Everyday Efficiency - Meal Planning and Shopping for Beginners

Welcome to the 4th edition of the Notes by Chris B Co newsletter. I think I’m starting to get into a rhythm writing these, but it still takes a fair amount of effort. Hopefully, you enjoy what I’ve got for you.

Here's what I've prepared for you today:

• Everyday efficiency - what is it?

• Shop and eat

• Improvement opportunity

• Implementation and tools

• Results

• Final thoughts

Please find any of my previous editions here if you've missed them.

01 / Everyday Efficiency

What is it?

Today’s topic is the first in an ongoing series called Everyday Efficiency. What is that exactly? Well, I’d like to define it as finding the most efficient method to complete a task that you do regularly. We all have this type of task on our to-do list. Sometimes, they are chores; other times, they are enjoyable activities like maintaining a lawn or creating art. Think about all of the steps required to complete that task. If it’s something you’re doing regularly, you want to maximise the fun and minimise the fuss. So, let’s get to it.

Our first Everyday Efficiency topic?

Meal Planning and Shopping Efficiency for Beginners

I wanted to start with something that is nearly universal. Unless you are a dependant (your parents shop and cook for you) or you are so well off financially that you can pay someone to do it (congrats to you), everyone I know needs to undertake at least a weekly shop followed by the regular cooking of meals.  My wife and I have followed this process for the last seven years!  I’m sure there is a tip or two for you here.

02 / Improvement Opportunity

So, let’s set the scene

Here’s me eight-plus years ago; just turned 29 and feeling fine… mostly

To be honest, I was starting to feel like my metabolism wasn’t quite as effective as it was in my early 20s and my weight was creeping up bit by bit. We were planning our wedding, which was 12 months away; my body was changing, my shirts were getting tight, and my energy levels were constantly up and down.  I thought it was time to make some changes.

With some shared family goals, we began a diet called Banting. I’m not here to talk about the details of that diet except to say that it would require a lot of change from what I was used to - and planning things out was the only way I’d be able to stick to it.

We had a lot going on. Life was getting busier. Wedding planning, we were renovating, both working full-time and playing sports and doing the things regular kids in their 20s do. We had lived together for four years at this point, and we’d average two to three visits to the local supermarket every week. Living in suburban Melbourne, we were fortunate to live within 2km of our local supermarket. It may only be a three-minute drive, but when you’re in the middle of cooking dinner, realise you’re out of pasta sauce and need to hop in the car to pick some up, it can be a very frustrating experience.

Eventually the pain becomes motivation to change

If you are constantly encountering inefficiency and thinking to yourself, “There has to be a better way than this,” there probably is!

My motivation and objectives were to:

• prepare more enjoyable lunches

• improve my diet to improve my health

• be more organised doing the shopping (making fewer trips)

• complete the whole planning and shopping process quickly as possible

03 / Implementation & Tools

Here is what we did

STEP 01 / Understand the options

First, we started by learning about our new diet, understanding the meal options, and identifying the meals we’d like to try.  We picked enough meals to satisfy our desire for variety while meeting the objectives of the new diet.

STEP 02 / Determine the planning variables

Fact: the fewer people you cook for, the more inefficient the cooking process becomes.  

Think about it - it just about takes the same time to cook a meal for one as it does for ten - it’s just a matter of scale.  Perhaps this is why you may have seen various people go to extremes of cooking meals for a week in one session.  Hats off to them, but I’m not interested in repeatedly eating the same meal.  My exception is cooking dinner with enough leftovers for 1-2 lunches in the following days.  But it must retain the flavour!

We decided to plan for a week of meals at a time.  We would spend about ten minutes planning which meals to cook and when, allowing leftovers for lunches.  We factored in the following:

• Plan around nights when we wouldn’t be cooking
  (out for dinner, events, etc.)

• Work around our work/sports schedule. 
  For instance, if one of us were out for sport, the other would prepare the meal for when they came home

• Leftovers for lunches are required only on workdays
  (typically Monday to Thursday)

STEP 03 / Record the plan

You could write the meal plan on paper or a small whiteboard stuck to the fridge.  My issue with these options is the lack of data collection - there’s no easy way to track what you’re doing!  So, after some quick searching, I downloaded and began using an app called MealPlan+.  We’ve been using this app for a while, so I had to go back to check when we started using it.

We used a digital planning app for this task because it:

• Allows for multiple users

• Keeps the data, including meal history

• Syncs the data between connected devices

• It makes it easy to plan and save the meals for future use

Next, we needed a method for managing a shopping list.

STEP 04 / Get a digital shopping list

I’m a little sketchy about when we started using a digital shopping list, but I believe it was before this whole meal-planning process started.  However, this was when we began to make the most of using one.

Here is why everyone should have a digital shopping list:

• It’s paperless

• You can re-use the list

• You can sync it between devices and users!

• Cannot be lost or left behind when you’re at the shops

• You can add an item to the list, then immediately forget about it

• You can re-order the items, add them to categories and set weights or amounts!

• You receive a minuscule amount of dopamine each time you tick off an during your shop - it’s science

My digital shopping list app would probably be in my top 5 most essential apps.

Here is the app we’ve been using (having upgraded a few years ago).

You don’t need to use this exact version.  Just make sure what you use has the features you think you’ll need.

STEP 05 / Sync and use your digital shopping list

Now that you (and anyone else in your household) have a digital shopping list, here is what you need to do:

1. Go through the meals on your meal plan and add the required ingredients

2. Add the “extra” items that aren’t meal specific. 
   Things like milk, bread, fruit, treats, etc

3. Configure the categories that your items are placed into.
   To do this, think about the location of items in your supermarket and the path you’re likely to take when you’re in there.

4. Check that the items are syncing between devices/users

5. Now you’re ready to shop!

STEP 06 / BONUS tips

For those wanting to go the extra level

• Allow extra time to complete your supermarket shopping for the first few trips.  

• Adjust the Categories on your list to match the Aisles in the store and the path you take through the supermarket.

• If you find an item in the wrong category, change it.  It will save you time every future trip you make

• The best time of day to do your shopping is in the morning.  Shelves are fully stocked, and everything you need should be available

• Shopping time is perfect for listening to podcasts

STEP 07 / Most important

Bring your shopping in from the car in as few trips as possible.  Preferably one.

04 / Results

What you can expect over time

Practice makes perfect.  If you spend time up-front to plan your meals and shopping trip, the time savings will add up little by little.  You’ll find your brain's memory power freed up.  The supermarket chore will become a relaxing experience.  Your weeks become that little bit easier by knowing your meals are sorted ahead of time.

The whole sequence of planning meals and shopping will become something you can do nearly on autopilot - allowing you to dedicate extra time and mental power to activities that matter to you. Now we have two young kids; there is even more motivation to get the most out of our time together. 

05 / Final thoughts

I am aware this scenario is not for everyone.  It would be best if you had a big enough fridge/freezer.  You need comfortable access to a supermarket.  You need a steady schedule week to week.  If you have all these things and aren’t willing to try something like this?  Let me know why not - I’d love to hear your objections.

For those who would advocate for online shopping and having it delivered? I agree with you - but our experience trying this was that some items would be substituted or unavailable online, and the quality of the service wasn’t quite up to scratch yet.

What do you think of our first Everyday Efficiency topic?  Is there anything here that you do already?  Are there improvements you would recommend?  An alternative app? I’d love to hear from you and what you do in your everyday life to maximise the time you do have.

Thanks so much for reading.
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