Remember Katie from last week? [catch up here if you haven’t read last week’s blog post yet]

I kind of left you on a cliff-hanger there.

Because that was her email to me before she did the (Fall) Meal Plan.

But, bigger question: so, what about after?
How did it actually go for her?

Well. I just talked to her last week. Almost 3 weeks after she had finished. Asked her the same 3 questions that I ask everyone that goes through my meal plans:

1) What were your main hesitations before purchasing the meal plan? Anything you were nervous about? (which we covered last week)

2) What was your favorite feature or part about the meal plan experience? 

3) Ok, so AFTER you finished the plan. What is different and better about your life because of this meal plan experience?

This what she had to say. Word. For. Word.

1) Hesitations:

I’ve tried things in the past that left me hungry and felt I wasted money. I was afraid to try something again without understanding what I was getting into. Seeing a sample of the recipes on the meal plan and encouragement from Sarah about how this would help me budget, take stress away from meal planning and work with a picky eater in the house was what got me to purchase.

2) Favorite Part:

This concept is  amazing. Super helpful and informative, even for someone who thought I was eating really well and clean already. Takes the stress out of meal planning. Sarah is really responsive and encouraging, also very knowledgeable. Plus, everything tastes so good! I even started to look forward to leftovers. I loved that part of the meals were used for other meals during the week, helping me not to waste food and save money too. 

3) What’s Different For You Going Forward?

I look forward to my meals now, instead of  always grabbing snacks.  I really think more about 5 ingredients or less, and how food will affect my energy and how I feel that day. I feel much more confident in cooking for my husband too, knowing how to throw together easy meals that we both love. And I never get that crazy hungry feeling- I’m way more balanced and calm around food.  

Pretty awesome, right?

So, update: since I sent out that free 3 day sample of the meal plan last week,  I’m not kidding you, over 600 people downloaded it over the 5 days that followed.

(Did you? You should ‘cuz it’s free)

My inbox started to rapidly ping in response. “Wow. this was amazing” “Love the food + recipes” and “THANK YOU SARAH- I’ve always wanted to try this!”

I can feel everyone’s curiosity climbing. So many of you are testing it out this week. I can’t wait to hear about it.

But, today I wanted to crack the curtain even more wide open. Because behind the scenes is the best way to see something. With Katie’s experience yes. But she is just one of over 750 people that have done them so far. Whoa. And everyone is a little different.

And I wanted them to honestly tell their story. The inside experience. How it’s changed things, what their hesitations, doubts or fears were in the beginning, and what really happened through the process. And afterwards, of course. The real life view [as many of you know, my favorite thing].

Of what’s it’s actually like. To eat real food, feel more confident in the kitchen and save loads of time so you can feel better and do a better job at one of the most important responsibilities you have in life- to feed yourself (and those you love) well. Because a happier, healthier life always follows when you do. And we all deserve that.

So, grab yourself a big glass of water, or hot little bevvy. We’re going in.

Disclaimer: All of these answers are people’s word-for-word exact phrases, without any editing or filtering. Because that would be lame. Hope it makes you smirk + smile. 

Question 1: What were your main hesitations before purchasing the meal plan? Anything you were nervous about?

• My main concerns were whether I would like the recipes or not, and the time commitment involved.

• My main concern was getting compliance from my non-vegetable eating husband.  Turns out that he LOVED almost every recipe!  It is really is easy to follow.

• If I was going to actually use it/like it and if it was going to be very different from my normal  already pretty healthy routine.

• I would describe myself as a healthy eater with a very good understanding of food and what is healthy and what is not. First time around my main concern was spending money on something that I could just plan by myself and be more diligent (I have a wealth of cookbooks but make the same recipes over and over). Reading Sarah’s blog I decided to purchase the meal plan as there were foods I have never tried before. After I did the first 4 weeks, I’m now totally addicted! I’ve been coming back ever since as I save money by shopping once a week rather then every other day when I was hungry after work and by avoiding cafeteria food (on which I easily spent $45/week- in just 2 weeks I had the cost for the meal plan back…well sort of but you know what I mean).

• No serious concerns. It would be hard to make the Meal Plan much simpler to do for us.

• I was concerned about how I would make substitutions if there were ingredients within the recipes that I didn’t think me or my fiance would be crazy about. That did happen once or twice, but you made it so easy with great built in suggestions for customizing the recipes! That built my confidence even more, plus being able to make executive decisions and still have the meals and planning turn out fabulous!

• Cost is always a concern but I feel that it’s worth it. Only $25/week when you break it down, and saved us a lot of time, money on groceries and hassle.

• My concerns were buying lots of new products that I wouldn’t use. But, I found that we already had many of the ingredients.

• If I would like all of the recipes.  I challenged myself to try new things and was surprised when I liked them.  I liked that there were bonus recipes and left overs so if I did not like something I could swap it for something else.

• I think you addressed my only concern ahead of time – there was really no way of knowing what I was going to get before I purchased, so I really just had to take the plunge that this would be a good investment. Thankfully, a lot of people had recommended it to me, so I just had to trust them. Glad I did.

• If it would be worth the money.  And, YES it was! Over and above.

Question 2: What was your favorite feature or part about the meal plan experience? 

• While it might seem counter-intuitive I really appreciated that Saturday and Sunday nights were just left open. It made the plan feel more in tune with my lifestyle and less rigid. I think that alleviated possible stress and reminded me that it’s all about balance and doing what you can do.

• I loved getting the different kinds of recipes with so many options. It was like a present in my inbox each Friday- I couldn’t wait to see what they would be!

• I liked the grocery checklist. Correction – LOVED the grocery list. I haven’t wasted food since I started. I liked that I could leave out the foods I’m allergic/intolerant to. And I liked the responsiveness to questions.

• That the plan itself is flexible. There’s no strict diet regimen, its more about changing the way you view food and hunger. I liked the constant contact I had with Sarah.

• I ate like shit before! I think I most appreciated the variety of recipes. I never knew I would like things like cauliflower steaks.

• I’ve been following the blog for a while, and wanted to learn more about the basics and get more recipe ideas. I liked how the entire week was laid out for you, and things were re-used in different ways throughout the week.

• I love the calendar and shopping lists. It helps you keep on point.

• Love the lists you provide for the grocery store— so simple and necessary.

• It helped us a ton that you were so accessible and online so we could quickly grab a recipe or ingredients that were staples to have at home.

• I have always wanted to try a gluten free diet but just didn’t know the first thing about cooking gluten free. I loved that you provided SO many different recipes that keep you full and keep your diet clean. I also LOVED that you can make all your meals in a short amount of time on Sunday. I have a busy life and to just grab and go a pre-made healthy meal is amazing.

• Features through the process that were liked included Sarah’s one on one individualized help and availability, exposure to new foods/preparation outside the usual routine, and weekend preparation setting up for a successful weekdays.

•  Loved that wine is not excluded!

• I love the philosophy on food and how every benefit you mentioned, I experienced!  I love the variety of foods and spices each week I now know how to prepare.

• I have had friends complete the meal plan and I’ve seen them make some awesome meals! I liked the grocery lists at the beginning of the week and the facebook group.

• 1) Ease of use 2) shopping list 3) planned meal calendar 4) easy recipes

• The organization and recipe diversity.  I often get in a rut cooking the same few meals often.  It was great to have something new and exciting each week and also not have to think at all about the planning aspect.

• Avoid cafeteria food and be more organized to avoid the “it’s 8 pm, i’m starving and will make pasta with pesto for dinner because it is quick”. I like best that I can customize to my liking. I love that I have a well stocked freezer and i can just defrost a healthy delicious meal from a leftover.

• Learning what to shop for, how to cook and ultimately feeling better about what I am putting in my body. A little weight loss never hurt anyone either 😉

• I was tired of following the next new thing.  Just needed something that was clear and easy and made sense.  This program does all that.  I loved the lists and recipes.

• My wife and I had been discussing making real positive changes to our nutrition.  Every time we tried to make positive changes we fell into the traps of poor planning and redundant recipes that became boring and probably not very nutritious.  I enjoy the flexibility of the menu and the simple list of weekly shopping needs.  It helped us get out of out rut!

• I wasn’t sure when I purchased it.  But after receiving the first email it was so easy to follow, real food for real people with jobs and lives!

• I love a step by step program. Yours made shopping and cooking very approachable and easy. It took out a lot of the guess work and uncertainty. I love the very exact shopping lists, I also love that you breakdown what you should cook and when throughout the week. For someone with little meal planning experience like myself, it has really helped me with my time management in the kitchen. The recipes are delicious and really deceptively simple. I love it!

• I needed the “plan”.  I have the best of intentions every week but I need a firm plan to follow or I will end up in the McDonald’s drive through.  My favorite part about the plan is that Sarah turns the leftovers from one meal in to a completely different meal the following days.  Cooking for one (or two) can be challenging and I always end up with way too much.  I find that I’m using ALL of my groceries and wasting much less with Sarah’s plan.

•  I really felt that Sarah was knowledgeable which helped me to trust that this would be a good plan. I loved that part of the meals were used for other meals during the week, helping me not to waste food and save money.

Question 3: Let’s talk about what happened AFTER the plan was over. What is different and better about your life because of this meal plan experience?

• The balanced approach to ALL whole food, no BAD choices, just making better ones when having the opportunity.  I approach it all now more positively and it has made eating simple, flavorful foods a pleasure.  Having options and STAPLES in my pantry.  So silly yet SOOO necessary!!!!

• You gave me the tools I needed to start cooking for my family. Despite my husband telling/sometimes showing me it wasn’t hard bc he enjoys cooking, I never really tried. Your support and easy recipes have turned me into a cooking machine. It has changed our family for the better. I know I am grateful, and my husband is too… It’s funny now bc kids now rate the cook, mom vs dad … Now that’s a real game changer!

• I am more at peace in the grocery store. My relationship with the grocery store is a work in progress. A few years ago I hated it and was totally stressed when I went there. As I commit more and more delicious and healthy recipes to my memory I find that going shopping has become much more enjoyable. I would also say that my skin is better and I have more confidence in the kitchen as well.

• I feel SO much better. I always thought I was a really healthy eater and this has completely changed my perspective. I have lost weight, I don’t wake up in the morning with stomach aches, my skin is clearer and again I feel so much better.

•  I realized that no one is perfect, as hard a concept that is to grasp for me and that food shouldn’t be a crutch but a source of nutrition and a guide for how I want to live that day or week. If I feel crappy about myself, I should reach for a yummy, nutritious fruit or veg to lift my spirits and make me feel alive inside rather than a big bowl if ice cream and then mac and cheese and then who knows what else. I really feel lighter in spirits in the morning and can enjoy my days better. I don’t wake up with a nasty tummy ache and regret the previous night. There is no more “starting over” because this is how I should always live.

• The most amazing change I have felt is that I don’t want/need to snack. My blood sugar is always at a consistent level. I feel better, I sleep better and I have more energy!

• I’m 10 pounds lighter!  I’ve tried a lot of new foods and discovered that my body needs much less (but better) food than I was giving it.  I’m starting to appreciate my body more and treat it better.  I’m starting to unpack the roller coaster relationship I’ve had with food over the years.  I’m finding that I’m becoming more and more discerning about what I put in my mouth every day that goes by.  I feel like I have a lot of “I’m starting” which says a lot.  It says that I’ve began a new lifestyle and not at the end of some diet.

• I have returned to some of my old habits, but now I’m more aware of just how bad certain things make me feel, and I avoid them.

• Overall, I make better decisions about food on a daily basis. I no longer let food dictate my life, and make me feel bad about decisions I might make.

• I have noticed more variety to my diet. I have lost a bit of weight. I look at food completely differently and only shop around the store instead of down the aisles. I found that my friends and family now eat more clean b/c of my diet and the things that I have learned from SRH.

• My husband and I never have to have the conversation about what sounds good for dinner anymore. It’s amazing. There is always something healthy and yummy ready to go in our fridge.

• A better perspective about not only what to avoid with food products but rather what to go to. The awareness gained about thinking what you put in your mouth sounds like a like an obvious thing but is profound. You want it to be good (worth it) and good for you and those intentional decisions help cut through the junk and frees the mind a bit. You just feel better.

• 1) I am more thoughtful about my food choices, 2) I am more confident about my cooking abilities, 3) I am more adventurous in the grocery store, 4) I have more energy, 5) My skin glows!

• We eat WAY more vegetables than I did before, mostly due to the creative recipes and new ways to think about the food.  Smoothies have been a great addition as well.  My husband has lost several pounds and we both feel better and have more energy.  I feel less stressed by having the meal plan and schedules already lined out for the week.

• I feel great!  And I feel like my weeks are more balanced with a variety of different foods rather than just my staples.  I loved the green smoothie guide.  So many different recipes that it is impossible to get bored!

• A better perspective. I am more likely to make better choices. Instead of the “guilty pleasure” of “cheating”, I am much more likely to just ask myself “is it really worth it to have wine right now?”. Sometimes the answer really is “yes!” and I enjoy it. Sometimes the answer is “no” and I feel good about the decision. It doesn’t feel like a sacrifice or deprivation.

• We are eating so many more vegetables and greens and finding things I used to think I hated (cauliflower)  cooked another way is really good.

• Mealtime is much less stressful. Everyone in the family knows what the week looks like and there isn’t that pressure to decide “what should we have tonight for dinner!!”

• I already ate pretty healthy.  I just don’t have the time to know “whats in season” or come up with new / simple ideas for meals.  You did that for me and now I can add them in to what I already had… and any future meal plans with you!

• Wow, a lot. I feel less intimidated by food. Just in these 4 weeks, i feel as though I have come a long way. Your program really worked for me. I’ve always wanted to eat healthier and build my skills in the kitchen but I’ve always been wary of it too. It always seemed like it took so much time and energy and it was always so much easier to pick something up. After your program, I’ve realized it doesn’t have to be time consuming and an energy drain. This is such an area of my life that I feel has been lacking and I feel like you really provided me with some tools to help me. I’ve really started to develop a sense of pride in the kitchen. I feel like not only can I do this, but it can be fun too. Thank you!

• We are much more creative when putting together meals on our own! Now we can look at the produce in the fridge I can think of new and delicious combinations to throw together thanks to the things we tried in the meal plans.

• I have more money in my pocket. I feel better and I finally had an incentive and excitement about cooking a meal at home! My hubby LOVED every recipe and it created quality time between us as we made each meal. Thank you!

• I have fresh ideas on what to eat, and I really feel like I have created an even better lifestyle.

Think you might be ready too? Love it or your money back.

Check out the Fall Meal Plan here (full recipe list too)

or

the new Family Meal Plan here.