What’s for dinner?? Anyone else cringe at those words? Or do you pretend you didn’t hear and wonder if ordering pizza for the 3rd time this week is okay? How often do you just stop and pick up fast food on your way home, or what about stopping at the grocery store to buy groceries then hit the deli for chicken? This is why we meal plan, it saves money, sanity and stress, plus is much healthier.
Make a List of Core Meals
The easiest way to start meal planning is simply sit down with the family and grab a pen and paper and write down your core meals. The ones you always fix, the favorites, the easy, the reliable meals. Every family has them, it just takes a bit to get a list together. With family involved then you know what meals are favorites. Plus it helps remind you of the meals your family eats because let’s be honest, you sit down to write and the mind goes blank. If you are still having a hard time coming up with meals, use categories like casseroles, pasta, soups, crockpot or instant pot, etc. So once you have your list, you will likely have about 23-30 core meals, now
get out your calendar.
Make a Calendar
Here is the secret to why meal planning works: put the calendar where everyone sees it! I don’t know how it works but it does and it stops the whining and complaining. It’s like once it is written its law. So let it be written and let it be done! You can also write the meals on the jumbo craft sticks, put a magnet on the back and then when it’s time to meal plan everyone gets a chance to pick a stick, then put the sticks on the fridge.
When you start meal planning your mind shifts from the stress of thinking “what do I fix” to “I have a plan and I can adjust if needed.” When you use your core meals you waste less, and generally eat better. Now that doesn’t mean I don’t try new recipes, I do, but my meal plan is not all new meals. Also for me and my family, I only plan a week at a time. Choose your day to plan.
Make a Grocery List
When you are checking your fridge, pantry, freezer, garden, etc., see what you are low on in your pantry, and what you have a lot of. Plan to use what you already have first. My meal planning generally takes me less than 20 minutes. Make sure to check everyone’s calendar to know schedules and events/activities. Once I have checked what I have on hand, also what the garden has to offer, (in the case its zucchini time I ask “what else can I add zucchini to?”) I will also review the grocery ads to see what is on sale and that might influence the menu choices. For instance, if I see pork on sale I might add that to the menu, and get some extra to freeze to have on hand for later. I always try to buy on sale. Same goes for produce, so if cabbage is on sale I will plan for egg roll in a bowl and coleslaw as a side for another meal. This becomes a mind shift and the new way to think.
I am not a short order cook, now there are allowances that may need to be made for allergies etc., but I do not cook something different if someone doesn’t want what I am fixing.
Bonus in my household, if the plan is out where everyone can see, my Hubs, if he is home before me will start fixing it if he knows the recipe. Your kids can start doing the same or start helping more. Meal planning is a great tool for helping to teach our children prep and cooking skills, along with math skills. Also another secret with meal planning, when the children help they like the food better!
Quick tip; make Monday’s dinner plan simple/easy Monday is Monday after all.
Another great idea for meal planning is having freezer meals, or meal ingredients to cook frozen. Meal planning is an amazing tool, you just need to use it.
