Episode 32: The Time-Money Paradox
What You’ll Learn
What is the time-money paradox? (00:40)
The 4 Factors of Your Food Life (01:00)
Planning Meals (01:15)
Prepping Meals (01:32)
Making Meals (03:34)
Eating Meals (04:00)
What season are you in? (04:38)
How old and how helpful are your kids? (07:59)
How involved is your spouse? (11:26)
What outside activities, obligations, and commitments do you have? (13:32)
Recap (14:31)
Invitation (15:02)
The time/money paradox will GREATLY affect how you approach meal planning. . .listen in this week to learn how these two things (time and money) and their availability will influence how you feed your people. When you’re done listening, come follow Brittany on Instagram @thedeliberateday and tag her in a photo of your COMPLETED weekly meal plan! If you don’t have The Deliberate Day Meal Planning Kit yet, send her a DM with the word “meals” and she’ll send you a link where you can get it!
What is the time-money paradox? (00:40)
Sometimes you have more time than money, sometimes you have more money than time, and occasionally, you have either very little or a bunch of both.
What season are you in? How much time are you willing (or do you have) to dedicate to planning, prepping, making, and eating meals?
The 4 Factors of Your Food Life (01:00)
The 4 factors that make up every family’s food life are: planning, prepping, making, and eating. In each season, we need to figure out how much time (or money we have to devote to each).
Planning Meals (01:15)
In this season, maybe “planning” for you is writing down which drive through you will visit each night. Perhaps you plan each week, bi-weekly, or each month.
Prepping Meals (01:32)
There may be seasons where you’re prep-heavy. Perhaps you have little time and money, and you are prepping multiple to-go meals for the week. Sometimes, especially when you’re working or in a busier season, you may need to prep meals so the week can flow without you.
Making Meals (03:34)
Making your food can be as simple as opening a box and can and putting them in the same container. It can be as complicated as making Pinterest finds, or “Martha Stewart-ing” it. It all depends on how much time you have. If you have more money than time, maybe you buy pre-made meals!
Mating Meals (04:00)
Sometimes breakfast is the meal you eat as a family! There will also be times you are supplying food to your people as they run out the door, or leaving meals at home for them to enjoy without you! It’s important to consider time, because that will dictate what you can do.
What season are you in? (04:38)
When you’re expecting. . .
Prepping casseroles (or hot dishes for our MN friends)
When you’re going on vacation. . .
Prepping for the days before vacation
Making meals to bring on adventures
Bringing meals that can be put in the oven when you get home
Sidenote: Brittany took her family of 9 on a 5,000+mile road trip for 21 days around the United States and they REALLY raised the bar on tripping!
Long summer breaks. . .
You can spend more time in the kitchen
Bake and cook with your people
How old and how helpful are your kids? (07:59)
What are the ages of your children? What are their capabilities? (Kitchen safety is VERY important!) Be a student of your kids, age doesn’t equal competence and ability.
In seasons where you have more time and kids who are ready, you may want to work on meal mastery (while this can save you time in the long run, initially it can require more of you).
If you need something quick, consider what our friend Renee does. . .she makes oatmeal and then has her kids “decorate” it (brilliant)!
How involved is your spouse? (11:26)
Inviting and allowing your spouse to help! Our husbands are really amazing people who WANT to help, sometimes they just don’t know how!
Brittany and Brandon have reached level “dancing in the kitchen” (something we all aspire to). It really sounds like a dream, but keep in mind that it takes many invitations, lots of grace, and a ton of encouragement to get there (so have patience with yourself and your spouse).
Sidenote: If you’ve never seen it, go watch “Simply Irresistible” (a movie) for a magic and food-inspired love story.
What outside activities, obligations, and commitments do you have? (13:32)
This is a big consideration when it comes to time! My good friend and chiropractor shines in this area, she was a master at meal prepping during her busier seasons (it was really inspiring)! As you sign your kids (or yourself) up for activities, think about the time required and how it will affect feeding your family and planning your meals.
If you are working or running a business, what are your hours? How much time will you have to cook-or eat? How will this affect your ability to plan and feed your people, and will you need help?
Recap (14:31)
Think about the time/money paradox and how it applies to you.
What season of life are you in right now?
How old and how helpful are your kids?
How involved is your spouse and how involved would you like him to be?
What outside activities are you involved in? Do you work or run a business?
Invitation (15:02)
Go to Instagram, follow @thedeliberateday, and tag us in a photo of your completed meal plan! If you don’t have your meal planning template yet, send Brittany a DM with the word “meals” and she’ll give you a link to get the beautiful “Meal Planning Made Easy” kit she’s created (Image featured below)!
