Planned, Prepped, and Productive: Real Food Cooking for Busy Moms
117 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsLearn the ins and outs of meal planning, meal prepping, and cooking to make homemade meals a reality for your family and end the cycle of overwhelm spurred by nagging question of "what's for dinner?"
Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
6 Things to minimize in the kitchen this new year
January 08, 2021 09:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBThe time after the holidays can be stressful as you try to figure out how you ended up with so much stuff. Minimalism is a super hot topic, but we don't often talk about the things we could minimize in our minds or our lives as much as we talk about minimizing our stuff. This episode of the planned, prepped, & productive podcast will dive into all of these topics helping you find more peace at mealtime with a simple and minimal kitchen and a cleared up mindset. Featured Episodes: Everything ...
5 ways to serve others with food this holiday season
December 18, 2020 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBLooking for a unique gift or a way to really serve those you love this holiday season? Food is a great way to show love and giving the gift of a home-cooked (or even storebought) meal during the busy Christmas season might be just the thing. Inside this episode we'll dig into why you might want to consider serving those you love more, why food is the perfect gift, and 5 unique ways you can serve others with food this season. Resources: In Helping others, you help yourselfFeeding America: Imp...
Kitchen Organization with Longbourn Farm
December 11, 2020 16:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBI'm so excited to welcome my special guest to the podcast, Alli Kelley of Longbourn Farm. Alli is the creator of Longbourn Farm where she shares simple homemade recipes. She believes that family meals create special moments and those moments become treasured memories. In addition to tried-and-true kitchen favorites, she shares practical farm and garden tips for the hobby farmer or avid gardener. In this episode of the podcast we're chatting all about kitchen organization and how mastering...
Kitchen Organization with Longbourn Farm
December 11, 2020 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBI'm so excited to welcome my special guest to the podcast, Alli Kelley of Longbourn Farm. Alli is the creator of Longbourn Farm where she shares simple homemade recipes. She believes that family meals create special moments and those moments become treasured memories. In addition to tried-and-true kitchen favorites, she shares practical farm and garden tips for the hobby farmer or avid gardener.In this episode of the podcast we're chatting all about kitchen organization and how mastering kitc...
Setting Boundaries for a more peaceful holiday season
December 04, 2020 09:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBThe holidays are never quite what we envision. We want love, peace, and family togetherness, but so often we get stress, overwhelm, and drama. Part of the reason for that is because we need to tighten our boundaries. This episode will go over: -What boundaries are-Why they are important-How to effectively set boundaries-What specific holiday areas you might want to look at tightening your boundaries. Don't let the holidays get you down, instead feel like you did when you were a kid again by l...
25 Socially-Distanced Christmas Ideas
November 27, 2020 09:00 - 11 minutes - 7.72 MB25 Socially-Distanced Christmas ideasChristmas Money Drop Off-Check out the link for a clever way to drop off moneyLarge tip at a restaurant, for your doordash driver, or your grocery delivery person-3 King's Day-Puerto Rican holiday! Leave straw and carrots out for the 3 king's camels and wait for them to bring you giftsGingerbread Houses-Make them or buy them, either way is fun! Christmas Cookies-We love using squeeze bottles to make this less messy and fun for kids!Drive-through Christmas...
4 ways you can cook a turkey to clear up space in your oven
November 20, 2020 00:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBClear up oven space with one of these 4 unique ways to cook a turkey outside of the ovenLast year's podcast and post all about what to meal prep for Thanksgiving with FREE guide including recipes!Link to Post and Podcast: Make-ahead thanksgiving menu and timelineNotes on brining your turkey: wet brinedry brineTurkey Recipes: Deep-fried TurkeySmoked TurkeySmoked TurkeyPerfect electric roaster oven turkeyEquipment: turkey fryerpropane burnerturkey fryer kitscampchef pellet smokerroaster oven
Mindset shifts to help you *actually* cook dinner even when you don't want to
November 13, 2020 16:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBThe Feeding your Family Ebook A comprehensive guide byRebecca Mudrick and Sarah Mahaffey of Shift for Health and Amanda Spackman of the Planned, Prepped, and Productive Podcast. Get your copy here! Use code PODCAST10 for $10 off! Hi everyone! This episode is an exciting interview with Rebecca Mudrick of Shift For Health Inside you'll hear: The number one problem facing individuals trying to cook more from home (and how to solve it) How to find your big why so you never lose focus a...
Mindset shifts to help you *actually* cook dinner even when you don't want to
November 13, 2020 09:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBThe Feeding your Family EbookA comprehensive guide byRebecca Mudrick and Sarah Mahaffey of Shift for Health and Amanda Spackman of the Planned, Prepped, and Productive Podcast. Get your copy here! Use code PODCAST10 for $10 off! Hi everyone!This episode is an exciting interview with Rebecca Mudrick of Shift For HealthInside you'll hear: The number one problem facing individuals trying to cook more from home (and how to solve it)How to find your big why so you never lose focus againHow a mealt...
I tried hellofresh, here's what I thought!
November 06, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.92 MBEver wonder what these box meal delivery services like hellofresh are all about? If you are a busy mom (uh...like all of us) and you are looking for mealtime solutions you are probably super curious if a box meal delivery kit could be the answer to all of your mealtime woes. Give this episode a listen to find out what it's good for, what it's not, and if it lives up to all the hype!
I tried hellofresh, here's what I thought!
November 06, 2020 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.92 MBEver wonder what these box meal delivery services like hellofresh are all about?If you are a busy mom (uh...like all of us) and you are looking for mealtime solutions you are probably super curious if a box meal delivery kit could be the answer to all of your mealtime woes. Give this episode a listen to find out what it's good for, what it's not, and if it lives up to all the hype!
A fill in the blank template for planning balanced meals
October 30, 2020 09:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBMeal planning can feel really daunting especially when we are trying to make sure our family is getting everything they need and there's so many conflicting messages. Listen to this episode for a fill in the blank template for planning your own balanced meals to take that part of the stress out of meal planning. Useful Links: meriam webster definitions of healthyRead: #16 The 5 Powerful reasons we eat that aren’t nutritionPodcast on being being considerate but not cateringRead: Decision fatig...
How to preserve your summer harvest (without canning)
September 25, 2020 09:00 - 21 minutes - 15.2 MBLove gardening, but hate figuring out how to care for all that produce when it's ready? This episode details 3 ways to preserve your summer harvest without canning!Listen in and get confident about taking care of your produce instead of overwhelmed by the abundance of it all! Helpful Resources: Cold storage chart for fruits and vegetablesRoot Cellars 101 – Root Cellar Design, Use and Mistakes to AvoidEat by Date (Resource for determining how long foods last)How to cure vegetablesHow to Dry Ve...
How to make beautiful gourmet caramel apples
September 18, 2020 09:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBCaramel apple making is one of those activities that always seems fun, but in reality is just a huge mess and you end up with caramel apples that look like your 5 year old made them (hey, you can blame them, I won't tell)But after years of trial and error I've learned all the tips and tricks for making caramel apples that taste amazing, are made from scratch, AND look like you could have purchased them from your local candy shop!Try these methods on for yourself or throw a party this year! So...
How to feed your whole family the same meal (without whining, crying, and complaining)
September 11, 2020 09:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MBMany parents are frustrated that they can't get their kids to eat what they make, or they end up making a bunch of different meals every night to meet everyone's needs. If this is you, find out how you can end the cycle with the 8 ways to make one meal for your whole family discussed in this episode of the podcast! This one's a game-changer! Resources: Ellyn Satter division of responsibility and considerate without cateringcacfp guidelines for serving children
The secret to making beautiful layer cakes without stress
September 04, 2020 09:00 - 21 minutes - 15.2 MBEver wonder how the pros make those beautiful layered cakes?It's actually so much easier than you think. Find out how you can become a master baker yourself with all the tips and tricks in this episode. Resources: How Sugar and Salt inhibit microbial growthMarshmallow Fondant RecipeStabilized Whipped CreamMeringue PowderFox cake inspiration
How to foster great dinnertime conversation with kids
August 28, 2020 09:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBIf you're like most moms, good conversation is the last thing you are thinking about at dinner time. Instead you are thinking about how to get your kids to stay in their seats, eat their dinner, and finally get in their beds so you can relax. But what if good conversation is what your meals are missing and what can help you actually enjoy mealtime instead of just getting through it? Listen to this episode to find out how you can find more peace and bonding at mealtime through positive dinnert...
Self Improvement vs Self-Acceptance
August 21, 2020 09:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBWhen you have big goals it can be hard to focus on simply accepting yourself and your efforts and where you are now. In fact, it would seem like self-improvement and self-acceptance work in opposition to each other. It turns out the opposite is true. Listen on to find out more about this paradox and get some ideas to propel you forward in all of your goals rather than staying stuck on the hamster wheel of wanting to change but not knowing how. Resources: https://medium.com/@jeffreylam/the-pa...
Breakfast routines: Making breakfast actually happen
August 14, 2020 09:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBThey say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but if you are like most moms eating anything more than a granola bar as quick as you can before you head out for carpool for the morning is a stretch. Find out how you can and why you should start making a good breakfast part of your daily routine. References: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181126-is-breakfast-good-for-your-healthhttps://www.balance365life.com/
Mealtime tools vs mealtime solutions
August 07, 2020 00:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBEver feel like no matter what new system you try or what awesome product you purchase you still can't get dinner on the table regularly? You aren't alone. I used to feel that way too. That was until I discovered that so much of the problem was my mindset and how I was thinking about dinner and the tools that I used to make dinner happen. Find out in this week's episode of the podcast if you're falling into the same mindset traps and if you can make some simple changes to how you think to fe...
Cooking for your camping trip made easy
August 01, 2020 09:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBCamping is super fun, but cooking in the great outdoors? It can be kinda stressful. Inside this episode we'll talk about the ins and outs of planning a good menu for your camping trip, as well as how you can prepare in advance for a fun and stress-free trip. For all the links talked I talk about in the podcast head over to the shownotes here: To get your own free downloadable guide to camping cooking complete with recipes, head here!
Knives 101: Everything you need to know about kitchen knives
July 24, 2020 09:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBYour knives are the most important tools in your kitchen, but many people are wasting time cutting with dull and lifeless lives. Maybe it's because you don't know any different, maybe you don't know what kinds of knives to use, whatever the reason, getting a good knife and figuring out how to use it will save you loads of precious time in the kitchen. This episode was created to teach you everything you need to know about purchasing and caring for your kitchen knives. Chef's Knive-Budget-Merc...
3 Skills you need to manage food allergies and intolerances
July 17, 2020 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBA diagnosis of a food allergy, an intolerance, or a disease that makes the way you eat really important can be stressful and overwhelming. It can feel really unfair that you have to meticulously read food labels and that suddenly the food world seems really scary for yourself or your kiddos. The good news is, that with time, you'll develop habits and routines that make your food allergy/intolerance part of your regular life.This episodes outlines the 3 skills you should start working on right...
10 ways to create a positive environment in the kitchen
July 10, 2020 09:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MBFor so many moms, cooking and eating dinner is the worst part of the day. The kids are tired and done, you need a little space to focus, and everyone is hungry and tired. But dinnertime is kind of inevitable, regardless of how it happens you and your people need to eat, so putting in some effort to make the experience somewhat enjoyable (or at least to make it suck less) is well worth it. Listen to this episode for 10 actionable ways to make cooking and dinnertime better. Resources: Show Not...
Kitchen staples that will help you cook from scratch more
July 03, 2020 09:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBOne of the hardest parts about cooking from scratch is figuring out how to stock your kitchen. When you have a well-stocked kitchen you ensure you always have what you need to put together a meal seemingly out of nothing. Listen on to figure out how to stock your freezer, fridge, and pantry to become a kitchen rockstar. Resources: Free downloadable kitchen staples guideHow to make freezer breakfast potatoes
How to entertain and cook for holidays without stress
June 26, 2020 09:00 - 37 minutes - 26.2 MBHey everyone,Today we've got a great guest episode with Megan Porta of Pip and Ebby. Megan's sharing all of her best holiday cooking tips and tricks, and she's got a gold mine of useful information to help you actually enjoy your party instead of being a bucket of stress the whole time. About Megan: Megan's mouth-watering pins of been pinned 10s of thousands of times and loved by many. Her goal is to help her readers entertain wtih confidence and she provides the perfect recipes to do so. O...
4 Productivity Boosters you might not think about
June 19, 2020 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBBeing on quarantine and suddenly having loads of time, I finally started to realize that free time isn't the only thing you need to get all the things you want to done as a mom. Listen on to find out the "other things" that I needed to be able to get the most out of my days while on Quarantine and beyond.
4 Productivity Boosters you might not think about
June 19, 2020 09:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBBeing on quarantine and suddenly having loads of time, I finally started to realize that free time isn't the only thing you need to get all the things you want to done as a mom. Listen on to find out the "other things" that I needed to be able to get the most out of my days while on Quarantine and beyond.
Reduce kitchen waste with meal planning
June 12, 2020 09:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBThere are many benefits of meal planning, but one I'm thinking more about right now with a little more scarcity in the grocery store is waste. Meal planning and meal prep will help you avoid waste in your kitchen and use up all of the good stuff you buy at the store. Listen on to find out how you can stop throwing away food and keep more money in your pocket with meal prep.
5 Best Productivity Methods for Moms
June 05, 2020 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBAs a mom, you're constantly feeling pulled in a hundred directions. Organize that overwhelm with one or a combination of all of the productivity methods we'll talk about in today's episode and learn how to find more peace in your evenings by getting the other stuff out of the way!
How to de-junk your to-do list with Tracy Stanger
May 29, 2020 09:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBOn episode 35 of the podcast I’m welcoming Tracy Stanger. Tracy Stanger is sharing her signature strategy to sort, purge, and organize your to-do list that’s keeping you stuck.Inside This Episode You’ll Find:The lie you believe that’s keeping you overwhelmedHow and why you should organize your to-do list just like you do your kitchen cabinetsWhy rest is as important as the other tasks on your to-do listHow to find and create systems to make your to-do list run on autopilotAbout Tracy StangerT...
10 Ways Meal Planning Saves you money
May 22, 2020 21:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBYou know that kicking your butt into gear and solidifying a good meal plan will save you money, but how exactly? Groceries are so expensive, and if you want to eat healthy it seems like there's no way to save money! In this episode I'm outlining the 10 ways you'll see money savings from meal planning, as well as some warnings and bonus tips and an actionable plan to make it happen!Helpful resources: Chicken and Wild Rice SoupFast Foods you can make and freeze at homeBeginner's guide to freeze...
You don't have time not to meal prep
May 15, 2020 09:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBI get it, as a busy mom it's hard to make the time for meal planning and meal prep. In this episode, first we'll be digging into how to find more time in your day (to make meal prep happen) Next we'll dig into WHY meal planning is the way you should use that newfound time.Resources: How to do a time audit by Productivity 501
Perfecting the art of Intuitive Cooking
May 08, 2020 09:00 - 10 minutes - 7.45 MBYou've probably heard of intuitive eating, but what about intuitive cooking. If you can learn to master the art of intuitive cooking your time in the kitchen will be streamlined (because your nose won't be stuck in your phone or a cookbook). You will feel so much less stress because you'll know the principles of cooking and be able to change directions on the fly for homemade meals on the regular. Don't know where to start? This episode will give you a step-by-step guide to start cooking les...
Meal prepping chicken when you don't like leftovers
May 01, 2020 07:00 - 9 minutes - 6.81 MBDon't love reheated chicken? You're not alone! While there's plenty you can do to make meal prep more palatable, sometimes pre-cooking just doesn't cut it. But never fear, I've always got some tricks up my sleeve. Listen on to find out the 2 ways I meal prep chicken for the freezer without pre-cooking it. If you're a leftovers hater, this will be a game-changer. Resources: Chicken MarinadesMeat Thermometer
Meal Prep in real life: A Case Study
April 24, 2020 06:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBThe theories behind meal planning and meal prep make sense to you, but what does meal prep look like for a real person in real life. I've tried to share plenty of tidbits on the podcast of what meal prep looks like in my life, but what about someone else? What about someone with no skin in the game (aka someone who isn't trying to sell you anything or get you to listen to their podcast). I've been chatting for weeks (months) about my meal planning and meal prep system that I will soon be bri...
How to prepare, freeze, thaw, and reheat your freezer meal prep so it tastes amazing
April 17, 2020 07:00 - 11 minutes - 7.64 MBUtilizing your freezer is the best way to preserve your meal prep and make sure it always tastes fresh and delicious. This episode includes the 4-step process for preparing, freezing, thawing, and reheating your meal prep to maintain the best quality possible.
5 questions to help you make the most of social isolation
April 10, 2020 06:00 - 10 minutes - 7.17 MBThis is a trying time for sure, which is why I wanted to take a little break from food-related content and focus on mental health instead. Because if you're mental health isn't in check, there's no way those dinners are going on the table. That's a fact, and it's also okay. Here's 5 questions I am asking myself (as often as possible) to help me cope with the changes and loneliness from social isolation and covid-19. 1. What did you think you would miss that you actually don't?2. What do you...
A beginner's guide to freezer cooking
April 03, 2020 09:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBThe freezer is the most underutilized thing in your kitchen. Many people don't know what to freeze or how to get started. This episode will help!What do you need to get started with freezer cooking? Getting started is cheap and easy. You need containers to store your food in, something to cook or meal prep, and a freezer to put it in! That's it!What foods are freezable?Most foods can be frozen relatively well if you take the proper steps. Exceptions are veggies that you want to enjoy fres...
Creating ease with a flexible schedule for kids
March 27, 2020 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBSchedules.I’m guessing you love them or hate ’em.I’m all about having consistent routines with my kiddos, but only recently have discovered the magic of scheduling.I was a skeptic for sure, and I had tried a lot of toddler scheduling techniques that just didn’t work.…and overall we were happy so I didn’t see why we should rock the boat.Creating Ease With A Flexible Block Schedule For Young Kids And ToddlersBut after my husband bought me a laminator for Christmas (nerd alert!!) I decided to tr...
Making nutrition goals while still loving food with Megan Jane
March 23, 2020 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBNOTE: The original version of this episode uploaded with an error. That problem has no been fixed. Realistic Nutrition TipsThis week’s episode I’m chatting with Megan Ostler @meganjanesplate all about realistic nutrition tips. We talked about how to make positive changes without restricting, what we are doing that gives food too much power, and how to focus on factors other than numbers as we are making changes. Takeaways From This Episode:Why you should add to the diet, instead of taking aw...
How to put homemade bread on the table in 20 minutes
March 13, 2020 09:00 - 9 minutes - 6.71 MBHomemade bread is the ultimate comfort food, but it’s time consuming to get it on the table.It’s fine to make on it’s own, but when you have a bunch of other dishes to make it’s challenging to juggle everything and make it happen.It’s also difficult because many bread recipes take 2-3 hours to bake (some even longer) so if you work it’s basically impossible to get make homemade bread a part of a weeknight meal.Enter parbaking.Parbaking For Fresher-Tasting BreadLike I said, there really isn’t ...
Guilt-Free Approaches to Family Meal Time
March 06, 2020 06:00 - 12 minutes - 8.43 MBMaking family meal time happenWith Family Meals Quality Is Greater Than QuantityOnly have time for one family meal per week with your family?Make it a good one and something your kids will remember.Maybe you can get out the fancy dishes.Maybe you can rotate through everyone in your family’s favorite dinners.Maybe you can plan fun and interactive menus that everyone can help make.The point is, if you work on making that one meal special and memorable family meals can become a cherished memory ...
You're not eating your veggies, and it isn't your fault
February 28, 2020 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBReasons Why You Aren’t Eating Your Veggies.BiologYup. It’s just in our nature to avoid veggies. Many vegetables contain bitter compounds and as humans we are wired to avoid bitter compounds because they are more likely to be poisonous. Rude, huh? The one thing we need more of and our bodies are telling us to shun it. Not fair.As humans we also have natural affinity for sweet foods (like breast milk). Some people might be even more sensitive than others to the bitter compounds in foods meaning...
Convenience Foods this Dietitian Swears by
February 21, 2020 00:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBConvenience Foods This Dietitian Swears By1. Bagged Salads-Making a salad gets expensive quick! It’s also hard to get through all of those fresh ingredients before it goes bad so I love adding a bagged salad to my dinners as a way to get those veggies in!2. Pre-chopped veggies-You definitely pay for this convenience, but some nights I just need dinner to happen and letting someone else chop my veggies gives me just the right amount of extra help I need to put dinner on the table3. Storebought...
Gourmet Cooking with Marlee Brady
February 14, 2020 09:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBGourmet cooking may be the last thing on your mind as a mama, but Marlee has some tips that make it do-able and shares why she thinks it’s important and matters even in today’s busy world.Hey Mamas.So, you see the title of this post and you may be thinking, gourmet cooking? I’m barely surviving….no way I’m gonna be doing any “gourmet cooking” any time soon.But I promise, there was some intention behind asking the amazing Marlee Brady of I Just Make Sandwiches to be on the podcast.I spent seve...
How to make meal-prepped food more gourmet in 3 easy steps
February 07, 2020 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.61 MBThree Simple Steps To Meal Prep That Tastes GoodThe key to making meal prep taste delicious, fancy, and even gourmet is to plan your meal prep strategically and combine meal prepped foods with fresh foods and storebought foods for the ultimate simple but fresh meal plan.To illustrate this idea, we’ll use my Valentine's Day Menu. For Valentine’s Day I like to bust out my pasta machine for probably the only time I’ll use it in a year, I’ll make a white and red sauce for variety, some roasted br...
25 Meal Prep Tasks you can do in 15 minutes or less
January 31, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBWe all have those 15 minute gaps in our day where we end up just scrolling social media, but how much better would our days go if we filled up those minutes with tasks that will make meal time go smoother. Here are 25 ideas how you can use that time. Read to or play with your kids- Fill that attention bucket for your kids and see if they actually let you make dinner in peaceListen to a podcast, watch a youtube video, or read an article on cooking or kitchen organization-Learning is the key t...
Keystone habits: What are they and how you can use them to Skyrocket your Success
January 24, 2020 07:00 - 13 minutes - 9.67 MBKeystone habits are “small changes or habits that people introduce into their routines that unintentionally carry over into other aspects of their lives.” -Charles DuhiggI am a BIG fan of personal development books. I’ve got a load of about a hundred loaded in my scribd account and I binge listen whenever I can (in the shower, on a run, in the car, you name it!So when I say a book is good, and it changed my life, know that this is coming from someone with lots of personal development books u...
5 powerful reasons to eat that are not nutrition
January 17, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBThe 5 Powerful Reasons We Eat That Are Not Health Or NutritionFor survival.If you’re thinking that sounds a lot like health or nutrition, you’re right in some ways they have similarities, but health and survival are two very different ideals.Someone who is focused on survival does not have the luxury of worrying about how much fat is in his meal or whether or not the eggs he’s eating are free range.Restricting and controlling our food is a luxury afforded to us because we have an abundance of...