****Sorry I was late, family was over for our monthly Birthday gathering... Plus, I wanted to make sure this was/is as close to perfect as I can get it. But, it is still Sunday here, on the West coast... just saying ;)

Okay, so...

Meal planning/prepping makes sense in this crazy hectic world we live in.
Many people already do this, and a simple search online, will lead you to thousands of brilliant folks doing it and very kindly sharing that info. But let me save you some time… Here are five clever sites to show you some of the Meal Planning Techniques that many others are using right now.

My Meal Prep Sunday

New Leaf Wellness

Mommy Savers
​
Richly Rooted

Meal Planning Magic

Now, I promised you something different.

And different, you shall have.

But – where to start?
............………?    ​..............……!

……...................................................................Ready now? Good. 

So I had suggested 12 dividers (at least) so you can keep track, month by month or (better yet) plan your Meals & Budget,
​months in advance! Either or, I think 12 tabs for 12 months is a good start.

So go ahead and label the tabs. January through December.

Done? Okay, moving on…

**I would add, that you'll probably want five or six more tabs, and as this course progresses I'll explain why.

Before you go yelling me, just accept it. People are different, and like doing things a certain way. You might decide you will use other binders/folders for the other sections I'll discuss, or  some of the “worksheets” you might want to just keep in the side pockets of the binder. So you never know.

​Also, you might want to punch three holes in a standard sized manila envelope and label it “receipts” if you need a spot to put them, or have a desire to keep them… and stick the envelope in the binder. It's not what I do, but you may want to.

Okay. So, here is your first “lesson,” which is your basic “How to plan with a calendar, all of your meals,” lesson...
This will be/might be pretty similar to other Planners, by the way… just so you know, but I have to start from the beginning, in case there are viewers who are just getting introduced to Meal Planning/Prepping.

*Below, you will see five forms to print out. 4 are calendars, 1 is a Weekly Meal Planner 

​*Download/save them ALL to a safe spot on your computer.

*Since next month is November, starts on a Tuesday, and ends on a Wednesday, print out all four Calendars
(you'll do this, regardless of the month, each month)
and print
five of the Weekly Meal Planner (one sheet per week of the month you're planning for).
​
**NOTE: the 1st 4 Worksheets need to be PRINTED in "Landscape," & the last one needs to be PRINTED in "Portrait."
​If your Printer for PDFs isn't already marked to 'Auto portrait/landscape' be sure to check the orientation BEFORE PRINTING.
Also, select 'Actual Size' as opposed to 'Fit," that way you have a bit more writing room.

The 4 Calendars

*All four calendars are NOT DATED, but are labeled for the days of the week, with (my) meal category for that particular day.

***** BTW, if at any time you do not like my “choice” for the day of the week, you can – like I do when I want to change a form option – use whiteout tape, and write what you'd like, instead. I am really addicted to whiteout tape,
just FYI (here's a great deal on Amazon, this is what I buy).
Or, until there are too many requests, for now, just Contact me – I'll gladly change the meal options per your request,
​ONE TIME so make sure you are clear and concise, and thoroughly well researched in your options.
****I suggest whiteout for at least three months, before you're absolutely sure.

*Now, date your Calendars and Weekly Meal Planner accordingly. There are little squares at the top right corner of each day on the
Meal Planner, to write the date in, but on the Calendars I just write them in, freestyle (also in the upper right-hand corner of each day).

​*I suggest for the time being, you use my suggestions for meals, and fill in the days with the appropriate (what you like) versions of the choices.

Let's start with Breakfast.....

Okay – The Lunch Calendar

Most of this calendar gets filled up with (“)'s. Soup options are usually Top Ramen (sorry, but we LOVE Top Ramen, but almost always it's only an option one or two times a month), or canned homemade soup. Leftovers are ALWAYS for lunch. Period.
*Except for my husband, who gets “special” lunches – with sandwiches, wraps, stuff for dipping, etc. (jerk).

1x/week a wrap is an option.
1x/week a sandwich is and option.

Wrap choices are either – chicken salad, tuna salad, or egg salad – in a tortilla.
Sandwiches are fair game – lunch meat, tuna (if it wasn't in a wrap this week), PBJ etc.

So basically, I only “write” in the wrap choices, again, alternating the choices between: chicken salad, tuna salad, and egg salad.
​All other columns, are filled with (“)'s.

*When you're done with your calendars, fill in the corresponding meals with their matching letters on the Weekly Meal Planner Sheets…
Breakfast=B
Lunch=L
Snack=S
Dinner=D

vvvvvv^^^^^Examples ^^^^^ vvvvvv

Um...

I'd like to point out something SUPER IMPORTANT right now.

The next two months are (usually) the most expensive when it comes to food. You have Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah/etc....
family over – parties – holidays – etc.etc. etc.....

Now may not be the best time to learn how to “Meal Plan.” Especially when you might end up eating mac & cheese for the next month or two, just so you can have enough money for the festivities… I'm just pointing it out, so you'll keep that in mind. I'd hate for you to start this, feel like it's harder to do than you thought, and end up going greatly over budget etc. etc. and then on top of that-- end up giving up,
before you really ever get started.

What I'd like to see you do, ideally, is learn EVERYTHING you can from this course. Get all your ducks in a row, so to speak.
Then, from January on – Meal Prep the Hell out of your life.

New years are perfect for New habits.

I told you, I plan my year in advance.
​
Anyway, it's so much easier to learn from someone else's mistakes, than having to waste your time making the same ones, yourself.

Of course, you can still go through with this, right now, and succeed.

Just stay with me, okay?

(Of course, I did include pictures of what my November Plan looks like & you can copy if you want, I don't mind.
​And just FYI, my family has been getting together on Saturdays for Thanksgiving for a few years now,
so that's why my November might seem a bit weird. 
Also note: Thanksgiving "Day" Meal is NOT accounted for on the lists....
that, I can do a separate run through Menu/Grocery List, if you want?

Actually, I think I will. In fact, I will post my Menu & List around the 11th-ish, so be sure to watch for it!)

Also, now that I think about it, I think I'll go ahead and just post my Meal Plans, so you can see them as I go along, since I do them every month, regardless...

AND…
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE – do not move ahead! I HATE having to answer questions that I haven't covered the material for yet. I'm the same way when home-schooling my kids. So please be patient. We'll get there. I promise!

Alright, here's a Recap –
Your “Assignment” is to have ALL of the following, done by Thursday, the 27th...
or whenever, it's not like I'm grading you or anything! LOL.

*Label tab dividers (possibly buy a few more)

*Download/save the Calendars and Weekly Meal Planner

*Fill in dates on the worksheets and fill out meals/ideas for November

*Fill out ONLY the Menu Side of the Meal Planner Sheets(the rest of the sheet will be covered in Lesson #2)

**Meet me back here, on Thursday the 27th, for Lesson #2 (How to Make a Grocery List--Like, the best-est list EVER) &
Lesson #2.5 (Meal Prep Kitchen Necessities)

and,

If you have any questions, please contact me.
& YES, I will post/share recipes as we go along, but if you have a request of something you saw on here, again... Contact Me.

**One more thing... I've got two Halloween Giveaways, that I'm helping to share/promote for some fellow authors
(Sharon Hamilton & Brandy Nacole), so before you leave, why don't you check out the verbiage on them
& possibly enter for your chance to win some FREE e-books and other cool stuff!

**Clicking below might financially benefit me if your click becomes a purchase.
​Below link is an Affiliate Link. Just FYI.

Traditionally speaking, there is a reason why we celebrate Thanksgiving in November; besides the whole Pilgrims & the Mayflower, etc. November is at the end of the harvest season, right before the onslaught of the harsh winter, where little seems alive,
and the world is stuck in a dark & monotonous endless gloom...
 
Going into the bleak and unknown future can seem a dismal prospect. Is it any surprise that the Ancients held festivals to welcome back the sun and its warmth and life giving attributes?
 
So,
How do you welcome something back? How do you encourage something, or someone, to return?
 
You show gratitude for its existence. Your appearance shows you to be thankful.
 
So it is with this reasoning, that I put together this list of pictures to take next month.
 
These are picture ideas to help you find what there is in your life to be thankful for.
 
As someone who practices Positive Thinking to overcome all of my ailments both mental and physical, I felt this was an important list to share with you. Some folks will find that they have ‘nothing’ good in their lives, or nothing to be happy for.
This is so greatly not true.
It is a matter of perspective.
 
Hopefully, this list will give you a sense of direction at the ending of one year as we look towards a new one…

​Why do I meal plan? The correct answer: Because I'm crazy – 100% crazy… But, also 100%-- genius.

No – I'm not implying that Meal Planning is my idea. In fact, no one knows whose idea it really originally was.

No one. Don't let anyone tell you differently and claim it. Just because it is more popular now (or appears to be because of the great Internet and Social Media Web we live in), does not mean someone – now – created it.

My grandmother, who ended up being a widowed mother of six in rural China, during World War II, used to feed and provide for her family by making Ready-to-Eat Meals for the lumberjacks, railroad workers, and many others, near her village.
So, I know, Meal Planning/Portioning/Prepping is nothing new.

I won't bother discussing my beginnings of figuring everything out, other than to say I've obviously done enough research to get (some) tips – but also to say that as I continue this series (yes, it will be a series – this is way too much to cover in one or two articles), you will totally see that my way, is completely different from ANY OTHER METHOD out there.

I'm NOT SAYING MY WAY IS BETTER.
I am ONLY saying, my way works for me & mine.

Okay,
*There are some elements that are the same.
*There are some recipes that I liked, and use (although I've altered them – like I usually do).
*And I will provide you with a calendar and grocery list/menu – as do most of the other Meal Planners out there (usually).

But that's pretty much where the similarities stop.

Yes, my description/instructions may drag on– for–ever… But you'll see the actual method and process, is so breathtakingly simple, plus, it saves loads of time!

How much?

Well, every month, my mother and I spend 2 to 3 days Meal Prepping, for anywhere between 2 to 4 hours. Two of my daughters pitch in for one task each, which, because they're young, usually takes them about an hour or two to complete.

And that's it.

Yup.

When it's time to cook (dinner) I spend >maybe< 30 minutes… but usually it's more like 15 (sometimes even less). Yes, that's 15 minutes "cooking," meaning 15 minutes I am in the kitchen "cooking."

IT DOES NOT MEAN dinner is READY in 15 minutes... no, that's usually in about 45 minutes to an hour later. But time spent fixing stuff in a pot, skillet, oven etc.… where I'm actually physically "cooking," is really only 15 minutes.

Well, doesn't that sound just like everyone else's Meal Plans? Time-wise – sure. But, the meals are different, the options are different… The whole damn thing--is different.

And my family – NEVER EATS the same thing twice in a month. NEVER. 
And we used to, but don't anymore--have a "Fend for Yourself Night."

I "cook" breakfast 4x a week.

Only breakfast on weekends, do I spend an hour or so cooking – because I choose to. I love having Saturday waffles or pancakes, and Sunday brunch casseroles… Even if the casseroles are done & frozen and ready to take out & cook, Saturday night or Sunday morning. The other two breakfasts I cook? Muffins. Homemade – different each time. And when I don't have time to make breakfast? Well, I always make extra, and freeze them – extra pancakes, waffles, French toast, AND muffins.

Some months I find I've prepped so much the previous two or three months prior, that I have very little (this month) to prep.

And lunch--I NEVER cook. And sandwiches are on the menu only once a week.

I budget our meals to the penny, and always have enough for two breakfasts, and two dinners, for when my family (an extra seven mouths) come over for the weekend – once a month. 
​
How? I'm that good. (Huge Sarcastic Smiley Face)LOL

Truthfully? – trial and error, and an unwavering determination to figure it out and succeed, no matter what.

​I've been asked to share this knowledge with some – but I prefer to do this as a "course" of sorts that is available to everyone,
so that folks can refer to it, whenever they need to.

I hope you'll enjoy this "Meal Planning Course." It is FREE. And will remain FREE. I will provide printables, lists, recipes, tips… And I will gladly answer whatever questions you may have. 

**WITH ONE EXCEPTION: I will not be sharing my finances/receipts. This Information is again, FREE, so therefore I am offering My Way of doing this, as a courtesy and as a coaching type of guidance. You, yourself, are responsible for your own financial situation & budget. I will not offer financial advice for your situation, nor will I answer questions about mine. Sorry. I just prefer to not talk about some subjects, publicly. Finances, Religion, and Political Candidates/Issues are on the more sensitive side of that spectrum.... However, I will explain part of how I budget my Meal Planning, which applies to when I make my grocery list, which you'll be able to use in principle for your own plan.

But ANYWAY--I do plan on adding at least three lessons/printables/content each month, until I've taught you all I can.
​I'd like to help you get "good" at this – as quickly as possible, so we'll see what happens...