How to Make a Weekly Family Meal Plan That Actually Works

Which one of these moms are you?

1. The mom who gets home from a long day of work, asks her family what they want for dinner and is given the same response of, “I don’t know” or “I don’t care.”
   
   
2. The mom who just finished baseball practice (insert your family’s hobbies) but didn’t think ahead about dinner and you’re now running through the drive-thru for the third time this week.
   
   
3. The mom who pins recipes on Pinterest and sort of makes a meal plan but lacks consistency and forgets to even look at her plan.
   
   
4. Or you are a little bit of all three of these moms and then some.

Meal planning does not have to be difficult, and with a simple meal-planning system that you consistently live out each week, you can feel more prepared for making meals for your family at home regularly.

My goal is to provide you with a simple, three-step meal-planning system that will help you consistently cook meals at home that your family will actually want to eat.

It will take a little upfront work and time investment to set up your system but then you will be able to easily create a family meal plan each week.

My best advice is not to skip steps in order to cut corners. I’ve been using this meal-planning system to feed my busy family of five for years and let me just tell you that I don’t slave away in the kitchen for hours.

I actually used to HATE the entire planning, shopping, cooking, eating, and clean-up process. But now with this SIMPLE system along with other home management habits I’ve established, I’m able to enjoy providing meals for my family without feeling burnt out, underappreciated, or overwhelmed.

If I can do this with an extremely busy schedule, I know you can too.

Commit to going through all the steps in this blog post without skipping. And if you want to accelerate your success by applying this meal-planning system to your home, download my meal-planning worksheets.

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Step 1: Create a Masterlist of Meals Your Family Will Actually Eat

Did you download the meal-planning worksheets yet? If not, get them HERE.

One of the most crucial steps in successful meal planning is creating a master list of meals your family will actually enjoy eating. This list will become your go-to resource when planning your weekly menus.

Here are some ideas and tips for creating a master list that caters to everyone’s food preferences.

Brainstorm Meal Ideas Into Categories

When it comes to creating a meal master list, brainstorming meal ideas into categories is an incredibly helpful approach. By organizing your ideas into distinct categories, you’ll not only come up with more meals to make but your master lists will be more organized in your home management binder making the weekly planning process even easier.

Categorizing your meal ideas can save you time and effort in the long run. When you’re armed with a well-organized master list, you won’t have to spend valuable time racking your brain for meal ideas each day. Instead, you can simply refer to your master list. This efficiency can be a game-changer, particularly during busy weekends when you have limited time to devote to meal planning.

Here are a couple of category ideas to help you brainstorm different types of meals.

You can simply write these headings at the top of a piece of paper or you can download my templates from my Meal Planning Workbook. This workbook includes 192 meal ideas and 21 fill-in-the-blank pages to help your meal planning process run smoothly each week.

• Family Favorites
• Ethnic Meals
• 5-Minute Meals
• 10-Minute Meals
• 30-Minute Meals
• 60-Minute Meals
• Crockpot Meals
• Instant Pot Meals
• Air Fryer Meals
• Microwave Meals
• Kids Eat Free Restaurants
• Fastfood Healthy Choices
• Breakfast Ideas
• Lunch Ideas

Get Your Family Involved in Meal Planning

Get the whole family involved in brainstorming their favorite meals. This ensures that everyone’s preferences are considered, and it can even make picky eaters more open to trying new things.

Plus, it’s a fun way to engage your children in the meal-planning process and teach them valuable life skills even if you don’t want their input each and every week. You can always add more meals to your master list as their preferences develop and expand.

Include Meals Your Family Can Cook Without You

Including meals that your family can cook without you is an excellent idea! It not only takes some of the cooking responsibilities off your shoulders but also empowers your loved ones to become more independent and confident in the kitchen.

Encouraging your family to cook meals without you instills a sense of self-sufficiency and independence. By allowing them to take charge of meal preparation, you’re providing an opportunity for personal growth and development.

Whether it’s teaching your children how to make simple recipes or involving your spouse or other family members in more complex dishes, they will gradually gain the skills and confidence needed to create meals on their own.

Training Kids in the Kitchen at Early Ages

If your children are still too little to cook on their own, think of some simple meals you can involve them in so that you’re training them to feel comfortable in the kitchen preparing meals from an age.

I recall the earliest meal my daughter made all by herself around four years old was making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. At fourteen, she now can follow a recipe from start to finish if I ask her to.

MOM TIP: I know it’s easier to cook without your kids. Like with any training it’s always difficult in the beginning but your patience and consistency will pay off when your kids are independent and capable humans.

Step 2: Decide on Meals for the Week During Your Weekend Reset

If you completed step #1, congratulations! That is the hardest and most time-consuming part of the meal planning process. You’re saving yourself hours of time spent on meal planning by creating the master list first.

Once you have your master list, it’s time to plan your weekly menu during your weekend reset. Follow these tips to make the process smooth, efficient, and tailored to you and your family’s needs.

Schedule Time for Meal Planning

Set aside a dedicated time each week to plan your menu, such as a Sunday morning or Saturday afternoon. Having a regular routine will make meal planning a habit, easing your stress around food and decision-making.

If you’ve tried meal planning in the past but failed at it, it’s probably because you’ve been overcomplicating the whole process. This simple weekend routine is going to make life so much easier for you.

I include meal planning in my weekend reset ritual. I used to have an extensive list of tasks to complete on weekends but lately, I’ve narrowed it down to the bare minimum of catching up on laundry, meal planning, and resetting my paper and virtual calendars. This simple weekend reset sets me up for an organized and productive week.

How Time Blocking Helps with Meal Planning

I’m a big fan of time-blocking. It’s the only way I’ve been able to run multiple businesses from home while homeschooling my kids and staying on top of chores around the house.

I’ve tried several paper planners for time-blocking but the At-A-Glance Harmony Planner is by far my favorite, and I’ve been using it successfully for the past two years for keeping up with my time blocks.

What Does it Actually Look to Create a Weekly Meal Plan?

I learn best by example so I’m going to share with you my exact setup. I keep a home management binder on a shelf in my pantry. This binder holds all the essential papers for running my home on a daily basis.

Ideally every Sunday I will clear our kitchen island from all clutter, grab my home management binder and flip it open to my meals master list.

Create a Visible Meal Plan Chart

Then I’ll grab our magnetic meal plan tear pad from off the refrigerator. I don’t like clutter on the front of the refrigerator but I do keep our magnetic meal plan. Since there’s nothing else on the refrigerator, the meal plan is easily visible and really obvious which is one of the criteria in our framework for creating home management systems.

Using a simple meal planning template, like a magnetic tear pad for the refrigerator, can help keep you organized and ensure everyone in the family knows what’s for dinner. This can also help eliminate the constant “What’s for dinner?” questions.

Factor in Schedules and Family Activities

When I sit down to plan meals, I also make sure I have my virtual calendar on my phone or my paper planner close by to plan around the activities and events for the week.

With my meals master list in my home management binder, our weekly meal plan tear pad, and my family calendar, I am able to easily create a weekly meal plan and grocery list for our family in less than 30 minutes. That may seem like a lot of time but you will find yourself saving time in the long run.

It reminds me of the old productivity quote, ” When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” I’ve found this to be true time and time again especially when I don’t take the time to plan for meals for the week ahead.

Start with Ingredients You Have On Hand

During the planning routine, I make sure to check the pantry and refrigerator for any ingredients and supplies that I already have on hand. Those meals get added to the meal plan first before adding any meals in which I need to buy ingredients. This helps to keep our pantry and refrigerator minimal which also helps keep it more organized and avoid wasting food.

Cook Once, Eat Twice

Maximize your time in the kitchen by cooking double portions and planning for leftovers. This strategy can provide you with quick and easy meals for busy weeknights, reducing stress and time spent in the kitchen.

I even write out “leftovers” on the weekly meal schedule in order to plan for busier days when I know won’t feel like cooking.

Plan for Eating Out

While the goal is to enjoy more home-cooked meals, it’s essential to be realistic and plan for occasional dining out. Budget for it, and consider incorporating it into your weekly menu to keep things manageable and enjoyable.

This is why I’ve included the “Kids Eat Free” category in the meals master list category. Years ago our family would dine at Moe’s every Wednesday night when kids could eat for free with every adult meal purchase. Now our local Moe’s has switched to Sundays so that’s where we will sometimes eat with friends after church.

But it’s always a good idea to plan ahead for eating out instead of using it as a backup. If you resort to eating out as a backup plan, you will find yourself eating out more than you really want. A good backup plan for dinner at home are simple sandwiches or boxed or frozen meals.

Take a Break From Cooking Every Night

I like to also plan eating out or takeout for specific days to give myself a break from cooking. For instance, we order pizza from different restaurants on Friday nights. Not only does this ease the burden on me for just one night a week but it’s also creating memories for my kids. Friday night, pizza night!

MOM TIP: Create your weekend meal planning ritual and enjoy the process by staying organized. Declutter the space before hand and reset the space once you’re finished. Every efficient home mangement system works in a beginning and ending cycle.

Step 3: Shop for the Meals You’ve Planned

Now that we’ve discussed some fundamental principles, here are a few tips to help you establish a sense of calm within yourself and your child’s messy bedroom:

Create a Shopping List Based on Your Meal Plan

Once you have a list of what you’re planning on cooking for the week, it’s time to create a shopping list based on your meal plan. Instead of trying to remember specific ingredients, this shopping list will ensure that you purchase everything you need for your planned meals and avoid buying unnecessary items.

If you want to take it one step further, you can organize your list by grocery store sections, such as produce, dairy, and meats, to make your shopping trip more efficient and enjoyable. This works great especially if you have a specific grocery store you shop at frequently.

Take Inventory of What’s Already in Your Kitchen

Before heading out to shop for your meals, it’s crucial to take inventory of what’s already in your kitchen. This will help you avoid buying duplicates and ensure that you utilize the ingredients you already have.

Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer for items that can be incorporated into your meal plan. By doing this, you’ll save money and prevent food waste.

Buying in Bulk: Pros and Cons

Buying in bulk can be a great way to save money and reduce packaging waste. However, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before committing to this approach. On the plus side, buying in bulk often offers lower prices per unit and reduces the amount of packaging needed.

On the other hand, bulk purchases may lead to food waste if you can’t use all the items before they spoil. Also, bulk buying can create extra clutter if you don’t have adequate storage options.

I personally lean towards not buying in bulk, and by using this weekly meal planning and shopping routine, I only need to buy what’s needed for the week. Sometimes I might buy a little extra for just in case of emergencies such as sickness or a busier-than-usual schedule.

If you opt-in for buying in bulk, I suggest only purchasing non-perishable items or ingredients that you use frequently and making sure you have enough storage before bringing items home. Just because something is a good deal doesn’t mean it’s good for you to have in your home right now.

Utilize Grocery Delivery & Pickup Services: Pros and Cons

Grocery delivery and pickup services have become increasingly popular and can be a convenient option for busy moms. These services can save you a lot of time and energy by delivering groceries right to your doorstep or having them ready for you to pick up from the store.

However, there are some downsides to grocery delivery or pickup you might want to consider. Delivery fees and service charges can add up quickly, which of course will increase your grocery budget. If the convenience is worth the cost, then this may not be a problem for your family but if saving money is what you’re aiming for, you may want to use grocery delivery services for special occasions or as a backup for when your schedule gets too busy for in-person shopping.

Also, you may not have the same level of control over selecting your produce as you would in-store. You would hope the person selecting your produce would only choose the best but there is no guarantee. Most grocery delivery services will give you the option to substitute items that are out of stock or not available, but again, this means that you’re giving control over to the person shopping for you. If this isn’t a big deal to you then outsourcing a grocery service might be a great idea for your shopping needs.

To determine if grocery delivery is right for you, weigh the convenience against the potential costs and limitations.

Here are a couple of grocery delivery services. Check to see what’s available in your area.

• Wal-Mart
• Amazon Fresh
• Instacart
• FreshDirect
• Misfits Market

MOM TIP: Make your grocery shopping trip more enjoyable by shopping at stores that feel more like a luxury experience instead of a place you dread. I personally prefer smaller stores like Aldi and our local produce market.

How to Be Consistent with Meal Planning

If you’ve followed the steps I’ve outlined above starting with the hardest but most important step first, creating a master list of meals, then you will easily be able to follow the latter two steps of choosing your meals and shopping for ingredients each week.

The only other hard step is being consistent. You will probably struggle the most with consistency so it’s important that you set up your environment to support this new habit you desire to establish.

As with other systems we’ve covered, we will use James Clear’s 4 Laws for Behavior Change as our framework for creating new habits and systems in our home. Let’s test this new meal-planning system to see if it meets our criteria.

Is This Meal Plan System Obvious?

When a system is obvious, it means it is easily visible or apparent in your daily environment. An obvious system is one that is prominently displayed or cues you to take action without much effort or conscious thought.

The meal plan system I’ve described in this post meets the “obvious” criteria because it provides a clear and visible structure for planning meals and having them posted for everyone in the family to see daily.

This increased visibility and organization helps make the desired behavior (eating according to the meal plan) more obvious and accessible.

Is Your Meal Plan System Attractive?

When a system is attractive, it means it is appealing and enticing to you. James Clear suggests that if a habit is associated with positive emotions, immediate rewards, or personal satisfaction, you are more likely to be motivated to repeat that behavior and form a lasting habit. We can apply that positive reinforcement to any systems or processes for completing tasks we create in our homes.

Your new meal planning system will provide you with several immediate rewards. First, you find relief from having to decide at the last minute what to cook every day. Your family will now be informed and know what to expect to eat for the week, and you no longer have to face the burdensome question, “What’s for dinner?.” You’ll simply be able to refer them to the meal plan chart.

Another unexpected reward you’ll experience when you’re consistent with meal planning is feeling like you’re an organized person which is probably a skill you’ve been wanting for a long time. Consistency is a big contributing factor for becoming an organized person and when your systems and habits are attractive consistency is more achievable.

Is Your Meal Plan System Easy?

When a system is easy, it means it is simple and requires minimal effort to perform. An easy system is one that is not overly complex or demanding, making it more likely to be executed consistently.

Once you take the time to create your meals master list, this meal planning system will meet the “easy” criteria. This 3-step meal planning system simplifies the decision-making process and reduces the effort required to prepare meals on a daily basis.

By planning meals in advance, you’ll be able to:

1. Save time: Knowing what to cook each day eliminates the need to spend time deciding on meals daily.
   
2. Streamline grocery shopping: A meal plan allows for creating a precise shopping list, reducing impulse buys, and minimizing multiple trips to the store.
   
3. Simplify meal prep: With a meal plan, you can prepare ingredients in advance or batch cook to save time and effort during the week.
   
4. Reduce decision fatigue: By having a predetermined plan, you can avoid the mental strain of making daily meal choices.

Is Your Meal Plan System Satisfying?

When a system is satisfying, it means it provides a sense of fulfillment or accomplishment upon completion. Just imagine how proud you will feel having your meal plan up and on display for your family to see week after week. Think about the money you will be saving, the food you won’t be wasting, and the time you will be maximizing by knowing exactly what you’re cooking at each meal.

When I started meal planning and displaying our family meal plan chart on our refrigerator a couple of years ago, my children’s friends would comment how they wished they had a chart like that in their homes. It made me feel really good knowing I was doing something good for my family, and every time I hear an acknowledgment about my meal planning chart, it makes me feel proud of how far I’ve come.

Try Your Best and Don’t Give Up

The only way to fail at your meal planning system is to never do it or to try and give up. Just because you create this system doesn’t mean it’s going to work perfectly every week. Especially when you are new to using this system, it’s going to be hard to remember to take some time to sit down and plan, but even if you think ahead about just one meal you will save yourself so much stress and overwhelm.

Don’t give up on trying to use your meal planning system. It can work for you and your family. You may need to make some adjustments. You may need to slow down, declutter your life a little more, or get some accountability and coaching. Whatever you do, don’t give up. You too can become a more organized person and be able to plan your family meals each and every week.

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I’d love to hear from you!

What is your experience with meal planning for your family? Do you think this plan can work for you? Why or why not?