Kitchen notes that actually get used
Most detailed food logs do not survive beyond a week. A short note format usually does: what was cooked, what ran out, what to swap in next time.
Field 1: repeat marker
Mark if the meal appeared more than twice that week.
Field 2: color scan
Quick visual check for produce variety across days.
Field 3: prep load
Track whether prep was light, medium, or heavy.
Mini instruction sheet
Keep one sheet near the pantry. Add one line after dinner. Skip scoring and keep wording neutral.
Example from a Wellington flat
Week 1 note: breakfast variety improved quickly, but weeknight dinners repeated. Week 2 tweak: one soup base was prepared on Sunday and reused with different toppings.
What changed
- Less waste from duplicate purchases.
- Easier split between quick meals and slower meals.
- No pressure to perfectly follow a plan.