Dry Erase, Checklist, Cookbook? I LOVE this meal planning set up by LizMarie_AK at Flickr Creative Commons!
With each of my three children, it seems like my body chemistry and diet has changed. My oldest two couldn’t tolerate dairy well, and I developed rashes suddenly after eating corn with my second. The third came along with a gluten/wheat sensitivity, and I tolerated corn but not citrus.
Avoid the Processed-Food Desperation Grab
Whatever the diet, one thing that universally helps is having a plan. Because dairy and gluten are so integral to conveniently pre-packaged foods, my options for cheating are slim. It doesn’t stop me though, unfortunately. I have been known to order a pizza (with the gluten free kiddo) and put the toppings onto some Udi’s toast. Desperation is desperation.
Have a Plan (And Stick to It!)
If anything is going to keep me on track, it’s having a meal plan that I can stick to. Sometimes, I really need a specific plan that I follow meal to meal, day to day. Others, I only need a general guide. When you are meal planning for special diets, you can also match your grocery list to it in order to save some money, too.
I still have a lot to learn and some discipline to develop, and that’s why I’m really looking forward to gleaning wisdom from the community at Udi’s on January 10th, at 9 PM EST, where our own Angela England and Arlene from Flour on My Face are hosting a live chat on this very subject. Mark your calendars and come join us!
Be thinking now- if you could offer one tip for successful meal planning, what would it be?
(Udi’s is a sponsor of UTH, but they had me at “Gluten free/dairy free Double Chocolate Muffins.” Swoon.)
