Meal Plan like a boss!
When it comes to planning my week, I tend to work backwards and keep things really simple. Before I think about what I’m actually cooking, there are a few steps I always go through first. I’m always thinking ahead, because meals are non-negotiable, right?
I’m a little obsessed when it comes to food prep, breakfast, lunch, dinner, you name it. Honestly, I’m usually thinking about my next meal before I’ve even finished the one I’m eating. Haha!
If there’s anything I can prep ahead to save time, energy, and effort later, I’m all over it. There’s always something happening in our kitchen (lucky it’s both mine and his happy place!).
When it comes to planning, I almost work backwards. Before I’ve even decided what we’re cooking, I take a few key steps first. I’m always thinking ahead , as we have to eat, right?
We’ve become weekly shoppers (I know, sounds wild to some). While we’ll still grab fresh produce when needed, we’ve ditched the big fortnightly shop.
Years ago, we both read The Barefoot Investor, and groceries were one of our biggest spend areas. We’d fill the trolley with what we needed (and wanted), swipe the card, and not think twice. But those top-ups in between? They added up, fast.
These days, we like to think we’re a little more savvy , both with planning and budgeting. ( Thank you Coles Click & Collect)
So before we even set foot in the shops or order online, here’s what we do…
STEP 1
Start by asking yourself: What do I already have in the fridge and pantry?
Challenge yourself to a bit of a MasterChef-style mystery box, we do this all the time to use up leftovers and avoid waste.
It’s the perfect excuse for an end-of-week stir-fry with whatever veggies are still hanging around. Finish off that meat sitting in the freezer, use the taco kit hiding in the back of the pantry, or throw in the fresh herbs you bought for that one recipe last week.
At the end of the day, it’s all money, sitting right there in front of you. No need to spend more. Use what you’ve got first!
Meal Plan!
If you can spare just 30 minutes , whether it’s over a quiet weekend coffee before the household wakes, on a weeknight with no commitments, or during your morning commute. Your future self will absolutely thank you.
I start by looking at my week at a glance, then plan our meals around what’s actually happening.
Side note: For those late nights, think after school care, swimming lessons, meetings, soccer practice (the list is endless!) Keep it simple.
Think slow cooker meals prepped in the morning, a freezer-friendly spag bol from last week, or something you can pop straight into the oven the moment you walk through the door. The less you need to do once you're home, the better.
Lean in on the occasional HelloFresh box, especially in those extra-busy weeks. It’s such a helping hand knowing someone else has done all the planning and prep!
Another favourite of mine? The Dinner Ladies, delicious, ready-made meals delivered to your door. So good for those late nights Click HERE to redeem a cheeky $25 off your first order. You’re welcome!
Whats on the menu meal planner
Step 3
Take a moment to flick through the many cookbooks you probably own, you bought them for a reason! Challenge yourself to try just one new recipe a week. Im currently obsessed with Recipe Tin Eats Tonight cook book, just $29 from Kmart.
It’s so easy to fall into the same old routine with meals, week in and week out. So go on, mix things up a little and bring some fresh flavour to the table!
Step 4
This is where the discipline kicks in. It’s not always easy, but trust me, you’ve got this! Once you’ve planned your meals, jot down exactly what you need to buy. One question we always ask ourselves while shopping now is:
“Do we actually need this this week, or can it wait until next?”
It’s honestly amazing how much we’ve saved just by buying what we need, not what we want.
Top Tip, I will always grab my pantry staples when they’re on sale, if you know you buy the same tinned tomatoes all the time, never pay full price! When they’re on sale, or down to half price as a lot of supermarkets do, grab yourself a few extra, you will save funds down the track.
I love using a gorgeous meal planner to keep things organised, if you're after one too, don’t forget to use the code LISAF10 to get 10% off!
Step 5
Cook Off!!
When I’m in one of those moods, I go all in! It’s pots on every burner and meals coming together at once for a big, productive cook-up day.
I’ll usually cook dinner for that evening in bulk. Even though there are just three of us, someone’s always heading off to work or coming home late, so I make extra for lunches the next day
If it’s a meal that freezes well, even better, it’s one more meal ready to go on those chaotic afternoons. This is me giving a big high-five to my future self!
Meal Prep Like a Pro — Easy Checklist
✔️ Check your fridge + pantry
What do you already have?
→ Channel your inner MasterChef and use up those leftovers!
✔️ Make a meal plan
Set aside 30 mins (coffee in hand!) and plan your week.
→ Grab a cute planner — you’ll actually want to use it!
Use code LISAF10 for 10% off my faves.
✔️ Cookbook dive
Dust off those cookbooks and try one new recipe this week.
→ Mix things up and keep it fresh!
✔️ Write a grocery list — and stick to it
Only buy what you need.
→ Ask: “Do we actually need this this week, or can it wait?”
✔️ Cook it up!
Go big on bulk. Double the recipe for lunch the next day or freeze it.
→ Trust me, you will thank your future self later!
Don’t forget to subscribe via email to get my latest tips and inspo. Got a meal prep hack? Drop it in the comments below!
Because sharing is caring! x
Prep On- SIRT Smoothie
Save more time each day by working smarter not harder, I figure if I’m prepping one smoothie, why not prep 3!
We all want to be using our time wisely, right? So why not thank your future self by prepping ahead. There is less room for temptation when you have a healthy option ready to go. So here we go….
So many of you touched base about this recipe, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Feel free to sub in and out different ingredients if you don’t have them all.
Enjoy!
SIRT Smoothie
3 Tablespoons Greek yogurt
3 walnuts
8 strawberries
Handful kale or spinach leaves
1 cube Lindt dark chocolate
1 medjool date
½ teaspoon turmeric
200 mls almond milk/coconut milk
Dash of water
Blitz all together
Declutter your home in just 14 minutes a day
That’s right, the quote says it all! Do you love and use most things in your house at the moment?
Can you believe that 1% of your day is just 14.4 minutes.
After listening to a podcast with decluttering expert Bridget Johns and being inspired instantly , we have just set a challenge in our house ... and that’s to declutter annoying and frustrating areas that need to be sorted!
Can you believe in less then 15 minutes a day you can start to declutter your home too! There is just one catch, you just have to START!!
Imagine just how much decluttering that would be in one month, or even a year!
What area of your home will you start decluttering for just 1% of your day?
Marie Kondo has a great series on Netflix that I just LOVE, if you haven’t already watched it, be sure to check it out. Next on my list is the Get Organised with The Home Edit.
Say hello to Koh.
I never thought that the highlight of my day would be receiving an order of cleaning products, then I met Koh.
Having seen Koh all over Instagram and being recommend by multiple friends, I thought it was time for me to try it out for myself. Well. I’m IMPRESSED!
The thought of having just one grab and go universal cleaner for the whole household is just genius!
Not only was it fast delivery, but it’s beautifully packaged and the product actually works! I couldn’t get to my mirrors quick enough just to try it out. No streaks, no scent and an instant result.
My oven was going to be the deal breaker as we cook all the time, and I can tell you now, we love the cooking part more than the cleaning. With a heavy spray of the Koh cleaner, 3 minutes later, and a buff with the diamond sponge, I honestly couldn't believe it. The mess that was once there had lifted, Gone!!
I’ve also attached for you below some FAQ’s from the KOH website.
Hope you love the product as much as I do.
Enjoy.
Koh, your healthier home awaits.
What are the ingredients?
Our Universal Cleaner is an ionic formulation of exclusively potassium mineral salts and purified water. The active ingredient is less than 0.5% potassium minerals. Formulated by Dr Leigh Aldous, UNSW.
Are you chemical free?
Water & potassium minerals are both chemicals, but our Universal Cleaner is toxic-free.
Is Koh Australian made and owned?
Our Universal Cleaner is 100% manufactured in Australia. Koh is 100% Australian owned.
Is it allergy friendly?
Our Universal Cleaner is allergy friendly and approved by the National Asthma Council of Australia’s Sensitive Choice Program.
Is it pet-friendly?
Our Universal Cleaner is pet-friendly with no fragrance or harsh chemicals.
Is it fragrance-free?
Our Universal Cleaner is 100% fragrance and scent free. However, you can add fragrance with our essential oils.
How does Universal Cleaner work?
Once sprayed, the solution lifts, suspends and binds with dirt, grease and grime, and can neutralise organic stains and odours. It then converts to a harmless carbonate mineral water that is near ph neutral and inert.
Can I add essential oils?
You can add up to 2-3 drops of essential oil into your Atomiser and 3-6 drops into your Spray Mop if you prefer a fragrance.
How do you wash the Microfibre Cloths?
The Koh Microfibre cloths should be washed on a 60-80 degree cycle with normal detergent. No bleach or fabric softener. Line dry. Wash separately to avoid colour bleeding. Your cloths will last around 500 machine washes.
Work Wardrobe Sorted
A couple of years back I started to minimise my wardrobe, only buying staple pieces that were of good quality and would last me over the seasons.
Having worked shift work now for over 12 years and not to mention being in the workforce for nearly 22- OMG, it occurred to me I have always worn a uniform. It’s easy, you wake up, no thoughts what so ever, and pop it on. At my new work space we “Dress for your Day” So depending on what engagements we have on, we dress accordingly. Sounds like fun until you have to come up with a new outfit everyday for a year!
A couple of years back I started to minimise my wardrobe, only buying staple pieces that were of good quality and would last me over the seasons.
Having said that, just a couple of months back I listened to a podcast featured on the amazing Lorraine Murphy Show, Lorraine interviewed her business coach Michelle Broadbent and gave me such a new perspective on outfits . Michelle goes through her wardrobe and mixes and matches multiple pieces so she comes up with multiple outfit ideas. This gave me the idea to start searching for a digital version of her pen to paper version, and I found just that!
Award-winning Entrepreneur, Best Selling Author, Speaker, Mentor, Mama- Lorraine Murphy with Business Manager, Business Strategist, Business support Guru Michell Broadbent
Below I will share with you a few of my top tips when it comes to organising my wardrobe and introduce to you my new favourite app.
Firstly the CULL, take everything out! You need to ask your self a few questions as you pile them onto your bed…
Keep two bags or boxes aside, one for Charity and the other for a potential Market Stall (my girlfriends and I do this one often, great for a girls catch up and not to mention the market food & coffee stalls)
Questions…
Do I even like this?
Does it still fit me?
Is it damaged, holes, ripped, stretched? (throw it out!)
Have I worn it in the last 3 months, and will I wear it in the next 3 months?
(Obviously seasonal pieces are different, snow jackets, wetsuits etc)
This with hopefully start to lighten the load.
Secondly I love to colour code! - TRUST me on this one!
Once you have decided what you are keeping and what you’re donating/selling or getting rid of its time to colour code.
You will find it so much easier to find the piece your looking for when its all colour coded.
This just makes things 10 times easier when you’re searching for that “white shirt” or “black singlet”. Rather than frantically pulling out everything you own, start getting into the habit of keeping all your items in colour code.
Other ways would be to keep similar garments together. Jeans with jeans, jackets with jackets, tops with tops. This is also a great way to really see how many pairs of denim jeans you own, do your really need that 5th pair??
A really big one for me, and something we have also taught our daughter, is the saying. “Is it a need or a want?”
Do you really need it? Or do you just want it? I will always buy Eadie the things she “needs”, but if it’s something she just “want’s” then she will buy it from her own savings. ( We are crazy Barefoot Investors!)
This skirt from SWIISH has certainly been worn in more ways than one. I pair it with sneakers, sandals, wedges and then I have mixed it up with both denim and leather jackets. By swapping a black cami with a white it can completely change your entire look.
Start buying yourself QUALITY pieces
I don’t know why it’s taken me until my mid 30’s to realise that we deserve everything we get, we all work so hard and as the saying goes, we can’t care for others if we don’t care for ourselves. It can be hard when our money is going towards our rent/mortgage/kids/family/everyone but us! But when you invest in a good quality staple piece, it just feels amazing!
These kind of items with last a life time, and this is when you really start to get the best bang for your buck. Everybody’s priorities are of course different, some may want to spend $200 on a new pair of shoes, whilst others like eating out three time a week. I have always based my spendings on a price per wear . If you are considering investing in that $150 blazer just think , are you going to wear it at least 10 times? If you are, great! It will only be costing you $15/wear. But if it’s a one off, you mind want to consider. I remember having a pair of Zara jeans that I wore and I wore and I wore, and they only cost me $40 to start . This is an item I pretty much ended up wearing for free because my cost/wear was something like 2 cents. You see what I mean.
So on all of that said, I have been on the hunt and I’ve found an app. I wanted to be able to create multiple looks without spending a fortune for my new role. So far I have only purchased myself a Blazer and a pair of new shoes, the rest I had and with the help of Smart Closet I have created the next 3 weeks worth of outfits.
You take photos of your own clothing, or you can select from a retailer. You can place into categories by colour, season, brand etc. Create multiple looks by combining your clothes, share with your friends and even plan it into your daily calendar!
Would you believe I have the next 3 weeks sorted and haven’t even started to mix and match yet!
I hope this has inspired you in some way to tackle your wardrobe too. Trust me you will feel amazing once this is done. As always leave a comment below if you have anything more to share!
Don't throw away your Tomatoes!
You’ll never throw away another bruised tomato away again, future thinking!
Not too sure about you, but I’m such a sucker when it comes to a sale! Especially when it’s fresh produce! So whenever I see something like Bananas on sale, I’ll always think of Banana Bread, and same goes for tomatoes. I’m always thinking of future meals that I can cook and freeze to make life easier mid week. I will always keep my tomatoes in a bowl on the bench and let them just keep ripening. Then they go to the fridge, and more often then not get pushed to the back and I’ll forget about them. It’s at this point that I will then roughly chop them up, sauté in some olive oil with some garlic, salt & pepper. Feel free to also add a few mixed spices (oregano, yum!) and chilli, and there you have it. No more tinned tomatoes required! In about 15 minutes you have yourself a fresh pasta sauce or even better, blitz and use as your pizza sauce on the next pizza night. Hope you enjoy, and fingers crossed you will never throw out a tomato again X
Leftover tomatoes
Garlic
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Mixed Herbs, Oregano etc.
optional chilli
Saute for around 15 minutes, on medium heat. Serve fresh with Pasta, or freeze for a later mid week meal. Even blitz in a Nutri Bullet or hand held blender for a beautiful pizza sauce.
The Perfect Eggs, every time.
Thanks to the guys at Hello Fresh, egg perfection every single time.
Well this top tip has been a game changer! How I never knew this is beyond me. It was too good not to share,
No more Cling Wrap required! Who’s in?
These Eco Wraps are my new favourite thing, no more fighting with Cling wrap, check them out today x
Anyone else out there LOVING the Eco Food Wraps? I must say I ‘m completely obsessed! Not only for how gorgeous they look, how practical they are, and also the environment. There are so many different sizes and materials that are around. Ours are on high rotation, and now around 90% of leftovers or anything that I would normally cling wrap gets wrapped up in one of these guys!
The main ingredient in the wraps is beeswax, an organic, natural material that has a range of health benefits. The particular brand that I use, only use Australian certified organic beeswax. Bonus!
There are so many different wrapping techniques out there you may also want to check out on you tube, ( or take a look on our Instagram Stories under ECO WRAPS) how to make a small box that looks like a punnet for your strawberries, and also how to wrap the kids sandwiches. Its brilliant! I picked my wraps up at the local markets, and they are the Bee Smart Eco Food Wrap. Click on the link below to grab yours today, and the best part. FREE SHIPPING Australia wide.
There is a wide variety of wraps available, these are just the first brand I came across, you could even make your own! Let me know how you go X
Herbs that will literally keep in your fridge for weeks!
You will no longer be throwing out your herbs after one use, thanks to this cool hack
I don’t know about you guys, but we can’t get enough of fresh herbs . What I do find though, is that people are put off generally by two things, #1 They’re not cheap and #2 They don’t last.
Until now!!
I don’t know how I have gotten through the last say 15 years of my cooking life without knowing this herb hack. It’s been a game changer. I’ve tried, cling wrap, zip locks, plastic bags, wet paper towel, containers, eco wraps. You name it, the list goes on. So I’ll let you in on a little secret… glass jars. If you have a mason ball jar, a glass casserole dish or any old glass jar with a lid, you have already extended your herbs lifetime. It’s that simple. A glass jar. I don’t wash my herbs before placing them in, as any extra moisture may wilt them quicker than you like. Just wash them as you need and you will have fresh herbs in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks! There you have it! Let me know how you go in the comments below X
