The Secret to Successful Meal Planning & Cooking at Home (Podcast Ep. 20)

[@MyFocusVaries]

And let's all get on board with getting the kids, including the boys involved. My son has been involved in meal prep since he was little. Now he's 21, and he lives at home because he's in college and we live in an area where rents are ridiculous ($1500 for a bedroom in a shared house). As his "rent," he's in charge of the kitchen. My husband and I both work, and our son does all the meal prep and cleanup. Train your sons to be good roomies and future partners!

[@PreferredMethods]

That is so wholesome. God bless you guys.

[@k4xxxminecrafter792]

Good job mom & dad.

[@hayleebaird-lira5558]

I went to culinary school and am now a stay at home mom of 3 kids and even I struggle with all the training and tools I have to do all these things. Sometimes we just need some encouragement and a reminder of how to start over with basics. Watching today with my kitchen torn apart from a flood, I can’t wait to get back on track! My oldest is 8 and I’m so encouraged now to involve him more as well.

[@LangdonRealtor]

Dawn you introduce us to the coolest people! Thank you for this podcast! 😊

[@alisien6227]

My mom purposefully didn't teach me how to cook. When I would ask why not she would say, "You have your whole life to cook, you'll figure it out. You can read, therefore you can read a recipe." 🙄 Luckily for me, I did figure it out. I taught myself how to cook and bake from scratch. Now I've started teaching my toddlers the basics of scratch cooking.

[@carolc6364]

Soups are a good thing to try if you’re not used to making food from scratch. It’s a one pot main dish you can serve it with a loaf of bread and salad and you’re done.

[@MrsPink64]

Both my adult sons can make full meals from scratch. Yes I grew up enjoying cooking and passed it on. Meal planning in my house is identical with these ladies.

[@BayRaeDay]

That analogy that their mom told her husband is so good! People don’t understand why it matters so much to me. They think I’m just bored and need a hobby but this is the work I do and where I work!

[@dalecentamore5064]

A great resource is the free Meal Planner pdf from But First, Coffee. First you inventory what you've got; develop meals using what you have on hand; then fill in on the shopping list what you need to complete meals for the week. I print an extra shopping list to keep on the side of the fridge to jot down things we need as we run out of them.

[@kjenkinsdjom]

Re getting kids involved and age, I remembered the 1st time I lived abroad in another family's home for an extended time -- 6-year-old's were making food that I couldn't make (as a college student)! Kids are capable - and excited - if taught properly ❤

[@kelliconlan8133]

Dawn, I think you and Diana are very easy to tell apart. I had friends in college that were twin and I probably made myself work on telling them apart from front and back. I can still remember them each writing me a letter telling me how much it meant to them that I took the time to get to know them separately. I told them that I value them both as individuals and that why I took the time to get to know them each that way.

[@yanininipanini]

When I got married a few years ago, I had NO experience cooking. I’d look up recipes and would run into their blog all the time! Many of their recipes bring you back to the basics of cooking and are delicious. I’ve never found a recipe of theirs that’s too challenging or disappointing. They are the best and they have helped bring the joy of cooking into my kitchen!

[@CJR-bs7eu]

Such a great conversation Dawn. Thanks for introducing me to Lauren & Liz. ❤

[@kirstensherry4024]

My kids have been involved in the kitchen since they were very little. Rolling dough putting toppings on homemade pizza. Now they are adults and I get to enjoy new recipes from them. It’s the best.

[@wlhampton]

Just ordered the cookbook! I haven’t seen their site before. I’m excited to check it out!

[@jennifermercer403]

I have been using the “tastes better from scratch” meal plans for the past 6 weeks and love it! Love that they have the shopping list & the recipes are delicious!

[@elizabethhouser3357]

This so spoke to me. My mom dreaded cooking. Now, I am finding joy in cooking for the first time.

[@mindymudge7247]

Dawn this was perfect since in january we are goong back to basics and doing meal planning and budgeting (awareness in spending)

[@clairetitus6904]

Great job on this topic. So enjoyable listening to you all.

[@steviereybok1472]

I love that I found this video! Yesterday I prepped and packed 80lbs of chicken for the freezer. I wish I could find good recipes for marinades.

[@draeleigh1]

I love Tastes Better From Scratch! Such a fun interview!! Thanks Dawn! 🥰

[@heathermcdonald460]

We made a dinner bingo sheet thats laminted. It's items we carry mostly (as it's meals we prefer) and so when we ask what's for dinner we look at the bingo sheet. If we've made it or I'm out of the supplies, we cross it off. Makes it easier.

[@jackimanley3056]

I love tastes better from scratch. I use so many of their recipes!

[@meganvester8819]

I loved this. They were so relatable ❤ I definitely want to get their cookbook.

[@trishahutchinson3485]

Great video! I was inspired to give a better effort to cooking dinner. Also, I purchased the Tastes Better From Scratch cookbook and it’s awesome! Tonight I made the baked Ziti and my entire family loved it! My son in law even told his Dad how good it was!

[@brischmick]

Lately, I’ve felt so empowered to just start with a roux and make homemade Mac and cheese with a good quality pasta. It’s so easy and I don’t even have to measure things. It gets so easy once you know forgiving recipes that you can just eyeball and not get bogged down in every step and measurement. And cutting and peeling get so fast after some practice. It’s so satisfying and easy. I was lucky to also have a from scratch mom that cooked for my large family growing up. She’s a big reason I went on to get my RD. I’m going to have to check out the blog and cookbook. And yay for more awesome, collaborating twin sisters! 🎉🎉

[@tanjaaufdermaur9468]

💖💖💖💖💖💖 that was fun to watch!💖💖💖💖 awesome connection and vibe. Even if I don't do recipes myself I just mix and match😉😅 which works for me.

[@clairetitus6904]

It could be good to make a list of 8 to 10 meals that you already know how to make. Then look at each recipe or meal at a time and look for swaps to bring in more whole ingredients to replace processed foods. For example: hamburger, helper mix, look for a recipe on how to make this. It’s basically hamburger some kind of pasta and some spices. There might be some tomato sauce as a binder. Those individual ingredients will be cheaper and have far less mystery ingredients than the boxed hamburger helper. One meal at a time you move closer to making from scratch and less reliance on processed foods. I find that it also usually taste better because you can tailor the spices to things that are already familiar to your family.

[@jwarnstarsmile]

Awesome guests, Dawn! I have pulled recipes from their blog in my searches! ❤

[@kathleenrutherford733]

Loved this video, twins are so amazing! Thank you Dawn

[@kennethbailey9853]

This is Just Wonderful !😊

[@doveandolive1153]

Wanting a variety can over complicate cooking and meal planning. Working on doing my best to simplify, and what we enjoy put on rotation. Just the other day I made extra rice to be used for another recipe but then realized we have other food that needs to be used up (over planned) so I froze the extra rice and will use it in a soup, or stir fry etc., I hate waste so if I over plan food the freezer is my friend.

[@notenoughcoffee2679]

Thank you Dawn😊

[@davidsandraramey742]

Love listening today

[@lennyburdick3192]

Excellent podcast! Also fun listening to the twin discussion.

[@marijkekohler574]

So inspiring and practical!!!!! Thank you for this video!!!

[@MyFocusVaries]

In the late 60s and 70s, a lot of recipes called for packaged items. But as an adult, I've always disliked that. If I was going to use a mix, I'll just use a mix. If I'm pulling out a recipe, I expect to do everything from scratch! Now, I always start with what's in the fridge. Then I put a list of items I have into Google and boom, lots of options for recipes come up.

[@Sarae89]

This was so fun to watch

[@sharoncooper7381]

What do suggest for people with diet for chronic health issues and chronic fatigue. I feel exhausted doing anything but need recipes, especially with kidney disease

[@kerripainter8555]

Freezer crock pot meals are great for nights I get home later.

[@CookingwithCatLover0330]

Great video! I love to cook. These ladies were great.

[@24carrotgold8]

As I am learning new cooking techiques I am having issues with how to clean the greasy surfaces. For example, the inside shelves and bucket bottom of the air fryer. I use a lot of DAWN soap to cut the grease. 🤪

[@jessicaperlove4715]

This was so much fun!

[@_JanetLouise]

⭐🌟✴⭐🌟✴ Excellent Interview!!! So helpful! mahalo nui / thanks a lot!!

[@emilyrennie2612]

Love this idea!! I recently read the book Ultra Pricessed People (also written by a twin: twin doctors from the uk ; the audio book is like conversation!!) I saw it on the diaryofaceo podcast and been seeking ideas to implement it… so this is amazing!! And u shoud Somehow interview the dr twins too!!!

[@wyogurly]

You should see my 3 year old wearing swim goggles and chopping onions with a butter knife. She can chop carrots with a butter knife too. Very amusing.

[@eviewesner6231]

Dawn, what median do you prefer us to take in your podcast?

[@aveeparker525]

What was the cookbook for kids you mentioned?

[@tammyc1812]

I always felt this way, but when I realized vegetables and gluten were causing me pain and found the carnivore diet, it changed everything. Now it's so much simpler

[@eviewesner6231]

So happy for you. I'm carnivore-ish. -Because of autoimmune issues. I'm generally keto, but am carnivore 100% during the months of January and June, and between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It has radically changed my quality of life!!

[@angelacross2216]

Cooking is so simple with carnivore. After 50 years of cooking from scratch I’m finally free from both the shopping, the gardening, harvesting, prepping and the cooking. Plus I feel amazing and my health is fantastic.

[@tammyc1812]

@@angelacross2216 amen!!

[@tammyc1812]

@@eviewesner6231 awesome, I'm so happy to hear it.

[@eviewesner6231]

Now that said, I still shop sales, and meal plan/ prep, and have individual size meat stored in my freezer for on the go for convenience sake and save while doing it. It makes for easy grab and go and make this sustainable for me.

[@sharonlavespere4323]

❤

[@dawnsodini1954]

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I love watching your family! (I haven't watched your brother yet.) I work full time, split shift so I leave at 4am and get home between 5 and 6 at night. My 4 children and husband all cook and each have a night. I wish I had more time to teach them. Any suggestions for the catch 22 of having everyone else cook? As helpful as it is that they cook, I feel like I have no control of what is made.

[@diahi7601]

I make a monthly meal plan. I take into consideration who is cooking and what is on the calendar for each day. Then whoever is in charge of cooking each day needs to make whatever I have planned for that day. It helps to keep a handle on what we eat each night as well as what food is being used up.

[@Medina323]

I feel the same ☹️

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

Wait, was this recorded over a year ago? You said at the end that Adeline was 12. To my knowledge, we're still waiting to hear back on the tape samples.

[@karigriffith602]

Surely that age reference was a slip on her part, it happens. My husband can't even get the names straight and it's terrible when people ask me their birthdates. I have to pause and think and wonder if people question if I'm actually the mom lol. #momof4

[@lynny397]

Subtitle “parting” words

[@LisaBergquist-w5f]

I don’t think they look that much alike! ❤

[@MrsUnderwriter]

Dear, apply your own judgment. Plus - there is no need to document every single step on internet. Do what works for you

[@janpoorbaugh942]

Great ideas for meal planning, but the low carb recipes on their site are awful. Low carb diets do NOT include corn, beans, potatoes, bread crumbs, tortilla chips, and on and on. Dreadful and misleading.

[@christinapennell5073]

Please ditch the male voice.

[@amiras4219]

Why is no one choosing to talk about the genocide and ethnic cleansing happening in Palestine right now? Not to trivialize what you are talking about, I enjoy your videos, but this is the most important issue in the world right now as thousands of Palestinians have died in a little over 60 days, most of whom were innocent children, not to mention all those who have been displaced. Israel needs to be stopped and America needs to stop providing weapons. This is not a war as Palestine has no army, this is a genocide and the world is watching and doing nothing about it. I find it very inhumane when people remain uneducated about these issues assuming it’s never gonna happen to us. We need people with platforms to raise awareness. I don’t mean to offend, I’m just a Muslim women, wife and mother who is heartbroken over all the bloodshed of my brothers and sisters across the world.

[@debm3716]

This isn’t the platform for these women, talking about these issues are not what their channels are about. So no, this is not the place for them to talk about this issue and I don’t know their position on this however, you are assuming they agree with your position. Would you be happy for them to use their platform if they were to talk about it but from the opposing view? So that is why women like this wouldn’t talk about the issue.

[@debraschwicht9741]

That isn’t what this show is about.

[@debraschwicht9741]

Sorry, I should have added: once I get my life organized and feel like I have a few minutes a day to simply breathe, then I can have a thought about other things, like the many people around the world who are suffering.