Meal planning and a well stocked pantry

I was asked to do a cooking demonstration and a talk on "a well stocked pantry" at church for a woman's fellowship this past week-end. I really felt I should speak on meal planning as well. Since I know my mom and Gram would like to see this (I'm posting my notes/outline), and I'm also wanting this blog to be an encouragement to other moms I thought I'd post it here. I hope it is able to bless someone that reads it.

*** Yes, I did the whole demo/talk with Miss C on my back. She went to sleep at some point. Miss E was a GREAT help to me when the unexpected came up and Miss J needed some extra help.

Meal planning and a well stocked pantry

- Being a military family we tend to have military type sayings around our house; one of them is

"Failing to plan is planning to fail"

Meal times can be rough. We're all getting hungry and just want to eat. Kids can be edgy and seem to be in need of extra attention while we're trying to figure out what to make. OR we find ourselves grazing on junk only to realize we should be making dinner (but what?).

Obviously there are many merits to any mom planning meals, let alone a mom of 6, but I think EVERY woman should have a meal plan.

-Many don't plan for various reasons

"I'm not a planner"

"There are only 1 or 2 of us"

"I don't know where to start"

-Lets start by looking at the word of God

I know, you're thinking "what does the Bible say about meal planning?" Not much specifically, but many principals can and should be applied to running our homes, including our kitchens.

-God is a God of order, not chaos

One of the first things God shows us in Genesis is that He does things in an orderly fashion with creation, building one day at a time.

He also had a "back -up plan"- He knew Adam and Eve would need it- We need back up plans too!

-Proverbs 31 woman

She did A LOT! Who can find such a woman?

She gets up while it is still night, provides food for her family and servants, buys land, sells & shoppes wisely, spins wool and flax, serves others in need, provides clothing for herself and family, keeps lamps filled so they will not go out in the night, she is wise and happy and is not idle. And those are just some examples of what she does!

With all that she was doing, do you think she was just winging it? Or maybe she had some sort of plan, even if it was just in her head, from repetition, and good training.

*Of note*** She had help! She had servants! We often see that and think we don't have that help, so we can't do all of that. You do have help! You have things she did not! You have electricity, washer/dryer, stores, cars, fridge/freezer, crockpot, kids, and more! Use them! Lets be good stewards of what God has given us! Lets also remember that God had given us our homes to run, and our responsibilities need to be fulfilled there before we are venturing out for other obligations.

-Don't be a slave to your plan

Sometimes we can let our plans hold us captive and let it rule us. That feeling can often get in the way of wanting to make a plan.

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course; but the LORD determines his steps.

Use your plan to help you do what God has planned for you. Your plan needs to work for you, if something comes up look at your plan. See what you can change around to make things work. Think ahead. Plan simple meals or crock pot meals for those busy days you know are coming up.

Meal planning examples

There are many ways to plan meals and can be as simple or as detailed as you want. Make it work for you.

Week at a time

Month at a time

List of meals that you have everything available to make

-I use a calendar that Miss E makes for me every year. I tend to go between week at a time and month at a time planning. Though when my freezer is stocked I'll often have a list of what is in there. Whatever works at the time, depending on what we've got going on.

Being prepared thinking ahead

Matthew 25 1-13 is the parable of the 10 virgins. The 5 prepared with extra oil go with the Bride groom when he comes later than expected. 5 have to go back for more oil and are shut out. We know this is speaking to end times when Jesus comes back, and being prepared for that. We can apply it to our homes as well though. We need to be prepared, we need to be able to serve our families and others. What good works do we miss out on because we are not prepared?

A well stocked pantry will help you.....

when your plans fall through (you have extra to fall back on)

When you have guests (you are able to serve, and can supplement your planned meal)

Save money (stock up on sales, and avoid extra trips out)

When life gets too crazy to plan or go shopping (you can pull something together from your panty)

improvise (or not have to)

Since part of planning and being prepared in the kitchen requires that you be fairly comfortable IN your kitchen I wanted to touch on Titus 2; 2-5

It speaks to having the older women teaching the younger women to be keepers of the home (among other things), and that includes the kitchen. So often though, we shoo our daughters and young women out of the kitchen. We need to be brining them in to the kitchen and giving them responsibilities in there daily.

We are loosing the arts and skills in the kitchen (as well as the whole home). Young women these days are not comfortable in the kitchen (or general home making skills). They don't know how to improvise, make substitutions, or "play" with recipes. These skills of providing food and running orderly homes play a big role in blessing our husbands/families in obedience to God.

Obviously I did not get into details about meal planing and a well stocked pantry. These things will be put into practice in different way in each home. Can I answer any questions though?