Mastering Meal Planning On A Budget: Plan B Edition

Have you ever got home from picking your child up from school, got home, go to start dinner, only to realize you forgot to thaw out the meat?

What about not wanting to make a recipe that's on your meal plan for the week?

What if something comes up and you no longer have time to make dinner?

Real life happens, so I am prepared to eat at home even when I can't make what's on my original meal plan.

I ALWAYS have a PLAN B to my PLAN A meal plan!

Your PLAN A is what you originally wanted to make for your meal plan. It's your initial plan. Your PLAN B is there to save you when your PLAN A meal plan doesn't work or can't happen.

I eat out for convenience. Most of us have been there. To help combat that, I make sure eating at home is convenient.

If you struggle with sticking to your meal plan or find yourself eating out even though you took the time to create a meal plan, this will help!

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:23 My Meal Plan Schedule
02:11 The Plan B Meal Plan Strategy
03:23 Criteria for Plan B Meal Plan
05:52 What's Always In My Freezer
06:21 My Plan B Recipes
11:15 How to Start

ABOUT ME

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[maureenyoung]

That is the cleanest, most organized pantry I’ve ever seen. I so wish I had a pantry.

[tolbert]

You sharing this once before stuck with me and has saved me many times. Hearing it’s okay to stick a frozen pizza in just for back up has saved us many times from eating out!

[valeriereyes]

Miko I am so happy you are back on YouTube. This made my day!

[jessicanelson]

I had to do a Plan B meal last night when the chicken I pulled out was still frozen! Frozen Orange Chicken from Trader Joe's for the win! 😄

I like to keep Plan B meals on hand because life happens too often, ha ha. Since I have a young kid having a frozen pizza and chicken nuggets on hand is a must. When I make things like spaghetti and chili I have leftovers for a couple days and then the remaining portions go in the freezer (this also works great for work lunches in a pinch). I like to keep breakfast items on hand so we can do breakfast for dinner ("brinner") if needed.

[pollydolly]

Grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches and tinned soup. Add a salad to your frozen pizza or lasagna. Air fryer chicken breast, rice and veg.

[dariana]

My plan b changes depending on what season our family is. It ranges from frozen lasagna, frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, frozen chicken, Mac and cheese served with frozen veggies or rice. My family also loves breakfast for dinner. We all like it and saves us so much money and stress.

[michellemorales]

I feel like we lived on Plan B for years! Hahaha 😆

We have a general meal plan, where we know what we have and what we can make. We allow that to be fluid, so it's not a rigid plan and make extra for leftovers for busy nights.
Implementing a Plan B has completely stopped eating out for dinner. NOW, we reserve eating out for lunches and for date night. Truly a game changer! ❤😊 💙💜💙

[JKRBW]

I freeze our leftover soups and marinated meats in food service tubs. That way if I need something fast and zero effort, I can plop the whole frozen puck into the Insant Pot (add a little chicken stock or water if it's needed for the pressure function) and it's all handled without needing time to thaw.

I appreciate the nod to food allergies. Our groceries are expensive because of Celiac, but the flip side is we spend very little money dining out. Our backup meal game is a well rehearsed exercise.

[NeedBudget]

Thank you Miko for sharing your Plan B meals. This helps tremendously! 🫶

[alexisa.]

I love your content regarding budgeting and meal planning. It’s so fitting for my situation as a mom of 2 with 1 income. Keep doing what you’re doing! You are awesome and I’m glad I found your channel. 🙏👍😁

[rosamondhazell]

What a wonderful thing to see you on YouTube. You are right life happens. Love Plan B!!

[nw]

Oh yay! I originally found you through your meal videos way back in the day and was sad when you stopped doing them. Hope it becomes a weekly thing! ❤ waiting for my budget by paycheck box set to get delivered, super excited to start!!🎉

[livroaberto]

Yep! When making my "plane A", I try to always have a backup meal for when life happens. It's maybe not the healthiest ou cheapest, but it's helthier and cheaper than eating out. Pasta + freezer bolognese. Soup (I'm portuguese, we always have soup around 😅)+toast/panini, tortelinnis/raviolis with a can of tomato sauce/cheese, frozen pizza...

[MadisonBriggsArtchick]

Such great ideas! Thank you! And your “messy” pantry looks amazing!

[sharonostrowsky]

So happy you didn’t change your into! I love seeing you and little/young James in your apartment kitchen and your smile at the end is infectious.

[ginamoffett]

Thank you for sharing this, fallowing you has literally changed me and my family life❤

[williamwarren]

I do this too ! Shop those freezers ! I know you have stuff in there you don’t “feel like” But it costs MONEY!!! Use that up ! And Don’t Buy it again !!!! I always have a plan b !!! Hot dogs and hamburgers !!! So glad to see you Miko ( and Ryan ) welcome home ! ❤glenda

[cathyb]

This is the best idea for a video that I have seen.

[marneangel]

Such a pretty color on you! I have that same sweater but looks better on you 😍

[tiffanymarie]

I love the idea of having a plan b menu plan! Never thought about that before and will definitely implement it in mine. Thank you!