The key to making things go smoothly in anything in life is planning. By nature, I am not a planner, I am usually a “go with the flow” type of person. I prefer my life to be spontaneous and a little less structured but after having Bryce last year, I’ve learned that some parts of my life need to be structured and organized for us to all live happily and sane!
Over the past year, I’ve been changing the way we do things around the house to make things work better. Both my husband and I work from home and Bryce stays with us all day so naturally, it’s a bit chaotic around here. Bryce has a lot of classes and fun events throughout the week that are set in stone but for the most part our lives are lived on a whim. We trade off who works and who watches Bryce and when he goes down for his naps, we both hustle and get as much done as possible. Other than Bryce’s classes there is one thing that doesn’t change each week and it’s the way we do meals.
Meal time used to always be a struggle for us. We would ask each other “what do you want to eat?” and like most couples the question would never get answered. It’s probably the most frustrating question in marriage but I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to be when you start to plan your meals. Meal planning has changed the way we do things for the better. Not only am I saving money because I know exactly what we will be eating but we eat healthier and we never have to bicker about what’s for lunch or dinner.
While meal planning doesn’t seem too difficult a lot goes into it. It’s not just writing down a couple meals and being done – I coordinate our schedules for the week, choose what we will eat each night, shop deals, make a comprehensive list for every meal and snacks, and grocery shop. This doesn’t include the actual cooking! I have a few products and services that I use to make sure all goes smooth during the week that I’m sharing below.
Shipt Grocery Delivery
Learning to let go and let others help has been a huge hurdle that I have had to overcome. Before Bryce, I could do it all myself. I was able to grocery shop, do the laundry, cook meals, get work completed and keep the house clean. After throwing a crazy toddler in the mix, it just can’t all be done without help. Something has got to give and I’ve learned that I can easily hire out of a lot of the things I stress about, like groceries. I used Shipt Grocery Delivery and was blown away. It was as simple as 1, 2, 3. I placed an order online through their website, selected the time I wanted my groceries delivered and within hours everything that I had ordered were delivered to me at my house.
I received a text message from my shopper when she began shopping, then she texted me throughout the store if one of the products I wanted wasn’t available. I even received texts asking if I forgot anything or if I wanted to add anything to the shopping trip. It was such a sigh of relief to have the help. I didn’t have to take my toddler to the store and cause a scene with me chasing him up and down the aisles and I didn’t have to interrupt my husband’s work day to watch Bryce while I ran to the store. It was a win for everybody.
I bought my groceries from Target and we all know how much money we spend every time we go into Target. Those 5 grocery items that you need turn into you buying a whole new bedroom set for your guest bedroom. I saved money by using Shipt and will continue to use it. I couldn’t be more happy with the services. They’ve graciously given me a link for you to use when signing up that will give you a $49 annual enrollment rate!
Sign up here: https://signup.shipt.com/?membership_code=true&gift_code=K6BB92C54A1
Healthy Snacks from MadeGood
Snacks are essential to get through the day whether I’m looking for a healthy snack to get me through the day or something to give my toddler to keep him happy and fulfilled. I like to keep snacks handy that are easy to grab and go. We seem to always be on the move so having snacks that I’m able to keep in the car or in my purse makes me extra happy. We discovered MadeGood snacks that organic, gluten-free and non-GMO project verified but they are made in a facility free from the 8 common allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, dairy, egg, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. Bryce doesn’t have allergies but I am cautious about others who do have allergies. We’re around a lot of other little kids and the last thing I want is Bryce to accidentally cause any issues for them.
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MadeGood has all types of treats that kids (and adults) of all ages love – healthy granola bars, granola minis, crispy squares, and soft baked cookies. I love that these snacks can be used at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I’ll give the granola to Bryce in the morning and let him have cookies at dinner. I love being able to provide healthy snacks for Bryce. MadeGood can be found online and many of your local grocers.
Find a list of everywhere they are sold here: http://bit.ly/2M5usJc
Order Grass Fed Meat Online
We try our best to make a conscious decision in our house to eat healthy and whole. We don’t buy much junk food and stick to as much organic as possible. One problem I have run into often is that not all grocery stores have meat up to our standards and I end up buying meat that is less than mediocre. I usually try to buy in bulk when possible so I always have what I need on hand and because you never know what you’re going to find at the store. I discovered Eat Pre which has solved all of my meat issues.
All Pre beef is grass fed and finished, sourced from nutrient- rich pastures and raised with care, with no added antibiotics and no added hormones. I love not having to worry about I’m buying. All Pre meat that we’ve eaten has been amazing. My husband has devoured each steak cooked. I tried his filet mignon and it was able to be cut with a fork and melted in my mouth.
Pre is a great way to budget and know what type of meat you are receiving. I love that you order online exactly what you want and have it delivered to your house. I highly suggest checking out the different boxes they are offer, it’s a great way to try new meats and discover what Pre is all about.
Right now Pre is offering a couple great deals that you don’t want to miss. Use code BTS40 at www.eatpre.com for 40% off 85 and 80 lean ground beef. (Code expires 9/21) In addition to the BTS code, Pre is offering 10% off right now through October 31st when you use code DALLASSOCIALS.
Make Meals Easier By Adding Lundberg Rice & Quinoa
Growing up, we had rice as a side dish with every single meal at home. My father is from Japan and rice is a staple in all of the food we ate. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve passed the tradition on to my family. Most meals we have include rice, it’s a great side dish that can also be a main dish if prepared correctly. We eat Lundberg Rice because it’s easy to prepare, full of flavor and they are vegan-friendly, USDA Organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free verified.
Lundberg has lots of great flavors that you can purchase like cilantro lime rice, vegetable fried rice, thai red curry and more! The rice only takes 20 minutes to make and it doesn’t require a lot of work. All you do is boil water and rice and let simmer for 20 minutes and you’re done. We stock up on these and eat them with a majority of our meals.
Find more info about Lundberg and a whole list of their products here: http://www.lundberg.com/products/entrees-sides/
These are simple ways that I’m helping bring sanity back to meal time. Being able to order food and have it delivered to us or keeping our favorite healthy snacks in stock make all the difference in keeping our family happy. What tips or tricks do you have for meal time?
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