So, what's your "food routine?"

[crispini]

I've gradually developed the habit of doing menu planning, going to the grocery store, and doing a chunk of my cooking for the week on Sunday. It makes me feel very secure to have plenty of healthy food on hand and ready to just take out of the fridge and eat! This week I fixed:

- Indian-style lentils
- Squash soup
- Baked chicken breasts

I was really happy with how everything turned out, except I wish I had made more lentils! I think I'll only have enough for one more meal (I ate the lentils for dinner) and I could eat it about 4 times a week!

Anyone got any favorite food tips, menus, make-ahead ideas?

[lavenderdiva]

1. How do you get organized to follow through with this routine?

I have often wanted to get this organized, but have failed miserably. I think your menu planning for the week is key. This is definitely something I want to get myself to do!

[crispini]

2. Well I'm not usually doing much on Sunday anyway.

So that helps.

And during the week I actually READ cookbooks. I have all of my cookbooks in the kitchen where I eat breakfast and during the week while I'm eating breakfast, I sort of browse through them, with a post-it handy, and mark interesting things as I go. One of my favorite cookbooks is "Tassajara Cooking," which is a more narrative-style cookbook that really sort of opened my eyes to what things go with what, and the possibilities of vegetables, and how to cook simply. It's very freeing to be able to look in the fridge and just make something from what you have, which is what that cookbook taught me.

And also during the week I keep a grocery list going, just of things I need. I have it on the fridge and just write stuff down as I think of it, just stuff in general. Then on Saturday or Sunday, when-ever I have a quiet moment, I browse through the cookbooks and glance at the post-its and I make my menu list and add the ingredients to the grocery list that I already have going. Oh, and sometimes I buy things for even the NEXT week after that, if it's something I know is going to keep (frozen), or something that requires extra prep work (dried beans have to soak for 12 hours, for example).

And then I usually plan on being around the house on Sunday afternoon for about 4 or 5 hours to cook. I'm not continuously cooking the whole time, but there's usually something simmering on the stove. I enjoy it, thought; it's sort of like a healthy nutritious hobby. :)

I think it's really the browsing through the cookbooks that does it. Because I'm not under any pressure to "plan a meal now" while I'm doing it, I'm just sort of enjoying flipping through the cookbook and thinking about stuff. But then all week long I'm vaguely thinking about what I'm going to do on Sunday and then on Sunday it just comes together. Anyway, I hope that helps. :hi: