AP 789: What I Actually Feed My Family || Simple Repeat Meals + Meal-Planning That Cuts Down on the Mental Load

About Progress

Cloud10

Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 June 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Feeding our families is a never-ending task, one that can weigh heavily on both our minds and wallets. I used to feel overwhelmed by the constant need to plan, shop, and cook meals, but I've discovered a few strategies that have transformed our dinner routine into something manageable and even enjoyable. By keeping an essentials list, planning and shopping biweekly, and focusing on simple repeat meals, I’m not only saving money but also finding more peace around mealtime. These approaches have allowed me to reduce stress and spend more quality time with my family, enjoying meals rather than dreading them. I hope these insights help you reclaim your evenings and bring joy back to your family dinners this summer. Get Your Grocery Game Plan Guide Preorder Sticky Habits book today! Join the Book Launch Committee for behind-the-scenes and first peeks at all things book. Join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good. Get the free DSL Training. Get the Best Summer Ever Workshop at half-off old pricing! Recent episodes on a similar topic: 3 Simple Ways to Take the Dread Out of Dinner, A Simpler Way to Feed Your Family, How I’ve Saved Major Money On Groceries; How to Dramatically Cut Your Grocery Bill Get your AirDoctor purifier for up to $300 off with the discount code “MONICA.” Get your teen Knix with code “PROGRESS.” Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I have found that keeping our families fed is one of the heaviest loads we carry internally
0:07.0	and externally because it never ends. People always have to eat. There is never going to be
0:12.3	time until we die that people will not need to eat.
0:26.8	Hi, this is Monica Packer and and you're listening to About Progress, where we are about progress made practical.
0:30.7	I want to do something a little different today.
0:34.0	Typically, on the show, everything we do is both deep and practical.
0:37.8	And while I try to make sure I deliver on the practicals of how we're working on deeper change in our lives and everything that goes about, you know, invisible labor or mindset or value and identity, like at the end of the day, sometimes we just need a good old fashion super practical episode.
0:55.5	And this one is just in time for the summer and all about how I simplify dinner, including
1:01.8	our go-to very simple meals that I hope you can use to make the summer a little bit easier
1:09.6	for you to be able to show up to feed your family well.
1:12.6	And that's actually where I want to begin. Mental load is a big conversation these days.
1:18.7	My whole book on habits is in large part informed by how women must do habits differently
1:24.8	thanks to invisible labor, including the mental loads that we carry.
1:28.6	But I have found that keeping our families fed is one of the heaviest loads we carry
1:36.5	internally and externally because it never ends. People always have to eat. There is never going to be
1:42.7	time until we die that people will not need to eat.
1:47.0	And there needs to be at least someone, if not a couple people, in charge of that. And in most households, it tends to be one.
1:53.9	And of those most households, it tends to be one person being the woman, that one person is the woman.
1:59.9	So we're going to be talking about how to put
2:02.9	dinner on the table and handle that constant challenge by actually ensuring it's a little bit more
2:10.6	rhythm-based and practical base. So this episode is going to help you do that. And I'm going to start with it right after we take a
2:19.8	quick break for our sponsors. One of the things I did not have on my almost 40 bingo card is more
	...

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