A huge thank you to PlateJoy for sponsoring today’s post! They are also offering my readers $10 off, so don’t miss the link and promo code below.
There's this saying. It goes something like this…
“A failure to plan is a plan to fail.”
Sounds ominous, right? Let me flip the script a little and put this into meal planning context for you…
“A failure to meal plan equals either a bowl of cereal or a McDonald's Happy Meal delivered via UberEats for Tuesday's dinner.” – Laurie of Work Play and Chardonnay
The above statement is sad and oh so very, very real. You can check my Uber Eats account in all of its embarrassing glory. It's the picture of (un)health and unnecessary delivery fees.
However, most of the time I take advantage of my #SundayFunday to meal plan and head to my local Public, Whole Foods or Fresh Market. I love curating recipes and developing my grocery list. But a menu service came a knocking on my door (or via email) to give them a try. I'm all for creating efficiencies while exercising my foodie muscle (a.k.a. “my stomach.”)
Getting to Know You PlateJoy-style
PlateJoy is a personalized meal planning service available via desktop and as an app that saves users time and money, with healthy recipes and shopping lists made to fit today's busy lifestyle. To start, you take a quiz so the system can understand your dietary needs, likes, and dislikes. So in our household, PlateJoy knows we need gluten-free recipes for Jared and that I have a side-eye inducing disdain for eggplant.
Isn't it Queue-t?
Once PlateJoy has sussed out your foodie sensibilities, you are taken to your meal queue – a bevy of photos for breakfast, lunch, batch meals, dinner, and snacks/dessert. And if a recipe doesn't strike your fancy – kick it from the queue. No one's feelings will get hurt. It's PlateJoy…not PlateSad.
Tell It What You Want, What You Really, Really Want
Once you have perused your queue, you will start the process of determining your menu by letting PlateJoy know what you want and how much of it. You aren't a breakfast person? Don't select it. A batch meal strikes your fancy? Select one or two or three. You're a snack attacker? It's yours. Once you are done, the magic makers at PlateJoy will conjure up your weekly meal plan.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Or Dinner & Snacks. The Choice is Yours.
A series of recipes are generated to maximize the use of similar ingredients. I've been a horrible offender when it comes to food waste. This is such a smart way to combat the issue. But don't worry, if you aren't overly jazzed by one or any of the recipes you can make select an alternative. NBD.
Let Me Introduce You to the Digital Pantry. DP, Meet My Friends…
Once you have selected all of your recipes for the week, the service asks you if you want to check out your Digital Pantry. You should always answer this with a resounding “YESSSS!!!!” It's by far one of the best functionalities of PlateJoy. You simply click “need” or “have” in the DP before it generates your grocery list. How cool is THAT????
This Little Blogger Went to the Market…
My grocery lists have a tendency to not be the most organized. Cereal might be listed right after milk, the bread after deli meat. PlateJoy curates your needs into a list by sections of the grocery store. You can either print your list or use the app on your phone to tick off the items while shopping.
The Proof is in the Salad
We've been using the service for a few weeks now, and we are (plate)joyful. The recipes have been light, easy to make, and oh so delicious. A bulk of the ingredients are from the “outside perimeter” of the grocery store. Freshness is the foundation without sacrificing flavor. All without the dastardly glutens (for Jared) and my vegetable nemesis, eggplant (fried eggplant is acceptable).
If you’d like to try PlateJoy for yourself, they have offered my readers a $10 off discount code. Simply click here to sign up and use promo code WORKPLAYANDCHARDONNAY1 to get your discount! I hope you try it and experience the joy and ease that PlateJoy has brought into my life.
Do you menu plan or do you wing it? Have you tried any of the meal subscription services? What do you do to make your “food life” a bit easier? Let me know in the comments below!
Work Hard. Play Hard. Drink Chard.
Laurie
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free subscription, as well as compensation for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the company.