5 Steps to Ultimate Meal Planning!
I have come to the realization that after thousands of trips to the store and hours staring at my family asking them what they want for dinners this week, I LOATHE meal planning and grocery shopping. (Yes, LOATHE)
Seriously something has to give.
I am just to a point where I am not willing to give up Friday night (or worse yet Sunday afternoon) figuring out my shopping list for the next week. But I am also not willing to spend the money going out every night or serving less healthy meals because I am not planning. So.....drum roll please..... here’s what I’ve come up with!
Meal plan for the MONTH! (And every month thereafter...forever... and ever.)
Here's how:
Fill out ONE meal calendar for the month. 4 (or 5 weeks... you choose) and write down 4 of your family’s favorite meals per week. I only use the meal planner for dinners. They are where I struggle the most. You can do it that way or do all three meals for each day.
YOU already know what your family loves to eat. Just start writing them down. Then if you need a couple more, search Pinterest or check out the few tried and trues that I have at the bottom of this post! They work well for my picky family!
By choosing 4 meals per week you will most likely have one night of no cooking (jackpot!) as you clean up the leftovers and give yourself a clean fridge by the end of the week!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Just copy, edit, and print!
2. After naming all of your meals on the Monthly Calendar, add your meals to the Weekly Calendar for each corresponding week along with the ingredients you will need to add to your shopping list for those particular recipes.
3. Tuck the actual recipes behind each Weekly Calendar for the week you will be cooking them so you are not looking for them when you need them.
4.Now, group all of your Meal Calendars together starting with the Monthly Calendar on top, and then following with each Weekly Calendar in order (weeks 1-4) with recipes included behind each particular week and stick them in a place that is convenient and easy to access. When it’s time for this week’s grocery shopping, you’ll have the list ready!
5. Finally, when you arrive at the week you want to shop for, either cross off items you already have OR add your needed items to a list in your phone and head out the door. Better yet, order it online and pick it up! (I use Fred Meyer, but you can use Walmart or whatever is most convenient in your area)
The goal here is to use the SAME CALENDAR every month!!!! No reinventing the wheel. After 4 weeks of your family's faves, start back at week one. If you don't like how its working, change a meal or two to tailor it exactly to your family's needs!
I have included a link to my Monthly and Weekly Meal Calendars FREE for you to use! Click here , print and get started!
Here are a few of our family's TRIED AND TRUE recipes:
Koren Beef from Lovebakesgoodcakes.com
Sheet Pan Fajitas from CookingClassy.com
Baked Chicken Meatballs from pinchofyum.com
Good Luck, friends! Cheers to meal planning made simple!!
I am always cheering you on!