You know that dreaded question: “What’s for dinner, Mom?” Meghan and Stacie, of the Didn’t I Just Feed You Podcast, wish they could record everyone’s reaction to the name of their show, because can’t we all relate?
Even as food professionals, Meghan and Stacie both struggle with what to feed their kids. They both bonded over getting frustrated (and admittedly, a little petty) over food professionals claiming that it’s just so easy to feed kids and a family. A lot of what they try to do with their podcast is to honor and remember that in every suggestion they give and every topic they choose, not everyone has the same passion for preparing and cooking food.
Some of the episodes of their show include topics about meal planning, meal prep, how to bake with your kids, and their own personal struggles about the division of labor between partners, food apathy (when you’re burnt out on cooking) and how to stay inspired, or even how to get through cooking when you hate it! Their goal is to create an inclusive community, and realize that everyone is doing their best. Doesn’t that sound encouraging?
Meal Planning and Meal Prep
Meal planning is when you look ahead and plan out the meals for the week (this can be done on paper, or on your phone)Meal prep is when you take the plan a little further and either prep everything for the week, or just do a few things that will save you time during the week.
We all have different strengths in these areas. PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS!
When it comes to cooking, make it work for you. You have to enjoy what you’re doing; otherwise you’re eventually going to be miserable. Even the pros get burnt out. You can always shift and adjust your strategy and tactics when it comes to meal planning and prep.
FAVORITE TOOLS
Use grocery delivery
Share the work with your partner
Stacie uses a white board magnet from Amazon that she writes meal ideas on for her husband to start putting things together
Share your grocery list or meal plan in a note on your iPhone (a Google doc or calendar works, too!)
SNACKS
Meghan and Stacie have two full episodes about snacks on their podcast!
Here are their favorite snacks for on-the-go:
Popcorn
Hardboiled eggs
Carrots with ranch
Try high protein, tons of flavor options, like pepperoni
Splurge on individually packed snacks, like hummus.
Grilled cheese
There’s also a subscription box called Snack Riot with healthy snacks!
Cooking during the holidays
The first thing you do is let go of your expectations of what everyone is “supposed” to eat during the holidays. Above all, the holidays are about food joy!
If you need order during the holidays, keep with your plan, but write in “eating out,” and write in the holiday party.
Try to keep most of your meals normal, and then eat all the cheese and cookies at the holiday parties on the weekends.
Feeding a crowd over the holidays
Stacie and Meghan have a whole episode about how to feed a crows.
Concentrate your efforts on 3 – 5 things, and put your energy toward those. Don’t stress about having a dozen different appetizers!
Master the mix of home made and store bought. Combine your show-stoppers with something store bought!
We get vulnerable about food and it gets real. Tune in to hear!
Here are some of Meghan and Stacie’s favorite and most popular episodes:
On feeding yourself first
On the mental load of feeding a family
Meal planning
Meal prep