Heather Cofer

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My Top Five Meal Planning Tips

27 Feb

During the first two years of marriage, I didn’t really have a game plan for meals. I pretty much made the same five meals over and over again. I’m someone who likes my “ruts,” and I don’t mind eating the same things a hundred times. I like it, so why change? Another problem I was running into was that a lot of food was going to waste. I would go to the store with my favorite ingredients in mind, but then I’d come home and forget what I was going to use the peppers for… or I would realize that I had forgotten a key ingredient, so I’d have to try a different recipe entirely. Because I didn’t have a good plan in place, it became more of a burden to prepare meals than a joy. And, even for my “same old, same old”-loving self, I must admit I was starting to get a little tired of the meals, too.

My husband, however, is not so much like that. He loves trying new things and loves variety. He very kindly ate the dishes that I prepared, being sensitive to my transition into wifehood and then motherhood. But one day when our firstborn was a few months old, he gently and lightheartedly brought up the subject. “So, I was thinking… it might be fun to try some new meals!” I could tell he was being very sensitive, but I still found myself becoming overwhelmed at the idea. “It’s so hard to pick new meals,” I said. “I don’t know if you’ll like it, and I don’t know if I’ll have all the ingredients, and then if there’s something in the recipe I can’t eat (I was off of both gluten and dairy at the time) I might not be able to modify it.” 

He thought for a moment and said, “What if I pick some meals?” Oh my, I knew he had hit upon something brilliant! He’s naturally a planner, and I’m naturally an executor, so I knew we work well as a team in that regard. And thus began our adventure into the joy of intentional meal planning. 

I tell you what, this has been a massive game-changer for me. I (usually) no longer get stressed about meals, we waste far less food, and I’ve introduced so many new and delicious meals into my repertoire. Although it’s changed slightly over the years depending on our season of life, these have generally stayed the same for the past six years or so. What’s worked for us may not be exactly what works for you, but I hope it will at least spark some ideas to help you diminish stress and increase enjoyment around food preparation. 

1. Plan Weekly Meals

I usually do my grocery shopping on Saturday, and beforehand I take the time to lay out each of my meals for the week. I try to “wing it” as little as possible so that I don’t find that I’m forgetting something important. I look at the ingredient list for each meal and write my shopping list at the same time. I usually make 4 meals/week, and on the other three evenings we eat leftovers. This means that I have three longer afternoons to catch up on laundry or clean bathrooms or have a friend over with her kiddos. 

For lunches, I try to keep it very simple by keeping lunch meat, fruit, cheese, carrots, etc. on hand so that I don’t really need to put a lot of thought into them and can get them on plates quickly. 

2. Go Shopping Once per Week

Generally I make one grocery trip/week. I know this doesn’t work for everyone, depending on the size of their family or how much they can fit in their fridge or pantry. But having as few shopping trips as possible creates much more time in the schedule, and it helps me be more thorough in my list-making so I’ll get everything that first time. Sure, there are the occasions when I forgot to grab toilet paper or we have unexpected guests and I need to run out again. But these don’t happen as often as they used to, and it most definitely helps me plan more carefully so I’m not forgetting as many items. 

3. Keep Staples On Hand

I’ve learned from experience that meals don’t always go as planned. Sometimes there aren’t enough leftovers for another dinner. Sometimes there are unexpected guests. Sometimes the meat spoils. Sometimes I need to bake something for an impromptu get-together. So, I’ve learned to keep certain items on hand that can either be frozen or are non-perishable. Meat and certain vegetables can be frozen and pulled out when a meal needs to be stretched. I always try to keep gluten-free flour, coconut sugar, chocolate chips, etc. in the pantry. Rice is another great one. I can’t be prepared for every single scenario, but I can be prepared for some! 

4. Use A grocery pickup service

Now, this one has only come ‘round the past year or so, but it has been an absolute lifesaver! I was a little skeptical at first, but was sold the first time we tried this. It cuts down on time, it’s super efficient, and it saves us money (because I’m not tempted by all the other “needs” that catch my eye as I walk through the store). I can put an item in my virtual cart as I’m looking at the recipe I’m going to make. It’s an incredible help for those with little kids or who are short on time. We have a King Soopers a few minutes away (a branch of Kroger), and this is what we use. Walmart also offers this, as well as a few other stores. 

5. Collaborate

As I mentioned earlier, when my husband started picking meals for me it helped relieve a lot of stress. Some husbands may not be as eager as Judah was to pick meals, but you can also glean a lot of meal ideas and prep tips from friends. If you’re not sure where to start in meal planning, ask a friend or older woman who is skilled in that to help you. I know some women who enjoy doing freezer meals, and will get together and chop their veggies while they chat. Collaboration can go such a long way in adding excitement and inspiration to meal planning. 

—————

Well, there you have it! My top five meal planning tips.

On a final note, I want to encourage all of us to bring God into this process of preparing food, asking Him for wisdom and perseverance and creativity. Consuming food is a necessity, but He is the one who created it with diverse flavors and ways it can be paired and prepared. As we seek to love and serve our families and those who enter our homes well, we’ll be bringing glory to Him and He will increase our joy in this daily task.

In Him,

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Olivia G says

    February 28, 2020 at 3:35 am

    Thanks for the wonderful, practical words of encouragement! I agree, the weeks I have put in the time to plan several meals and make better shopping lists, the less stressful meal times are :). Be blessed!!!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      March 3, 2020 at 4:44 am

      You’re very welcome! So glad you find these things helpful in your life, too.

      Reply
  2. lucretia Oden says

    April 14, 2020 at 11:52 am

    Hello, I ran across you site an I read your article. I’m so pleased to hear when families meals are planned out. It has HELPED me for years. I have 5 biological grown children and not one of them use the meal plan to this day . They STRESS themselves out when it come to meal planning!! I visit my one daughter and I try to explain to her how MP can SAVE her TIME & MONEY , she just wont follow the plan. However, it WORKS for me and my husband. I agree about having time to do other things when Leftovers day come . God bless you , I really enjoy your article ?

    Reply
    • Heather says

      April 17, 2020 at 12:22 am

      That’s so neat that meal planning has worked for you, too! God bless!

      Reply

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As I watch the happenings in this world I have an As I watch the happenings in this world I have an ever-increasing ache—a yearning—to be known first and foremost by my allegiance to Jesus Christ.

As I read headlines, hot takes, opinions, debates between fellow believers—praying and seeking to learn and discern—I’m more certain than ever that being a Christian frees us from being defined by or confined to earthly labels in our stances on any given issue. We’re free to champion what God champions, to despise what God despises regardless of how it might be viewed by those around us or what political lines it might cross. We’re free to love those who differ from us, and yes, even free to love those who do us wrong. 

I have strong opinions and thoughts about certain issues—no doubt about it. I disagree with certain thoughts or opinions fellow believers hold. But what I want those brothers and sisters to know about me *first* is that I love them, not how I might disagree with them. Yes, there’s a place to discuss, to sharpen one another, to exhort and encourage, to warn and even to rebuke at times when we see fellow believers straying from Christ. But the world is supposed to know us by our love for each other, not our debates and conflicts. This should temper the “what,” “how,” and “when” of every conversation. 

Some of us are called to stand more publicly against certain evils and injustices than others. We should expect the best of those who aren’t doing or saying exactly what we’re doing or saying (*especially* if we’re defining them by their lack of words on social media. There are faithful Christians who will never say a word about current issues online, but are obeying in word and deed in their in-person spheres). That said, this should *never* be used as an excuse to neglect the actions and words that every Christ-follower must be marked by according to Scripture. And when we find ourselves hesitating to obey any of God’s commands due to another allegiance something needs to change.

Lord, may your people be defined not by causes, but by Christ; not by worldly labels, but by you alone.
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#lookingtoJesus #thegospelchangeseverything #Christcenteredwomanhood
I’ve been thinking about my little fuchsia plant I’ve been thinking about my little fuchsia plant the past few days. I snipped and propagated it from a stunning outdoor hanging plant we had a couple years ago after it scorched in the intense CO sun. After weeks of daily watching I finally saw the roots appear, and replanted it. Fuchsia is special to me, because it’s one of the plants that beautified our windowsills in Mongolia throughout our years there. I love having one in our home.

Recently, though, did a little trimming of this plant. I noticed there were a couple of overly flourishing sprigs; they were so long they were keeping the little plant from filling out. So, as much as I hated to do it, I clipped them off. To my delight, brand new leaves began appearing within days all over the plant.

Why has this been on my mind?  Because it reminded me that sometimes—in order for us to flourish—we need to clip back areas in our lives that are zapping growth. It’s often a painful decision, because they’re usually pastimes or vocations we love. But we know in order to direct time and energy toward our God-given priorities we need to do a little clipping of those gangly offshoots. Although we feel bare for a time, it doesn’t take long for the evidence of growth and life to show itself where it was much needed. 

And guess what? Those clipped offshoots are sitting in a jar in the kitchen, waiting to sprout new roots. They aren’t gone forever, just being prepped to produce life rather than zap it. Sometimes branches do need to be clipped and tossed. Other times they just need to be propagated—waiting for new roots to grow so they can grow and flourish at the right time in the right way.

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2
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#lookingtoJesus #plants #Christcenteredwomanhood #fuchsia #ponderings #lessonseverywhere
//Well, it’s all an adventure That comes with a //Well, it’s all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking a tightrope
With you//

The incredible @frostedphotographer took some headshots for us, and she said, “Do you want to snap a few together?” Yes, please. 😍😍😍

Forever thankful for the gift of a life adventure with this man.
//Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Su //Summer and winter and
springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their
courses above,
Join with all nature in 
manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness,
mercy, and love//
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#greatisthyfaithfulness #lookingtoJesus #springtime
“Being like Jesus” will never contradict the r “Being like Jesus” will never contradict the rest of Scripture.

Several times as of late I’ve read or heard examples of people using stories of Jesus from the gospels to back up an argument about accepting sin of some kind. They say that if His followers are going to be like Him they need to follow His example—His example by their interpretation, that is.

But the narratives told of Jesus in the Gospels will *never* contradict the specific commands Christ-followers are given in the rest of the New Testament. Jesus never justified a sin we’re commanded to repent of. A sinful attitude never laced His words, no matter how matter-of-fact His rebukes were. Jesus is the Word made flesh. He will never go against His character or commands for His people.

We can be hard-line on sin while being gentle and kind. We can show compassion without compromising truth. We can be loving while holding fast to biblical convictions. We can, and we must.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Changing Him in any way for our own gain—whether that’s for fleshly gratification or out of fear of others—is making a Jesus in our image. This is a Jesus who cannot save. 

But we have a Jesus who *can* save, who needs no re-making. May we, by His grace, be ever-conforming to Him.
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#lookingtoJesus #Christcenteredwomanhood #Christcenteredliving #truth #love #Jesusislife
“Only God Himself fully appreciates the influenc “Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children.” 
-Billy Graham

I know without a doubt this is true of my mom. This side of heaven I’ll have no idea what depths her godly influence and faithfulness has had upon me as a wife, mom, and woman in any sphere. I will never forget her telling us, “I’m so thankful I get to spend my days with you.” To have the assurance we were loved and enjoyed on top of all she did for our physical needs was a priceless gift. And, as I prepared to enter into adulthood she not only mentored me, but invited me into friendship with her. There aren’t words to sum up that kind of honor.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. Thank you for being willing to love and follow Jesus in whatever He’s asked of you. There is nothing greater you could’ve given to us. I love you.
“My frame was not hidden from you, when I was be “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:15-16

At the end of every baby book I make for my kids I include a picture of their ultrasound next to a picture of them at a year old. I want them to have no doubt that they have been loved dearly from the moment we found out about them, before we could see them with our own eyes. I want them to know that their lives are gifts, and always have been. I want them to know that every bit of morning sickness, every ache and pain, every labor and delivery, every sleepless night, every urgent care trip, every tear shed, every penny spent, every pursuit that’s been put on hold, every extra mess, every lingering effect on my body are beyond worth it for the privilege of being their mama. For the kiddos who were a surprise to us, I want them to know God knew infinitely better than we did the timing for another child, filling our lives with delight. I want to combat any lie that the enemy and the world that would tell them they’re an inconvenience, a hindrance, a “Plan B,” with assurances of my love and—more importantly—God’s love and perfect plan for them.

I want my children to know I wouldn’t trade them for any career, any worldly accolades, any convenience, any fortune, any temporary ease. They have been used by God as tools to reveal and root out sin, to flood my weakness with the grace of God, to increase my joy. 

On this Mother’s Day weekend, I just want to say: thank you, Lord, for the undeserved gift of my children.
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#gratefulmama #mothersday #childrenareagift #fearfullyandwonderfullymade
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