The Prep- A Resource Guide
Did you do your brain dump? If not, I suggest going back and taking some time for this.
I shared 15 questions to guide your brain dump to get some of those juices flowing in your workbook and I’m including them below again with a little more detail and support
Remember: It’s not about every answering every one or even having it figured out on the ones you answer, but more about seeing the possibilities when it comes to THE PREP. When you gain more clarity around this step in this season of life (always come back to this in different seasons!), you’ll know what a) feels new or interesting to consider, b) you have capacity for and c)where you can seek help/support.
1.Where do you get ideas and inspiration for food? Restaurants, cookbooks, someone else’s home, movies/TV, etc. What do you do with these ideas? How do you store or remember them? Your inspiration is your intuition. Tune in with these clues and use what you can in your home and mealtimes.
2.Do you keep a shopping list? If so, where is it? Do others have access to it?
3.Do you notice when you are low on something? If so, what do you do with that information? Do you have a list in your phone, on your fridge, or somewhere else easy to note?
4.Do you shop on a whim/as needed, more scheduled, or both? You may not have thought about this one, but it’s important to take note of and then ask yourself if it’s working for you and your family.
5.How often does food shopping happen? Is any of it automated?
6.Who does the food shopping? Notice any inefficiencies in your process here.
7.Where do you shop? List online and in-person sources. Notice any inefficiencies in your process here as well.
8.Do you have clearly designated places for food when it comes in the house, both in a pantry/cabinet and in the fridge? In other words, if anyone was putting away groceries, would it be obvious where everything goes or do you need to be the keeper of this task?
9. Who puts groceries away?
10.Do you meal plan? If so, which meals? Please outline your plan. Note: this is not about meal prepping, but just planning what you’ll be making/eating.
11.Are there times of the day, days of the week, or times per month that you notice the plan goes out the window or you don't have a plan? This is such valuable information so don’t skip this one!!
12.Are there certain life circumstances (menstrual cycle, moon cycle, season, etc) that make any part of the planning more challenging? List these.
13.What is happening in your home in the hour before a meal? Are there competing priorities? Are you trying to make dinner, address homework or a kids activity, predictably handing a meltdown or sibling rivalry, and responding to messages or taking phone calls at the same time?
14.Are family members hungry before a meal is ready? What is the response?
15.How is your energy in the time leading up to dinner? What are your needs? Ask yourself these 2 questions for everyone in your family.
The above process is just that: a process. When you dedicate time to going through this
Tip: Before you go food shopping (online or in-person), spend 15 minutes on a clean-out.
And for the 5ooth time: PREP is really all the activity that comes before the meal, not just the one hour standing at the counter chopping or cooking before dinner.
Spend a bit more time leaning into the question of “What ways can I make meal prep a more sacred or special experience?”
