If you are struggling with planning your meals, this post is for you.
I am a Mom of two girls with different activities going on, I run an at-home online business, my husband is in the military which means schedules can be a bit crazy from time to time, and eating more of our food at home is important to me. This is why I meal plan. I don’t do a ton of batch cooking, you can read my exact process here, but I thrive on having a plan.
For me, having a plan helps me know if I need to do anything the night before or the morning of. It helps me shop better and save money. The meal plan helps save my sanity. A meal plan can help save yours too.
In this post, I will share with you my top tips to get started along with some amazing resources that can help take the guesswork out of developing your own plans.
Why meal plan?
Having a meal plan helps bring ease back into your kitchen. You may relate to the panic that can arise when you hear the question, “what is for dinner?’ and you don’t have a plan. How often does that result in staring at your fridge or pantry for 20 minutes only coming to the conclusion that dinner out will have to work.
Don’t get me wrong, I love eating out but I also know that I eat healthier meals when I am at home. Eating at home will also save you money so why not?!
Where to start?
The first thing I always tell my clients is to dedicate a small amount of time once per week to planning. The second this I say is to keep an open mind – especially if this process is a new thing. The third and last thing is to have patience. The planning process can be very new for some but remember that you are worth it.
- Start with checking on your inventory each week. What do you have on hand in your fridge or pantry? Can you put some meals together with the food you already have on hand?
- Do you have a day already scheduled for your planning? Schedule it in like a meeting that you will not miss.
- Keep an organized system with your recipes. I love Pinterest but recipes can get lost easily. Perhaps try making a recipe binder with your favorites printed so that you can get to them quickly.
- Build a system that works for you. If you want this new habit to stick, make it easy for your schedule.
- Keep it simple and don’t overcomplicate this. You’ve got this!
In our free Facebook group, we just wrapped up a five-day challenge dedicated to daily habits that will help you make a better meal plan. You can access it at any time within the Facebook group. In addition to the five-day challenge, there is a workbook you can utilize that will help with building your habits. Feel free to check it out here:
Another freebie I have is a free guidebook to help get you started on the meal planning process. A free 15-page e-book that gives you the clear and concise details to start meal planning, learning how to easily prep food, and will help you put it all into practice. You can check it out here:
What are some other ways you can take the guesswork out of meal planning?
- Use this free meal planning cheat sheet idea
- Find some really good AND easy meals to make that will help keep your sanity in check
- Purchase done for you meal plans as explained below.
What is a done for you meal plan?
Done for you meal plans come in different types. There are some you can find on Pinterest depending on your needs. I also have some depending on your wants and needs. You can learn more about them here:
- One month of your dinner meals planned complete with recipes, a shopping list, conversation starters, and bonus recipes and tips. This meal plan will feed 3-4 people.
- Family-friendly 7-day meal plan complete with all recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a meal-planning guide, a shopping list, and bonus freebies. This meal plan is designed for a family of four and does contain recipes with meat and dairy but is a PERFECT introductory meal plan that will help families who want to eat more real food.
- A plant-based heart-healthy 7-day meal plan is also available and is designed for 2 people. This plan also includes a detailed planning guide, a shopping list, and all recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with extra bonuses.
Ultimately having a done-for-you meal plan can be very helpful in getting you started with learning how to use a meal plan, creating an easy-to-find space for recipes, and learning how to use the most of your food. I’ll show you how to utilize leftovers and use a guide to help you stay on track. Plus, it will actually save you money!
What are your biggest struggles when it comes to planning your meals? I hope this post was helpful to get you started!
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