Have you ever gone through a season in life when meal planning just had to take a back seat? It may be a season in which your family is going through a transition like moving, a job change, surgery, sickness, a season of extra curricular activities or just being busy.

So how do you Meal Plan during different seasons of life? What do you do?

Two weeks ago ALL 3 of my daughters had their tonsils and adenoids out at once. Yes, we have been told by many people that we were crazy. The hardest part about this was the length of recovery and how little food they were allowed to eat. I spent most of my day trying to find something that they could eat and sounded good to them. I went from making mashed potatoes to making noodles. Then grabbing popsicles to ice cream. All day long I felt like I was going back and forth from the kitchen.

So at night when it was time for my husband and I to eat dinner, the last thing I wanted to do was be in the kitchen. The first night we ordered pizza. The second night my mom (Thanks, Mom!) brought us vegetable beef soup. The leftovers from the soup was used for dinners for the following two nights. One night my husband brought Sushi home (which he claims is one of his proud moments- converting me to a sushi eater so much that I now ask him to pick it up on his way home from work) and the following night we both ate whatever odds and ends we could find.

Eventually I got tired of eating semi-nutritious food and just really wanted something healthy and hearty. I made a large pot of Cauliflower Chowder. My girls could eat this if I blended it up really well for them in the blender. We ate on that soup for the next few nights.

Finally after recovering for about a week, I was getting more sleep and felt prepared to start making meals again. Want to know what helped me jump back in? The easiest meal planning strategy ever.

Since I already had meals planned out for the whole month, on the nights when I wanted to cook dinner I could look through this plan and find a meal that I had the ingredients and time to make. Remember, this is only just during a season ( a week or two) when your schedule is off track and meal planning/cooking dinner is just not a priority. I highly recommend trying to stick to your list and making what you have planned on the day you planned it.

 

So what is my recommendation for meal planning through different seasons?

Do what works for you and feel no shame.

• If you need to take a break from meal planning and eat out. Do that.
• If there are people who offer to bring dinner to help your family during difficult seasons. Let them!
• If you had a meal plan in place, but did not use it. Go back and pick one or two recipes to make when you feel up to it.
• If you realize that you have no food in the house and your kids want cereal for dinner get out the bowls and milk. No shame.
• If you need more help, check out my Tips for Meal Planning During Busy Times.

Do you have any tips for meal planning during different seasons of life?

We would love to hear your advice!

Share in the comments below!