Why I Skip Meal Planning During the Holidays
You may or may not have noticed, but I don’t meal plan during the last six weeks of the year! From the week before Thanksgiving, when I’m planning my older son’s birthday celebration meals, to Thanksgiving itself, and all through December, I’m caught in a cycle of planning meals to host or bring to gatherings. This rhythm is always followed by using up leftovers and cleaning out the refrigerator—only to repeat the process all over again! Sound familiar?
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of planned breakfasts and lunches during this time, but regular dinner meal planning takes a back seat. Instead, I plan dinners on a rolling basis, about every 2-3 days, and this approach works well for me. It’s not always worth sharing because, quite honestly, it can be a bit of a chaotic process. The upside? Some pretty delicious dishes come out of my attempts to use up stray ingredients in the refrigerator!
Resetting Meal Plans for January
Now that we’re in the first full week of January, the structured meal plans resume, and no one is more thrilled than me. Because we will be returning from a vacation and jumping back into the swing of real life, I’ve already planned out the week and pre-ordered groceries for pick-up upon our return. This small act of preparation, which I’ve done for years, is a true lifesaver.
To plan meals in January, I often look back at meal calendars from previous years for inspiration. After a holiday season filled with rich and indulgent foods, I find myself craving lighter fare such as salads and soups. Coming home from a tropical vacation—where indulgences were certainly enjoyed—makes a gentle reset even more appealing. This post-vacation reset always includes plenty of balanced, fresh, nutrient-dense meals to help me transition back into everyday life.
THIS WEEK’S MEAL PLAN:
Cheers,
Christina