How to Meal Plan
What is Meal Planning?
For me, it’s planning my meals for the week so we have 1 grocery trip, a set plan for dinners, and peace in not figuring out “what’s for dinner” at 5pm.
We started meal planning when my first born was a baby. I knew that life was only going to get busier, and after our family grew to 5 and we have kids in activities, boy is that true. I am also a social butterfly, and I like to make plans to see people. That was how my meal planner for busy people was invented.
Each week, usually on Sunday, I sit down and look at the upcoming week’s plans. I write all of the main plans down, so I have an idea of what’s happening. Dance classes, lessons, happy hours, workouts, etc. go on the chart. Then, I look at leftovers, freezer, pantry, and the specials at the grocery store and think of some meals. Next, I write down which of those meals work out best with that night’s plans. A busy night might mean mac and chicken nuggets, or take out. Less busy days mean cooking a new recipe, or meal prepping (which is a whole other thing!). And when I consider the food I already have on hand, or stuff on sale, I can save money on groceries. Last, I can take my meal plan and make my shopping list. (My husband and I use Bring! and have different lists for stores we frequent.)
This also helps us eat healthier meals, since we’re not grabbing fast food. Some of our health goals involve eating whole foods, and when we plan ahead, we can make healthy choices when we’re not hangry. (hungry + angry)
Boom! It’s so easy, and it’s part of our routine. My husband likes to cook, so he checks out the list on the fridge, and he knows both the plans and what’s for dinner. Other meal plans have space for breakfast and lunch, but that isn’t a priority for me. We value having dinner together as a family, and if you can plan that, you’re set.
How do you plan your meals? Have you tried meal planning and did it work for you? If you want to try out my original design, grab a notepad and customize your color and title, or print out your own sample with this free printable download.
Cheers!
