Simplify Your Life with Meal Planning | How to Reduce Food Waste + Save Money, Time, & Energy
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- I get a lot of questions about what I eat in a day as a MINIMALIST MOM, so here's an entire day of realistic and easy recipes that I made for our family. Along with talking about what we eat in a week, I'm also sharing some meal planning tips and ideas to simplify your cooking routine. There are Korean recipes, recipes for picky eaters, and even a simple smoothie recipe that everyone will enjoy! Bon or guten appetit, and hope you enjoy (and let me know if you'd like to see more videos like this!)
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Which recipe was your favorite? Please like + subscribe if you haven't already, and comment below with MEAL PLAN if you want to see how I meal plan + more tips and videos like this. 😊
Where did you get your boys' lunch boxes??! Love them
The refried rice is my favorite. Meal plan please. My child also likes your lunch boxes.
@@kr6484There's a link under favorite products.
I think the one where you refried the rice. I love a good leftover meal out of leftovers. Smart.
Meal plan please 😊
I would love to see a weekly meal plan from you. I really like recipes you have shared in the past with an asian flare.
Yes- and a grocery haul to go with.
One thing I appreciated it was the minimal amount of food in your refrigerator. I am still learning to keep a manageable amount of food items so we can waste less and eat all the food we have at home while it’s fresh. Team creamy!
Hello brittany
Meal plan!
Also, if I may suggest: I was always told never to boil your veggies but rather, steam them, to keep the nutrients rather than lose them in the boiling water.
MEAL PLAN ❤
marissa, you are such a dynamo. a delightful person, a great mommy & a wonderful spouse. you've pulled off the trifecta, in spite of your challenging beginnings. you are my personal hero.
you are thriving.
i'm so lucky i found you
Definitely MEAL PLAN!
My favorite recipe was the smoothie. And I'm team crunchy :)
Loved the "Guten Appetit" moment! Greetings from Germany♥
Homemade frozen waffles are a staple in our home. I love peanut butter on my waffles, I put banana on them. When I had kids at home, I always would make two casseroles and freeze one for another day. Now that there's just two of us, I freeze the leftovers in two people portions instead.
I also freeze meatballs and when I get ground meat on sale, I will brown several pounds, put in freezer bags, and have ready for fast meals.
Hello Theresa
I'm team crunchy, all the way. I'm also diabetic, so I build protein into my low-carb waffles (low carb flour plus blenderized cottage cheese plus protein powder) so each waffle is only 10 grams of carbs and 30 grams of protein. I bake up a huge batch, and eat them for several weeks. Super healthy for me and yummy with sugar-free fruit syrup! TIP for sneaking vegetables into your kids: puree veggies for soup. Mild flavored squash and roasted radishes (which lose their spicy bite when roasted) were thickeners in many soups and casseroles. My kids ate pureed veggies incorporated into chili and enjoyed Mac 'n cheese that was about one-third pureed butternut squash. Most of the time, it's not the flavor kids object to, it's the texture. So I incorporated colorful veggies in disguise into virtually every meal. When it's obviously veggies (a breakfast frittata, for instance) I minced the veggies quite small and had success with that, too.
Great idea for diabetic friendly waffles!
I made 4 different 7 day meal plans week a,b,c,d complete with a shopping list. So the meals only cycle around every 4 weeks, you only have to do it once and it will save you so many hours through the week
Omg, love this idea. I'm going to try this today.
Yes meal plan for sure. I'd also love to see your asian stir fries. Yum yum.
❤ Loved this video showing your meal making and family! so interesting! meal plan video please ❤
Hello Elizabeth
Meal plan 😊 please and thank you. All the recipes look delicious 🤤
Meal plan would be lovely thanks. I have some dietary needs so I can't say I will be able to eat all of it but I would love to try.
Yes MEAL PLAN! Because of the smell, I've never tried Kimchi - you made me want to try it at least with rice. haha. You do wonderful things for being prepared ahead of time. I find I'm more inclined to want to cook and prep early in the day. Once evening has arrived, cooking an entire dinner from scratch (I never eat out) is daunting. When I have foods fully or even partially prepared, it's a much nicer experience to cook an evening meal. Thanks for the video!
Meal plan, yes please. It looks all so delicious. I will try the spinach-banana-smoothie. 😍🥰 Hugs from Vienna (Austria) Sabine
Hello sabine
Crunchy hands down! Meal plan please. ❤
Hello susan
I can’t wait to try both the peanut butter and maple syrup waffle and the spinach and banana smoothie. I live alone and modified my meal rotation. This weekend I made two casseroles, put them in the refrigerator. The next morning I divided them into single serving portions for the freezer. Along with the other things in the freezer, I have easy meals that I like. My next big project is to purge my pantry of things that I don’t intend to use, including spices that I bought for recipes that I never made. Your menu plans are thoughtful, nutritious and your presentation is beautiful.
MEAL PLAN yes! Thank you for sharing! This gives me some good ideas. I always admire people who are organized enough to do weekly meal plans, freeze extra, and not resort to takeout and processed snacks all the time. For some reason, our family really struggles with meal planning and finding things we want to eat that we aren’t either sick of or too lazy to make. You make it look easy!
This doesn’t come naturally to me, you can 100% learn to do this yourself with time, patience, and practice. 👏👏👏
I am really impressed with how clean your freezer is. Mine does not look like that. :) Do you just fill it as needed?
Yes, because we tend to go through leftovers quickly and I rarely buy frozen foods!
Meal Plan.
Very interested in seeing healthy simplified meals. Looks delicious. Thanks. 😊
I too found that my morning coffee was spiking my anxiety, so switched to decaf and haven’t looked back. Your decision to switch to black tea also reduced your caffeine intake. Per ChatGPT: On average, one cup of black tea contains about 30-50 milligrams of caffeine, while one cup of coffee typically has around 95 milligrams.
Yes, and I was also drinking too many cups - lesson learned!
I love that your meals are kid-friendly but not just chicken nuggets and tater tots.
I’m a fan of SMOOCHIE peanut butter. We have a half smooth half crunchie peanut butter here in Australia.
I'm currently trying to break out of a cooking slump so I may have to give a couple of these a try.
Same! 🎉
Double-batching was something I learned from my mom. I cook only 2-4 times a week, and do some meal prepping on Saturday, and we eat home cooked meals all week. Saves so much in both time and money.
Meal plan- also, roasting veggies is so good and easy.
Meal plan..I will be trying the Kimchee Rice. It's almond butter for me for health reasons. Smooth peanut butter gives me problems..although I used to love it.
Sunflower butter is my go to ;) also discovered Nocciola (pure hazelnut butter- so yummy!).
Would love to see your meal planning. Thank you! 😊
Thank you Marissa. You have given me inspiration to make an effort to eat healthier. I live alone so it’s hard to get motivated when you are tired in the evening. I would love to see some more cookery videos. You always cheer me up!
Meal plan please. Love your recipes
I’d love it if you’d share your meal plan! You are a highlight in my day! You are very calm, happy, sweet, open, loving and so much more! Thank you for all you do!
I think my favorite is lemon chicken and orzo, and of course the smoothie ❤
Hello gloria
I hosted 3 Italian exchange students & they all showed me their ways to make a simple sauces with plain tomato sauce and a few seasonings. I bought jarred sauce years ago before my hosting gigs.
I have only ever seen my sister-in-law put peanut butter on waffles. You are the second person I have seen do this. I am a crunchy peanut butter lover!!! Mmm mm! My husband likes crunchy too (makes it easy). Unfortunately our second child is allergic :( so sad. Love the stir fry rice recipe. I like to reuse my rice mixed with eggs and sweet chili sauce!
What a great healthy dinner you made. Looks great. I love that the garlic picks up some of the flavor from the chicken paprika mix too. I don't mind long videos. I watch some videos that are 40-60 minutes long (though at 2x speed. haha).
Hello Victoria
As ive gotten older I don't like peanut butter but in a reesescup. I don't eat Asian food as I was not raised with it and it has eggs which I'm allergic. I am curious about kimchi with rice. Thanks for sharing and yes interested in meal pla
Hello karen
Love your videos. Your candor is refreshing. MEAL PLAN, please.
Yes to panko in meatballs! It seems to make them softer. I make them with ground turkey, egg, lemon juice and zest, grated parmesan, onion or garlic and whatever vegetable (ground in my Cuisinart mini food processor) needs to be used up. Bake on parchment paper, turning once. They are kid magnets.
Everything looks so yummy! I would recommend not using olive oil for cooking and only as salad dressing. I use either grapeseed or avocado oil. You can always do some research to figured out what your preference is.
Yes, meal plan, please. 😊 Great video!! Such a cute family, Marissa!!
I am the only one in my family that prefers the crunchy peanut butter. Crunchy is one of my favorite textures!
Meal Plan! I just made your Lemon Pepper Chicken Orzo, and it was easy to make and tasted great. Thank you!
Meal plan! I want to see more of this please. Ty.
Hello toni
You brit posh cup of tea bit made me laugh, haha. Loved seeing your meals, Marissa! ☺
Meal plan! Never too much inspo on that! Thank you
Hello there
Love your authenticity 🥰
Thanks so much 😉
All the recipes looked so good!I really want to try kimchi.
Crunchy! And I add Chia seeds.😋
MEAL PLAN.
Looks awesome.
Love the smoothy, I usely put bananas and frozen berries with milk and it's yummy and guilt free😊
Sorry I'm creamy team, hubby likes the crunchy.
Meal plan, please. I think you do a really good job of thoughtfully using up ingredients in other meals, instead of thinking of each meal as a discrete unit. I'm interested in seeing the weekly plan as a whole.
Hello Renee
Crunchy crunchy crunchy!
I will try those waffles "à la A to zen!" Looks delicious
Hello carmen
Thanks for the video! I'd love to see more meal plans in the future : )
Yes, please show us your meal planning. I'm always looking for great and easy recipes that can be made and enough for leftovers. Most week nights after work, I like to just reheat dinner and relax.
Meal plan! You make everything look easy!
I’m not a natural at this, so it’s definitely a skill that can be developed!
please do more of these ~ love your recipes!
Hello jeanne
Meal plan!!!
Thanks for your video. Crunchy peanut butter all the way need the crunch
Love to see how you do meal planning .
I totally get making sure my kids get their fruits/veggies before myself
I enjoyed this video and would love to see more. Meal plan!
Hello tara
Meal planning ❤❤❤❤❤
Yes, meal plan, please! 🤩
Definitely crunchy peanut butter! Kim chee rice looks interesting. Would like to see a neal plan. Thanks!
Meal plan! I need to learn more recipes!
Great idea about tea. I have depression soooo I’m doing tea and seeing how I feel thank you
Meal Plan! Also, do you not drink anything with your meals? Thank you so much for these ideas! ❤
1. Meal plan please
2. I liked the smoothy - and the meat balls - and the pasta and chicken.
3. Crunchy!!!!!
Meal plans! Ty for your wonderful videos & I would love to see more meal plans!
It all looks so yummy! Bring on more meal planning and WIEIAD videos! I am especially interested in more info on how you overcame binge eating and lost weight eating normal foods. Thanks!
Meal plan ❤❤❤
Meal planning involve around many things. Choosing your protein, vegetable, and carb of choice. Cooking sheet pan or one pot meals? Marinade protein and/or bake mini muffins just to freeze for later? Should the meal revolve around what you currently have in your pantry, or whatever item is currently on sale at the grocery store? Etc and etc. Lots of options to branch off of.
I am an ALL peanut butter person, and almond butter, and mixed butter. Thank you for this! And I'd love to see more meal plan videos. Thanks again!
Meal Plan would be great!
Meal plan
Love this style of video.
Love the spinach in the smoothie! I have two little boys and we do the same thing. They call them Hulk smoothies! They love that it’s green. 🤣
meal plan , love this👍🏻
Smooth peanut butter gal but I dabble with crunchy every once in awhile to switch things up. My go to breakfast is whole grain toast with creamy peanut butter and a drizzle of honey.
I would love to see your plan process!
Great video Marissa!
My partner is anaphylactic to sesame so no seeds/oil for her but the meatballs and rice looks delicious.
Ty for sharing ❤ very helpful tips 🌸 also you are so sweet. I really enjoy watching your videos
Meal Plan pleeease! Love these recipes! You just helped me plan some meals for this week. Thank you! 😊
I really enjoyed the cooking, thanks! Gave me some great new ideas. I'm also in a mixed household, I say that my husband is CroAsian (Croatian + Asian) after being together for so long and having lived in Taiwan for a few years so it's great to see how you've mixed cultures in your food like we do. :) 'Meal Plan'
I love meal planning and meal prep. It saves time and money and helps eating healthy and stay on track plus never to worry WFD (what's for dinner) since it us already planned and prepped.
Would love to see some of your tips & tricks
Hello Claudia
Crunchy! I also use maple syrup in a jug…I use it in my oatmeal, also put some on my blueberries in my yogurt..
Would love to see your meal plan. Great video!
Great video, would love to see more. Can you maybe do a video where you cook something out of for example a can of beans you didn't touch for 2 months? From stuff you might have bought by mistake/spur of a moment?
Kid friendly meal plans👍👍
Crunchy peanut butter for overnight oats. Smooth peanut butter for toast or Asian peanut sauce (Summer rolls or peanut noodle stir fry).
Meal plan ❤❤❤I do enjoy your video's so much. Thank you for sharing. With regards, Lily
Team Crunchy and team decaf 👍🏻
Yes to more meal planning 😁
Yes, please, Meal plan.❤❤❤
Yes to crunchy peanut butter! Or even better Fix and Fogg Super Crunchy!!! Also what do your boys have for breakfast? And im keen for a very easy meal plan which has lots of vegetarian recipes! I have a couole of meals i make but need more, especially the tasty types of food you make.
I love smooth peanut butter, is the best !!! MEAL PLAN 🙂!!! Greetings from Spain
I'll eat crunchy or smooth peanut butter. I tend to get smooth more but either works for me. I love adding peanut butter to pancakes or waffles too. Even muffins for quick protein. I'm really into meal planning atm.
I'd definitely be interested to see your meal plan. I want to add more veggie variety to our meals as well.
Meal plan ❤🎉
Yes it would be great if you put your smoothie recipe on your food blog. AND I love the name “squirrels of a feather” ?
Hahaha, thank you!
I love your channel as it is so much more relatable than the others of this kind. And I would love to see some more food related videos like this one. It would be nice if when you use some american ingredients you could maybe mention some substitutes available in Germany. That would be extremely helpful 😊
I love your approach to everything. So simple but so beautiful ❤️
Love your video. Please more cooking videos. Thank you for sharing your meals with us ❤.
Thanks for watching and take care!