M. Suzanne Terry

This is what a perfect Saturday morning looks like.

You should have a comprehensive staples list by this point in the process, and that will be the groundwork of a meal planning system that is easy and organized (and thus effective).

But we all have our weaknesses, and most of us particularly have weaknesses when it comes to food.

My weakness is Whataburger, specifically the patty melt meal with onion rings. And a Dr. Pepper.

I could have a delicious meal on the calendar that would not only satisfy my hunger but also energize me and nourish my body (word on the street is that food is supposed to be fuel and actually make your body feel good instead of bloated, exhausted, and generally gross). I could even have it made – where all I’d have to do when I got home is put some on a plate and pop it in the microwave.

But then I hear the burger’s siren call, and I’m turning into the drive-through.

There is no shame in doing this occasionally. I don’t even want to live in a world where this patty melt doesn’t exist. Three times a week is probably (read: definitely) too much, though. Three times a week might be (read: definitely is) why my blood pressure got high in March.

So I need a saving grace.

Saving graces are comfort foods that will keep me out of the drive-through. Just knowing that I have them at home, readily available for me to eat, offer me the tiny nudge of help that it takes at the end of a long work day to keep my wheels on the path to home and keep them from turning into the parking lot of the Whataburger.

My saving graces are frozen tator tots, popcorn, and frozen pizza. I love all these things at least as much as I love that patty melt.

I’m sure you will notice that these foods are not super healthy. They don’t have to be. The beauty of a saving grace is not that you always choose it but knowing that you could choose it. The purpose of a saving grace staple is to satisfy an emotional need, not a physical one. And the benefit of recognizing it and naming it as an emotional need (i.e., putting it on this list) is that recognition alone often satisfies it. When I am driving and think, “Ohhh…I could have eggs on tator tots instead…” and then continue merrily on my way, I seldom actually end up having eggs on tator tots. I will usually get home, see that vegetable stew in the fridge, and decide to have that instead.

Knowing the saving grace is a possibility puts the Pavlovian* impulse to rest long enough that I end up making better choices.

Also, it ensures that I occasionally get pizza (and also that I will probably eat it with a huge side of veggies). And that I have popcorn to snack on instead of candy.

If you have saving graces, add them to your staples list. For the next few days, we’re going to be looking at recipes and meal ideas. This will help those of you just starting out or those who want to change things up a little. This will also give you a few days to tweak your staples list before your next shopping trip.

*Thanks for the assist, Maggie.

I’m sharing my Epic Meal Planning strategies for Write 31 Days – click to see the master list.