Tag: #RealLifeMealPrep

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Survival and Sanity Reserve-Based Meal Plan: Weeks [Insert Numbers Because I Lost Track LOL]

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(its 15&16 I did go back and look)]

Chronic Illness Friendly • ADHD Approved • Neurospicy Tested

Welcome back to another two weeks of me pretending I’ve got it together. I do not in fact, have ANYTHING together and this week has taxed my brain so much I am ready to not have to make the dinner decisions for a few more weeks. Does this work for you guys? I have found I am spending less on groceries. (Thanks for the tips about my low spoon days btw!) This is how I keep myself from crying into a crumpled DoorDash receipt: six planned dinners that don’t require Michelin star skills, plus reserve meals to fill in the gaps when I’m too tired, too sore, or too done with everyone’s nonsense to cook.

Here’s what I’ve got for you:
A 2-week plan.
Six home-cooked meals.
Eight “reserve” meals pulled from pantry, freezer, or leftovers.
A printable grocery list.
Recipes that don’t require you to pretend you’re a Food Network star.

Because some days you’re Julia Child. Some days you’re just a tired gremlin trying to survive until bedtime.

The Lineup: What We’re Cooking

Cook Days (3-4x per week)

These are meals you’ll actually make with fresh-ish ingredients and some degree of effort.

1️⃣ Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Juicy chuck roast, spicy giardiniera, hoagie rolls. Perfect for people who forgot to plan dinner but did remember how to dump things into a crockpot.

2️⃣ Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs (Stovetop)

Savory-sweet chicken served with rice and frozen stir-fry veggies. Quick. Easy. Tastes like you tried.

3️⃣ Garlic Butter Chicken Bites (Skillet)

Pan-fried happiness in butter and garlic, paired with green beans and potatoes (microwave or skillet — you do you).

4️⃣ Smothered Chicken & Rice Bake

One pan. Chicken thighs. Rice. Cream-of-something soup. Zero regrets.

5️⃣ Kielbasa & Potato Skillet

Hearty, fast, requires almost no brain cells. Bonus points if you add onions.

6️⃣ Baked Pasta

Cheesy, saucy, optionally beefy. Feeds a crowd or just you for three days.

Reserve Days (4-5x per week)

These are your “I cannot even” days. Pantry, freezer, leftovers, and minimal thought required.
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (reserve buns, chips, pickles)

Chicken Fried Rice (leftover rice, frozen veggies, quick stir-fry)

Leftovers (Italian Beef, Kielbasa, Pasta)

Frozen pizza

Pantry pasta + jar sauce

Breakfast-for-dinner (pancakes, eggs, cereal, who’s judging?)kles)

Chicken Fried Rice (leftover rice, frozen veggies, quick stir-fry)

Leftovers (Italian Beef, Kielbasa, Pasta)

Frozen pizza

Pantry pasta + jar sauce

  • BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (reserve buns, pulled chicken)
  • Chicken Fried Rice (rice + strips + frozen veg)
  • Leftover Italian Beef
  • Kielbasa & Potatoes leftovers
  • Frozen pizza
  • Pantry pasta + jar sauce
  • Freezer sandwiches
  • Breakfast for dinner (eggs, toast, sausage)

🎯 Why This Works (For Me, Maybe You Too)

You’re not overspending on groceries you’re too tired to cook.

You’re only cooking 3-4x a week.

You’ve got backup meals in reserve.

You’re not reinventing the wheel every night.

You get to stop asking, “What’s for dinner?”
Thats all I got today guys, til next time, take care of yourselves, and each other!

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🧠 Survival and Sanity Reserve based meal plan: Weeks 11–12

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Reserve-Based Meal Planning for When Life is Too Damn Much

It’s hot. You’re tired. The idea of cooking three meals a day is laughable. That’s why this plan exists — to give you food that actually works when your spoons are low and your executive function has left the chat.

This is Weeks 11–12 of my reserve-based system. We cook three times a week, stretch leftovers like magic, and leave room for takeout without guilt. Because healing takes energy — and not all of that energy should be spent in the kitchen.

🍗 This Round’s Sunday Stars:

  • Week 1: Maple Garlic Glazed Chicken
  • Week 2: Crockpot Ranch Chicken & Rice
  • (because if my crockpot could earn a paycheck, it would absolutely be the breadwinner)

🗓️ THE PLAN:

WEEK 1

  • Sunday: Maple Garlic Glazed Chicken – Proof that you can be sweet and salty and still wildly lovable.
  • Monday: Leftovers
  • Tuesday: Chicken Tacos (fajita-style) – Because “chicken tacos” are easier to say than “accidentally delicious fajitas.”
  • Wednesday: Leftovers
  • Thursday: Bacon Tomato Pasta – The holy trinity: bacon, tomatoes, and carbs. Amen.
  • Friday: Reserves
  • Saturday: Leftovers or takeout

WEEK 2

  • Sunday: Crockpot Ranch Chicken and Rice – This one says “I care” but also “I’ve been horizontal most of the day.”
  • Monday: Leftovers
  • Tuesday: Pesto Chicken Flatbreads –We eat flatbread now. We’re fancy like that.
  • Wednesday: Leftovers
  • Thursday: Bacon Fried Rice – It’s “clean out the fridge” night but with a glow-up.
  • Friday: Reserves
  • Saturday: Leftovers or takeout

🧊 Reserve Meals to Keep You Sane:

  • Taco Pizzas
  • Chicken Flatbreads
  • Peanut Butter & Bacon Sandwiches
  • Eggs
  • Quesadillas with Whatever’s Left I am BRAND NEW to bacon quesadillas, where have they been all my life? I’m disappointed in myself that my stoner ass didnt put this combo together years ago.
    Ok guys, scroll down and click to get the recipes and grocery list and until next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.


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Survival & Sanity Weeks 9&10

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Another two weeks, another round of What the hell are we eating? Welcome to Survival and Sanity: Weeks 9–10, where the focus is chicken (because it’s cheap), simplicity (because I’m exhausted), and enough reserves to keep you from spiraling into meal decision burnout.

This plan is spoonie- and budget-friendly. You’ll find cook-day meals that stretch across multiple nights, plenty of “fend for yourself” reserves, and recipes that don’t demand your soul in exchange for dinner.

🍽️ Survival and Sanity: Weeks 9–10 Menu

Starting Monday, June 9

Monday (June 9):
Reserves Day – It’s Monday. You’re lucky there’s food at all.

Tuesday (June 10):
Chicken Stir Fry – For when you want takeout vibes but need your wallet to calm down.

Wednesday (June 11):
Reserves Day – Eggs? Sandwiches? Cereal? I support all of it.

Thursday (June 12):
Kielbasa & Veggie Sheet Pan Bake – One pan, zero shame, and dinner without a meltdown.

Friday (June 13):
Reserves Day – Official “find your own dinner and your own fork” night.

Saturday (June 14):
Takeout or Reserves – AKA “pretend we’re normal” night.

Sunday (June 15):
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken – Because wrapping anything in bacon is basically therapy.

Monday (June 16):
Mixed Flatbreads (Pesto + BBQ Chicken) – One of each flavor because decisions are hard and everyone wins.

Tuesday (June 17):
Garlic Ranch-Seasoned Chicken & Potatoes – No clumpy white sauce here, just herby garlic goodness baked until golden.

Wednesday (June 18):
Reserves Day – We’re all just scavengers at this point. Go forth and forage.

Thursday (June 19):
Chicken Tomato Pasta – Proof that noodles and tomatoes can solve most of life’s problems.

Friday (June 20):
Reserves Day – Not my circus, not my dinner.

Saturday (June 21):
Reserves or Eggs – Whatever’s in the fridge or however many eggs you can scramble.

Sunday (June 22):
Crockpot Chicken with Garlic Butter Herb Sauce – A Sunday dinner that feels like someone tried without making you cry in the kitchen.
Til next time gang, take care of yourselves and each other!

Printable Groceries
Recipes for Cook Days