save 5 hours a week

If you make dinner at home five nights a week, spending 20 minutes on planning can save you at least five hours a week. Meal planning takes a few minutes of thought, a little time in the kitchen. The results are well worth it, saving time, money and energy.

minimalist plan

Inspiration starts with fresh produce. My plan begins with my weekly produce delivery, which currently comes from Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks. A few days in advance, I am notified of what is included in my order. I work every item of fresh local organic goodness into healthy meals for the week.

Survey the fridge and pantry for items you need to use or restock. Break out your cookbooks, or browse the barefoot kitchen to pick your dinners for the week and make a list. I put together a loose plan for dinners, and the rest falls into place. Read on for a sample of a simple meal plan.

Shop once a week for food. You may run out of things here and there throughout the week (in our house we are always running out for bananas and kale).

Prep. This is where the fun begins. When you get home from the store, crank some tunes, put on a movie and get to work.

1. wash and dry leafy greens and herbs (a salad spinner is your best friend) and wrap in towels
2. peel carrots, chop or shred them for easy use to throw into salads, stir fry’s, sauces or smoothies
3. freeze bananas (peel, break into chunks, put into a baggie and freeze) for smoothies
4. leave the following alone until you’re ready to use: beets, onions, tomatoes, fruit

Cook and store

1. roast chopped carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, potatoes, root veggies
2. rice and/or quinoa – cook a big batch for the week (2-3 cups dry) – use for curries, rice bowls, soup, burritos, salads, veggie maki
3. soup – make a big batch of soup; squash, sweet potato, tomato soup are all easy and keep well in the fridge
4. dips – bean dip, hummus
5. sauces – tomato sauce, pesto

Once these cooked and ready-to-go foods are in your fridge; your kitchen becomes a healthy fast food restaurant. Mix and match all your prepped items – hummus goes on pasta, as a snack for chopped veggies, or in a sandwich or wrap. Rice can be a base for a quick stir fry or stirred into soups to make them more filling.

barefoot meal plan

petit-déjeuner (breakfast)

a green smoothie a day keeps the demons away

• collard greens, blueberries, banana, chia, cinnamin, water, chocolate protein
• curly kale, cucumber, kiwi, mango, flax, water, strawberry protein
• spinach, broccoli stems, banana, apple, coconut oil, water, hemp seeds, vanilla protein
• romaine, pear, parsley, mango, flax oil, water
• chard, ginger, apple, coconut oil, chia, lemon juice water
• purple kale, blueberries, banana, raw beets, coconut oil, flax, chocolate protein
• butter lettuce, kiwi, pear, dates, water, hemp seeds, vanilla protein

le diner (dinner)

I realize dinner is listed before lunch. This is because I start with dinner, cook more than you need and you will always have a healthy lunch.

• butternut squash and potato red curry over rice
• mushroom and tomato sauce over gluten-free pasta
• barefoot bowl
• quinoa, beans, hummus, seeds, avocado, pesto
• bean burgers with salad and sweet potato fries
• fajita salad – beans, greens, tomato, avocado, cilantro, lime, peppers, onions
• portobellos with roasted carrots and mashed potatoes

déjeuner (lunch)

• only have to clean bulky things like the food processor once a week
• no roasting pans to wash
• little to no pots and pans to wash, only use them during the week for making pasta or reheating
• less cleanup – cutting board is cleaner, knives stay clean
• leftovers are easily assembled for lunches
• easy to customize all meals to each family members tastes or needs
• oven is only used once a week, saves energy
• less cooking splatters on your clothes means less laundry

The prep and cook usually takes a little over 2 hours. The satisfaction when I am done and have a fridge full of ready-to-eat food is huge. So is coming home from work hungry, and being able to assemble and heat dinner in 5 minutes.