If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it.

That's it. I'm done.

I am not an Org Junkie, and I cannot stick to a meal plan.

I posted on a message board last week, that I had an epiphany about why I cannot follow my own plans.

I am a huge proponent of fresh ingredients, and I love improvising. That's probably my FAVORITE thing aboUt cooking. I can't do that if I'm working off of a plan. I prefer to grab what sounds good, and make something rad out of what I have fresh right away. That's probably why I do fairly well playing at vegetarian.

I mean, what's the point of a meal plan? To ensure that you use what you have, to have a better handle on your budget? To not be scrambling wondering what you have for dinner?

Well, it's not really an issue. I don't generally run out to the store OR eat out if I'm missing something. I use what I have on hand. So... the end result is the same, right? Why fight myself into doing something that I don't wanna, when I reach the goal just the same?

So I'm not. I'm not menu planning, for a week, any more. I am free! If it works for you, great, please keep doing it. It just isn't my thing.

Instead, I'm gonna try to keep a daily food diary... hopefully it will confirm what I am thinking... that I eat from already owned items. Hopefully. Who knows. Maybe I'll do this and it'll be awful, and I failed. At least I'll get a kick in the ass.

Today's dinner is planned already - roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and some salad or something. Today - check!

Meal Plan Monday!

I am giving this (another) shot... but (hopefully) giving myself enough wiggle room to be comfortable... I'll probably switch some of this up, and trade days, so.. I guess really, it's more like "Stuff I'll Make For Dinner Sometime This Week".

Monday - Pasta Carbonara
Tuesday - Roast chicken
Wednesday - Chicken Tacos
Thursday - Hamburgers
Friday - Pizza (homemade)
Saturday - Kids' Pick night, probably something Japanese
Sunday - no plan

#1 picked up a Japanese cookbook at the library this weekend, and she's dying to try it out, so we have plans Saturday to go for sushi, hit up the Japanese market, and let her make dinner.

Sometimes, I really wish I could get better at sticking to menu plans... But then I consider this, and... really, I don't run to the store all willy-nilly to pick up stuff; I tend to make do with what I have. My grocery budget is probably under $75 for 5 people - I'm pleased with that. We have one staple item that we use pre-made (H cannot let go of his Aunt Jemima Complete pancake mix), but everything else is homemade. I'm going to call us... above average. And, also, humble.

As always, I'm linking back to OrgJunkie.com, and someday, when I grow up, I can be more like her.