One thing that I am super passionate about is cooking healthy well-balanced meals for my family. The kitchen has become my safe haven after a productive day of work, school, and play. I find myself evolving into a kitchen architect, as I design and create memorable home cooked meals for my growing family. I really enjoy experimenting with different ingredients, spices, recipes, and flavor combinations to satisfy everyone’s diverse taste buds at dinnertime.
However, one important aspect of cooking is meal planning. I do love cooking and all the great rewards of giving love through food. I am very new to the meal planning process. I have discovered that meal planning is a must to allow myself to slow down from the overwhelm of everyday!
I plan my meals Monday-Thursday with Friday being my off day. Friday is the day where I usually do breakdown and order a pizza and have family movie night. I have found meal planning to be absolutely essential to provide more healthy meals for my family. If I do not have a strategic game plan, the temptation of eating unhealthy before the end of the week is very clear and very real!
If I plan ahead and have all the ingredients to cook prior in the house, preparing a healthy meal becomes more of a reality and not a dream. That doesn’t mean meal planning is effortless, but I have a few tricks to help you plan like a boss!
Use Pinterest
Pinterest is my go-to for almost everything dealing with cooking, awesome recipes, and meal planning. I have actually created two boards on my Pinterest page totally dedicated to recipes and meal planning.
My first board is Recipes that are Awesome. This is the board that houses all of my favorite recipes, sometimes I will pin a recipe and go back later to add it into my meal for the week.
The next board on my page is Meal Planning for the family. On this particular board I have pins of meal plans from breakfast through dinner. This board has great ideas for lunches to take to school and work too.
Get the whole family involved
Get the children busy with discussing their favorite meals that they enjoy eating during the week. The children can write down or draw some of their all time awesome foods from cookbooks and recipe cards. This teaches children life skills too.
Schedule meal planning time
For our family meal planning time happens on Sunday evening. We gather together to discuss the plan for the week. This is the time when I prep for the entire week including laundry duty, lay out my children’s clothes, and we go grocery shopping on Sunday.
Post a list of your favorite recipes
I have a list of my favorite recipes in my business notebook. We have a running list of the basics for our household that we purchase without fail!
Save coupons
Saving coupons is key for meal planning, some of the foods that I utilize for cooking signature meals can be found in my Sunday coupons or coupons that I receive from our local grocery stores.
My hubby and I both have a coupons that we save, he keeps his share in his wallet and I keep mine in my purse and kitchen drawer.
Use your best judgement
I have learned that everyone has a different meal planning strategy that works for you and your family. The way that I meal plan may not work for a family of three. In contrast to when I am serving a family of four.
Make the best choices that work with your lifestyle and meal planning choices. Creating an effective meal plan is one of the best ways to improve the quality of life for my family. It has become a wonderful experience and family bonding time, and can save money!
What meal planning strategies do you use for your family?
Pinterest is definitely the gold mine when it comes to meal planning. I also like picking one main ingredient and making that the theme for the week. For example, one week I can buy chicken and every meal that week will have shredded chicken. It makes grocery shopping and planning easier for me that way.
Terri that is such a good idea to choose one main ingredient for the week. I have to add that to my meal planning strategy plan for the future!
Cool beans. I have a family of 8’and still don’t have the meal planning down just yet
Meal planning is essential if you want to successfully feed your family wholesome meals each night. Waiting until the last minute will usually result in picking up fast food. I usually shop for fresh fruits, veggies, and meat each Sunday after church. I only buy things that I know we’ll eat, so there’s little chance that things will go to waste. Oh yeah, Pinterest is a must! Thanks for sharing, Toiia.
I am really learning more about meal planning, especially during the week. The weekends are usually a time where I take a break from meal planning for my family.
Meal planing is such an prefect way for me to plan my week out!
Meal planning is essential with planning out my week too! I like to have some type of strategy for the foods that we are going to consume as a family!
I’m not great at meal planning, but I am doing better with using my crockpot.
I love meals I can set and forget because I can’t stand hovering over a stove.
I love my crock pot! That is my go-to on very busy days when I just want to have meals to set and forget them and work on other household chores!
This is right on time! I just had a conversation with my husband about meal planning last night. Great tips!!!
I am so happy this is right on time! Thank you so much!! I hope that you have a blast starting your meal planning adventure.
I actually have been meal planning more. I bought a bunch of containers and Pinerest is really my friend.
One day I will actually be successful at meal planning. I know it is worth doing so I will be making time. Cooking more at home has helped me stay on budget and shed a few pounds.
I used to love meal prepping on Sundays but I just don’t have it in me anymore. I needed to focus on my strengths and cooking isn’t my passion but thankfully I have found a lovely lady in Dallas with amazing prices that does meal prep delivery in the area. Every Friday I place my order and Sunday I have a week’s worth of lunch and dinner ready to go. I am always on the run and this has helped save me money from eating out.
I meal plan for breakfast with my yogurt, fruit and mason jars!!!! Oh i add oats and chia too. Its so convenient and i just grab my jar and go. Great tips!!
I love the yogurt fruit mason jars! I want to try some with oatmeal, yogurt and fruit!
I think meal planning is a great idea. It helps you to save as well as eat health. I have not started planning but I would love to do this to save money and help me get out of the house quicker in the morning
Meal planning is so awesome! I am working on planning breakfasts and saw some great ideas on Pinterest!
I cook big batches of our favorites that I know both my husband and I like. There are also ‘interchangeable’ so you can kinda eat what you’re in the mood for that day.
I wish I had the patience to meal plan! You go girl! Thanks for sharing!
Meal planning can become so much fun!! You can keep it very simple to fit your lifestyle!