Welcometofeedyourfamilytonightpodcasteachweek.Weareservingupmotivationandinspirationtohelpyougetweeknightdinneronthetablelettingyourecapturealittle,Graceandnowyourhostspeakerauthorandmarriedmother-of-fourMariaCuba.Hellofriends,welcometothefeedyourfamilytonightpodcastepisode218.ImyourhostMariefiebach.Andtodaywearehavingtipstohelpyousticktoyourplan.Doyouevermakeamealplanandthenchangeyourmindanditsreallyhardtostickwithitormaybeyouthoughtingredientsandtheirlanguishingatthebackofyourrefrigeratortoday.Imgoingtorestforcommonreasonswhyyoudontfixyourmealplanandsomestrategiestohelpyouovercomethesecommonchallenges.ButbeforeIdothat,IwanttostartthispodcastofftellingyouIhadsaidthismanytimesbeforethatmymealplanchangesatleastonetimeaweek.Therearealotofreasonswhymymealplanchangesatleastonceaweek,butitdefinitelychanges.ImokaywiththatbecausemyexpectationsareImgoingtosetmyplangoingtosticktoitforthemostpartbutthingsmightchangethatmaycausemywheelsfalloffandIhavetoswitchtooneofmybackupmealandthatisatotaldifferenttopicthanwhatweregoingtotalkabouttodaytotalkaboutreasonswhereyoucouldmakeyourdinner,buttheresaroadblockthatyouarerunningintothatarekeepingyoufrommakingdinnerandImnotgoingtotalkabouttheRobloxthatrequirebackupmealsbecauseIvetalkedaboutthatandwelltalkaboutthatsomemoreasfriendsbecauseitsareallyimportanttopicbutabackupmealiswhatyouservewhenthewheelsfallofforyourenergyisdrainedattheendofthedayandyoudidntanticipateIwantyoutohavetouseyourbackupmealsless.Theyrereallyimportantandyouneedthem.Sotodayweregoingtotalkabouthowyoucansticktothemealplanthatyoumadeatthebeginning.IminalotofFacebookgroupsandtherewereacouplethreadsgoingaroundlastweekaboutpeoplenotbeingabletosticktotheirmealplansworktothegroups.Andlistentowhatpeopleweresayinginthetwodifferentthreads.ItcamedowntoaboutfourreasonswhypeoplewerenotstickingtotheirmealplansandImgoingtogooverthosetoday.Thefirstoneisthattheyhadunrealisticexpectations.HowmanytimesdowethinkthatweregoingtobeabletopulloffsomethingandourdayjustgetstoobusyormaybeforalittletooaspirationalinthetypesoffoodarethetypesofrecipesthatweregoingtotryandexecuteonabusyweeknightyourenergyandyourseasonoflifewhenyouseesomethingonTV.MaybeyousawJulia.ChildmethatIamgoingtomakesomebeefbutitsgoingtotakeatriptothreespecialtyfoodstoresandtheregulargrocerystoreandallafternooncookingandImtryingtodothatwiththreelittletoddlersrunningaroundmyseat.Thatsalittletooaspirational.Yourenotacknowledgingtheseasonoflifethatyouareinnow.IlovemyselfagoodprojectmealbutIsaveitforspecialoccasionswhenIknowthatIhavesupportaroundtheinthehomeandIcanfocusjustontheprojectofcookingasawaytobringmyselfenjoymentagoodprojectrecipecanbringyousomeenjoymentbutitsnotsomethingthatyouwanttodoonaTuesdaynight.Anotherwaythatpeoplearealittletooaspirationalistheythinktheyregoingtomakesomethingmorehealthy.Theyretryingtomakehealthierfoodfortheirfamilyhealthiskindofarelativeterm.WhatwouldnotthinkishealthyandsoIdontreallycarehowyoudefinehealthy,butyoucantgiveyourfamilyWhiplashwhenyoudecidethatyouwanttogoonahealthkick,forexample,ifyouareafamilythatgoesthroughthedrive-thru.Twoorthreetimesaweekandyoureusedtoeatingfrenchfriesandsubsandwichesandhamburgersfromthedrive-thrugoingtohavefordinnertonightandyourfamilysgoingtobelikeImnotgoingtoeatthat.YoucantgiveyourfamilyWhiplash.Youretryingtoimplementhealthiercooking.Youhavetobegradualwhenyouchangeupthestuffthatyouaremakinginyourhomeanditsokaytochangeoutthefoodsthatyouremakingyourhome,butyouhavetobegradualforyourfamilyinepisode115.ItalkedaboutmyconceptofBaseingredientsandhowwhenyoureexpandingyourfamilyspallet,youcaneitherchangetheflavorsoryoucanusethebaseingredients.Butwhenyougoinatthesametime,itsgoingtobeharderforyourfamilytoadapt.Letmegiveyouanexampleofthatyourfamilylikesspaghettiandmeatsauce.YouwanttotryameatlessMondaysoyoucouldswitchtoaspaghettiwithalentilsauceoravegetarianspaghettisaucebuttoswitchfromSpaghettiandmeatsaucetoachickpeaCurrymightbetoomuchofajump.SoifyouwantedtoswitchtothoseflavorsofCurryandAyeshaCurryjustanexamplefamilyisusedtohavingthemeatratherthanswitchingthemmeettheflavorssoyoucanbuttrytodobothwhenyoureexpandingyourfamilyspaletteissomethingthattastes.Imsoreasoneveryonethatfamiliessometimesdontfollowupothermealplanisthattheyhadunrealisticexpectationsandtheytriedtodosomethingthatwastooviciousortheytrytobealittletooaspirationalinthetypesofhealthyfoodsarehealthyfoods.Theyweretryingtoservetheirfamily.Reasonnumbertwofamiliesoftendontsticktotheirmealplanisthatotherfamilymemberseattheingredientsthatwereplannedforthemeals?Oh,mygoodnesshashappenedinmyhouse.Italkedaboutthiswaybackinepisode12whenItalktoaboutlunchesandItalkedabouttheconceptofmybluebinyearsago.IwashavingtroublewhereIwouldexplainleftoversformychildrenslunchestotaketoschoolandIwouldgothenextmorningtofixlunches.Oneofmykidshadeatenitatnightasasnackorseconddinnerevenwanttogetstartedonthetopicofseconddinner.Doyouhavethatinyourhouseforyourkidseatdinnerandthenlike2hourslatertherelikescroungingthroughandtheyreeatingaseconddinnerfacethatovertheyearsinmyhouse.Icameupwiththisconceptofabluebin.IgotadollarplasticbinDollarTreeorWalmartonevenknowwhereitwasitwasAnythingthatIhaveplannedforlunchesthenextdayIputinthatbluebinandmykidsknowwhentheyopentherefrigeratorthatanythinginthatLubinisplanforlunchtomorrowanditsofflimitsforthemtoeatthatthatskindofanafter-the-factortesting.ImoffthenworkingweeksaheadonmyrecipetestingandphotographingandallofthatformytelevisionworkandIllhaveingredientsthatIhavepurchasedwithmybusinessaccounttouseformyrecipetestingandmykidswillgoandeatit.IgotorecipetestanditsgoneandIwashavingalotoftroublewiththat.Icameupwithareallyinexpensivesupereasytrickthatfixmyproblemsinstantly.ItookablackSharpiemarkerandanythingthatIneededfortelevision.IjustwrotecakeKakewhichisthestationthatImoneveryweekinWichitatakeontheoutsidelabelofanyfoodthatIneededforrecipetesting,especiallybecauseitwaspurchasedwithmybusinessaccountratherthanmyfamilyaccount.Sothatwasareallysimpletrickandyoucoulddothattogetyourselfsomestickersgotothedollarstoreandgetagiantpackageofthoselittlestickersthatyouusedtolabelgaragesaleitems.Youcangetthemwithlikedollarsandcentsprintedonbutyoucangetjustplainsolidlittlecirclestickersanythingthatyouhaveplannedforaningredientlateronintheweek.Justputalittlepinkstickeronitandwhenyourfamilyseesthepackagingandtheyseethepinksticker.TheyknowthatthatissomethingthatyouhaveplannedforamealandthenifyouusehalfofitinjustalittlebitofitleftandyoudontcareifIeatitjusttakethestickeroff.AnotherthingthatpeopleuseisweterasemarkerswhaterasemarkersarereallyfunbecauseyoucanwriteonpackageswiththemandImthinkinglikereusableTupperwarecontainersareglasscontainers.Youcanwritewiththeweterasemarkerandyouputitinthedishwasherandthewetthewater.Takesitoffsoyoudontevenhavetoscrubitoff.Soifyougotsomethingthatsreusableuseaweterasemarkerareusedthestickersystem.IlearnedfromDaveRamseyyearsagothattobeunclearistobeunkindandwhenyousetclearexpectationsforwhatyoureusingtheingredientsinyourhomeandyouhaveaclearwaytotellyourfamilythatyouareplanningonusingthoseingredientslatertablesolowthatmighttakealittlebitofreminderswhiletheyrefirstlearningthesystem,butoncetheygotitdown,theyllseethosepiecestickersorthoseseethatblackSharpiemarkerandtheyllsayohmomissavingthatforarecipe.Icanthavethatrightnow.Thethirdreasonpeopledontfollowthroughontheirmealplans.Isthatwhattheyplannedjustdoesntsoundgoodonthatday.Yeah,IrememberatthebeginningofthepodcastwhenIsaidIchangedmyfamilysmealplanatleastonceaweek.Itspartofmyexpectation.Iknowitsgoingtohappen.AndthebiggestreasonisbecausethatwhatIhadplanneddoesntsoundgoodtomeormorelikelyitdoesntsoundgoodtooneofmychildren.MykidswillpullupmyInstagramstilllookatwhatIhaveplannedfordinnerchicken.Noodlebowlsdoesntsoundgood.Whatsoundsgood?Noproblems.WegettothisconceptthatItalkedaboutanepisodeofhundredfifteenofBaseingredientchickennoodlebowlsandlemonrumandchickenarechickenandnoodleswithsomevegetablesandalittlebitofsauce.Imswappingoutthedifferentkindsofnoodles.ImightbeswappingoutthevegetablesandImightbechangingupthesaucealittlebit,butIhaveawell-stockedpantryanditdoesnttakeanyeffort.FormetoswitchfromonerecipetotheotherifthesecondrecipesoundsalittlebitbetterShearerfamilyusethatconceptofBaseingredientsingredientsinyouhaveadifferentdinner.Thatsoundsbettertoyouthatnight.YourestillstickingtoyourmealplanandyourenotscrappingitalljustbecausesomethingdoesntsoundgoodanotherwaythatIavoidhavinganissueofthingsnotsoundinggoodisIlookattheweatherbeforeIplanthemealsnow,IminKansasandIkidyounotthisfall.Wehadaweekwherewehad90degreetemperaturesandwehadsnowinthesameweekweatherinKansascanfluctuateveryveryquicklyandona90-degreedaygrilledchickensoundsprettygood.Sogoodtogooutandturnonthegrillwhenyougotsnowonyourpatiolookatyourweather,ifyouknowthatitsgoingtobearainyday.KnowthatitsgoingtobecoldplayingsomethingwarmandcomfortinglikeasuperitsdoorifyouknowthatSaturdayisgoingtobegorgeous,whethertheresareallygoodchanceyouregoingtogetaburstofenergyandyouregoingtotacklesometypeofahouseholdprojectandyourenotgoingtofeellikecookingdinnerattheendofthedaysoplansomethingreallyreallysimpleonadaywhereyouknow,youregoingtobeworkingonotherprojectsthatishowyouavoidhavingissueswhendinnerdoesntsoundgoodplanaccordingtoyourdaysplanaccordingtotheweatheranddontbeafraidtomakeaslightchangeinyourmealplanthatdoesntthrowoffallofyourgroceryshopping.Awhileweretalkingaboutgroceryshoppingthefourthreasonthatpeopleoftendontsticktotheirmealplansisthattheingredientsgobadbeforetheycookthemeal.Well,theresacoupleofthingsthatareprobablyhappeningherewhentheingredientsgobad.Thefirstoneisyoudidntplan.Well,whenyougroceryshopandyouplanmealsthatusethefreshestingredientsattheendoftheweekthatusemorestableingredientsatthebeginningoftheweekandhowyoucangetaroundthatisfirstofall,itsokaytotaketogroceryshoppingtripsaweeknextweek.Imtalkingabouthowtoavoidgoingtothegrocerystoretoomuchduringtheweek,butIplantogotothegrocerystoreatleasttwiceaweek.Ihaveabigshoppingtrip,usuallyatthebeginningoftheweekandlaterintheweek.Iusuallygointoasmallershoppingtriptostockuponfreshvegetables.IoftenbuyfreshfishattheendoftheweekbecauseIdontlikethatsittinginmyrefrigerator.Greatertoolong.ItsokaytohavetogroceryshoppingtripthatyouneedtodoamealplanandyouneedtoconsidertheingredientsthatyouarepurchasingwhenyouplanthosemealsatworkwithFosterandincarceratedYouthandtheywereonlyabletogogroceryshoppingonceeverytwoweeksandoneofthebiggestthingsthatusethefreshestingredientsfirstandhowtousetheirfreezer.Sothatingredientswouldntgobadwhenyoucanonlyshoponceevery14days.Youhavetoberude,senthowtheseingredientsaregoingtolastinyourrefrigeratororfreezerovertimeanditspossible,butitschallengingwhenyourenotgoinggroceryshoppingveryfrequently.Thinkaboutgredientsandhowlongtheyregoingtobesittinginyourrefrigeratorasyouplanyourmeals.Theotherthingisyouneedtoberealisticaboutthemealsthatyouplanitkindofgoesbacktothatnumberonethingwhereyouhaveunrealisticexpectations.Areyoureallygoingtotakethatheadofcabbageandcutitintoslothtomaketheslawforafishtacoattheendoftheweekorwoulditbebetterifyoujustspentmaybealittlebitmoreperpoundthatyouboughtthatbagofpre-shreddedcabbageslaw.wehavedifferentseasonsoflifeandtherearetimeswhenwehavemoretimeandenergytoputintoacookingandtherearetimeswhenwedontwehavelessenergyandsometimesbyingredientsthatarePre-cutfrozenveggiespre-packagedlittleshortcutsthathelpusgetdinneronthetableisactuallygoingtosaveusmoney.Sometimesyourepayingalittlemoreperpound.Butifyoubuythatwholeheadofcabbageanditgoesrotteninthebackofyourrefrigerator.Didyousaveanymoneyorwouldhavebeenbetteroffjustspending$0.50moreandbuyshreddedbagofslawstartthinkingaboutthoseingredientsthatyourebuyingthataregoingbad.Aretheygoingbad?BecauseyouXyourmealswrongbecauseyougroceryshoptooearlyforaningredient.Thatisntgoingtolastthatlonginyourrefrigeratororyoubeingtooaspirationalinthethingsthatyouarecooking.IwantyoutochallengeyourselfandIwantyoutocookmoreinyourhome.Butyouhavetobeappropriatetothisseasonoflifethatyouareinthatseasonoflifebaby.WhatshappeningwithyourkidsthatseasonofLifemaybewhatshappeningwithyou?Whatshappeningwithyouatwork?Andtheyhavetodowithyourenergyyouneedtothinkaboutcookingrealisticallyanditsokaytonotdoalloftheaspirationalthingsthatyouwanttodorightnow.Youhavealifetimeandyoucanchangetohaveitslightlyovertime,butdontgiveyourselfWhiplashandtryandgofromthedrive-throughtohavingahundredpercentorganicvegetariancurries.Itsaskingtoomuchofyourself,anditsaskingtoomuchofyourfamily.Whenyoumakeyourmealplansyouwanttofollowthatfeedyourfamilytonightprocessofplanandprepsetadinnerbellandalwayshaveabackupandthefirstpartofplanningislookingatyouractivitiesandyouneedtoplanmealsthatworkforthekindoflife.Youarelivingnotthekindoflifethatyouwishyouhad.Youneedtoplanyourmealsforyourdayswhenyouarebusyandyoureinatunnelseason,youneedtoplanthingsthatareextrasimpleandtheneveryonceinawhile,youllgetabreathoffreshairandyoullbeabletomakethingsthatarelittlebitmoreaspirational.Sobekindtoyourselfplanmealsthatyouactuallyaregoingtomakehaverealisticexpectations.BeclearwithyourfamilyfindawaytoMarksoffoodsthatyouaresavingforrecipesanddontbeafraidtomakesmallpivotsjustbecauseyoumadeasmallpivotdoesntmeanyoudidntsticktoyourmealplan.JoinmeinthefuturefamilytomyFacebookgroupwillbetalkingmoreaboutmealplanningandhelpingyousticktoyourmealplansfornowfriends.Takecare.ThanksforlisteningtofeedyourfamilytonightpodcastwithyourhoesMariefiebach.Ifyouliketheshowandwanttoknowmore,pleasevisitfeedyourfamilytonight.Calmandifyoudliketohelpsupporttheshow,pleaseleavearatingorreviewoniTunesorapplepodcastithelpedspreadthewordthatyoucanfeedyourfamilytonight.