough carrots for everything, even if you don’t plan on cooking it all up right away.
For example, this weekend, I cut up carrots for the Hubby’s lunchtime wraps, salad toppings, my Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala, and my Easy Oven Roasted Vegetables all at the same time. The same for the onions and bell peppers.
Now that my friends is how you prepare a week’s worth of meals in three easy steps.
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While it sounds simple enough, I’m going to take it a notch further and share exactly what those meals look like when you put my 1-2-3 plan into play because visual stimulation is where it’s at.
Breakfasts
I bought two bundles of bananas, a ginormous box of spinach, some blueberries, and a loaf of really good multi-grain bread. I also made a batch of Lemon Blueberry Granola, enough to get the Hubby and I through the majority of the week.
Therefore, breakfast options include bananas, smoothies with those same bananas, more fruit and buckets of spinach, toast with peanut butter or straight up cow butter, and granola with Greek yogurt and more fruit, this time of the berry variety. I eat some variation of this Monday through Friday and on weekends, when I have more time, I get extra indulgent and make omelets, pancakes, French toast, or a Breakfast Salad.
Lunches
I get help here from my local grocery store, Nature’s Bin. The bottom line is I don’t like to spend a ton of money on lunches, and the idea of eating out daily doesn’t appeal to me because it leaves me feeling overtly full and dragging by the time three o’clock hits. Plus, lunches out mean I miss my sweat session at the gym and that’s no bueno. Yes, I’m a bilingual Superwoman, although sadly that is the extent of my Spanish.
I also recognize I can’t cook or prepare three square meals every single day for the Hubby and myself without losing my mind in the process, and we all know I need to keep whatever sanity I have left. Um hello, I think I’m Superwoman. Hallucinate much?
Which is where Nature’s Bin comes in. They have a fabulous catering section, so I get the ease and convenience of frozen meals, without all the garbage. They’re also way more creative than your typical Lean Crap-Sine. Oops, did I say that? Of course I did.
When we’re not eating Nature’s Bin lunches, the Hubby will have a wrap stuffed with veggies (cut up ahead of time on the weekend) and some blue cheese (his favorite) or hard-boiled eggs, and I’ll have a salad (hence the giant vat of spinach), leftovers or lots of snacky type foods. Super heroes should always be powered by spinach and hummus.
Snacks
Speaking of, my snacks consist of fruit or nuts, maybe some cheese if I’m feeling lucky. I’m consume them with a side of coffee or a cup of tea and always an extra large glass of H2O. I drink enough water for Superwoman and Superman combined.
Dinner
Dinner’s are either prepared or partially assembled on the weekend.
For example, this past weekend, I scored some baby red skinned potatoes at the store, specifically so I could whip up another batch of Oven Roasted Vegetables with bell peppers, sweet potatoes, garlic, tomatoes and carrots (all of which I had on hand). I also picked up some asparagus because it was the right price and I just so happen to love it. I’ll happily combine the two for dinner one night and top the roasted veggies with a fried egg another.
On Sunday, I made Crockpot Lasagna in a sizeable enough quantity that it fed us dinner that night, plus enough for at least three extra meals this week: two for me, one for the Hubby. That’s my kind of math right there. What? Superwoman needs her fuel.
In that same vein, I deliberately had enough leftover from Saturday night’s Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala to make another meal out of it, especially when I top it with some brown rice or pair it with a couple of Parmesan Rosemary Drop Biscuits from my deep freezer.
Because I like options, I also bought and baked four large russet potatoes over the weekend, which are essentially waiting for me to reheat them and stuff them with all sorts of veggie goodness; maybe even a little cheese because Superwoman needs her protein.
To recap (because I’ve typed long enough that we need one…my bad):
Things I Prepped Over The Weekend To Make All of the Above Possible
- Lemon Blueberry Granola
- Hard-Boiled Eggs (for the Hubby)
- Baked Potatoes
- Cut Up Onions, Peppers, and Carrots for Salads, Wraps, Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala and Roasted Vegetables*
- Roasted Vegetables*
- Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala*
- Crockpot Lasagna
*Items where I had the Hubby’s assistance. His knife skills are strong. Maybe I’ll let him into my superhero club.
Enough about me. Let’s hear from you.
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Interested in participating in the Week In Review?
The Week In Review is a list, in its purest form, not of the things you still need to do, but of all the things you have done in the past seven days. It’s an achievement list and one with the sole purpose of bringing pleasure. Want in? Grab the Week in Review button for your post, link back to Clean Eats, Fast Feets and get your list on. For more details, click here.
Link up and get your list on.
Are you a strict meal planner or a general meal idea kind of person? Was this post helpful? If you were a superhero, who would you be and why?
Today’s post is linked with She Eats Fresh Food Wednesdays, Anyonita Nibbles Tasty Tuesday’s and Buns in my Oven What’s Cookin’ Wednesday.
Ok, you offically Are the Queen of all Food! I’m am so amazed. I might as well unlink my post! With all the work you did on this, good idea using if for WIAW also. I don’t think you ever said how the crockpot lasagna was. I’m curious because you know I love my crockpots. About to go two fisted with them again, today. Have a great day, Meghan!
You better not unlink your post. You had such a great week of self care that it reminds me of things I need to work on.
The Crock pot Lasagna was good. Super easy and tastes just like lasagna. You should make it.
Well as I’ve told you 800 times I’m no longer a meal planner. Instead I’m a chicken with my head cut off…then thrown into the slow-cooker because that bad boy saves my disorganized life!
Yep, I’m a huge fan of the slow-cooker too.
Since the Hubby leaves on Sunday’s, I need to get his meals ready for the week before he goes back to school. It’s made me a meal planner.
when I was prepping for my competition, I meal planned like crazy. I loved it!! Now that I only do three meals a day (down from 6), I don’t bother, mostly because I work from home, so the fridge is readily accessible and I typically just have big ass salads for lunch.
Your roasted potatoes look nothing short of awesome….
Thanks Caren.
If I worked from home and didn’t need to have the Hubby’s food for the week ready to go on Sunday, I’d be a little bit more laid back about our eats because those are delicious too, especially when they come it the form of a big ass salad.
Excellent advice, Meghan–you rock!
I think Superwoman hid things in her cleavage. She must have. I don’t have any, so it’s always been my thought that those of you with cleavage have the advantage of extra storage/hiding places, even if hugging people skeeves you out. I am not a superhero, but the birds in the backyard are pretty pleased that I fed them this snowy morning, so perhaps I am a hero to them.
I am not a meal planner. Tonight, for example, I have a vague idea of doing something with an acorn squash and a pie crust–the box is thawing in the fridge. Perhaps something quiche-y, I dunno. I just know I’m using the veggies from the Strategic Winter Squash Reserve, the beef from the freezer, and whatever else sparks my imagination. Fueled by a healthy bowl of my Lemon Blueberry Granola!
I’m linking up an accomplishment from last week–a photo I’m particularly pleased with–Orange spiked Beet and Walnut spread. I made a tasty beet appetizer that does not contain goat cheese, which is HUGE in my book. I love beets with goat cheese . . .
Thanks, Meghan!
You’re right and come to think of it, Superwoman’s cleavage is a heck of a lot more accessible than her boots. That’s it; the pen and pad will go in between my boobs. The Hubby will love it.
I’m thrilled you’ve hopped on the granola making train. I’m just jealous of your fancy extracts. That sounds dirty. I like it.
Thanks for linking; the beet spreads look DIVINE.
Wow – LOADS of food!
Whilst I rarely prep stuff for a whole week ahead, I usually have a pretty good idea of what meals I’ll be cooking for us and then I place our grocery delivery online for delivery on a Thursday or Friday evening so I have time to prep stuff if I have the time/inclination. 🙂
Online grocery delivery? I’m fascinated. Tell me more about this please.
This was an incredible post! I am a strict meal planner. I don’t have time during the week to think about what I’m eating. It’s all about grab and go. I’m a firm believer that prepping my meals on the weekend helps me stay on track during the week. I like to make a couple things over the weekend so I have options available. I often freeze half the batch of soup or something I toss in the crock pot as well.
Thank you so much! It was a crapton of work so I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. I love freezing soup as well. It’s makes for a great back up plan on those nights you don’t want to cook a thing.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello.
You seriously make me want to be a better woman. I tried to be prepared, but lately that has just not been happening. Things are going to change around here! You’ve inspired me!
“Aw shucks. You say the nicest things,” she says while scruffing foot along the floor and madly blushing.
Girrrlll I love food prepping, but don’t do much of it these days. I usually just prepare my meals the night before/morning of. I want to punch my face into all this food.
Punch away Britt!
Please come over and make me a list and force me to complete it! Work keeps getting in the way of everything as of late and I think I need your discipline
I’d be happy to help. Just realize my discipline comes with a cost; I’m slightly crazy, but the cats don’t seem to mind. Hmm.
i love your lists and your creativity. I’m not that structured. I know, i should. Come “list” for me?
List, list, list all day long. List, list, list while I sing my song.
I would happily list for you. 🙂
I tend to meal plan when I don’t have the luxury of working from home, but I’m starting to batch cook more just for convenience. I need to check out your crockpot lasagne – sounds perfect for that!
The Crock pot Lasagna was good, although it wasn’t my recipe. The link is to the creater behind the genius idea.
Batch cooking is a huge help for me as well.
I am a pretty strict meal planner. I started doing it 15 years ago when the hubby & I were first married & super poor…I couldn’t let anything waste. Now, it’s more out of habit than anything!
Great post, I need to remember to prep more on the weekend. 🙂
Thanks so much. I really appreciate the feedback; it doesn’t hurt it’s positive either. 😉
My Hubby is gone all week long, so I have to do all my prepping on the weekend so I can send him off with a week’s worth of food. It’s become my new reality so I’m working through it and trying to make it interesting, without being overwhelming. I’d love to hear your tips as well.
This is great! Just found you on Peas and Crayons. I used to be a super strict meal planner when I was working full time, but I have gotten lazy now that I am part time and our meals are suffering because of it. Thanks for the motivation to get back on that horse!
Go ride that horse…er, I suppose we don’t know each other well enough to make inappropriate innuendos. Oops. My bad.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. See, that’s much better.
I want to be you when I grow up… that probably sounds weird. I probably don’t care 🙂
This is an amazing twist on the weekly list and I love that you are able to accomplish so much without overdoing it and convince hubby to join in on the fun. Plus all the pictures are gorgeous which just makes this even better!
Are you implying that I’m old? Gasp. That’s it. We’re through. Just Kidding; we can still hang out. I’ll teach you a thing or two. Not all of them good. 😉
You did NOT top that amazing masala with extra raw cauliflower…..you did, didn’t you! I used to not plan meals but ever since this thing called full time work happened, well…it’s either that or canned sardines and microwaved potatoes. The latter which is borderline criminal.
I forgot to mention this to you, but I sampled this amazing curry once with cashew nuts and cottage cheese mixed in it- that would be a decent added protein boost. Okay, let’s be real, it’s another means of getting more cheese into something typically not associated with it.
Does it help if I tell you I put the raw cauliflower on top for picture purposes only? Or does that actually make it worse? I needed a pop in the middle of the bowl. Otherwise it was a goopy orange mess.
Curry with cashew nuts and cottage cheese. That might be a #strangebutgood. I’d try it.
You just gave me inspiration to make it through next week. Where can I get that granola recipe?
Why thank you m’dear.
You can get my plain, although equally delicious, granola here: http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/recipes/snacks/granola/
Or my Orange Cranberry Granola here: http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/recipes/snacks/orange-cranberry-granola/
I’m still working on the Lemon Blueberry, although if you really want it, let me know and I’ll email you the recipe. You could be my guinea pig. Think about it. We could make great granola together.
I am trying to get better at meal planning! I make most of our food over here too including Dave’s lunches. I made dinner last night, then portioned out a few veggie sides, side salads and made two days worth of lunch sandwiches for him. I was pretty impressed with myself and then I see this post…yeah.
It’s rough having superwoman as an online friend! 😉
I think that is super impressive, and keep in mind, I only make half the lunches and I had the Hubby’s help with some of those meals.
I think everything we can do ahead of time makes us all superwomen. So own that superwoman status because you deserve it too.
Ok, so I know I said I was heading off to type you an email, but I totally got distracted…you know me! HOW did I miss this post?! I loved it all! I’m not much of a food-prepper. I’ve had my moments…and actually, the first one that comes to mind was motivated by you when I made your cauliflower soup and busted out a quiche, but for the most part, I’ve just convinced myself that I don’t need no stinkin’ food prep. And consequently, I’ve dug myself into a pretty big ass food rut! Thankfully, I’m feeling like I’m finally pulling out of that and after reading this post, I’m feeling a bit of that motivation coming on again. See what you do to me woman?! If we were neighbors, I’d never have to worry about these things…though the state of my liver could be in question. Better make my mimosa a beet one! 😉
PS, I WANT that Chickpea Masala! I made some lentils yesterday (for the first time in FOR-ever!) and gave them a little pinch of garam masala and I’ve had a HUGE craving for Indian food ever since!
A little kitchen motivation, now that’s what I like to hear. I’m probably more of a batch maker than a food prep person. I like to cook, but I prefer it to be in mass quantities so I have something to eat on those other nights when I don’t want to cook (which is pretty much Monday through Friday – ha!). I didn’t really turn into such a food prep person until the Hubby went to school. Suddenly, I needed to make all his food for the week in a single weekend so I could send him back with plenty to eat. It’s been a learning experience, and I’m getting better at it, so I decided to share my knowledge for anybody who wanted it. See – I’m generous like that.
I am also craving Indian food like a mad woman. Or maybe I’m just always a mad woman, with an intense and new craving for Indian foods. Must eat all the spicy, delicious things.