There are two types of people in this world…. Those that eat to live and are happy eating whatever keeps them full, and those that live to eat and love exploring and trying new food! Most people fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. Where do you think you fall on the spectrum? I am definitely on the end closer to the live-to-eat end! I love having a few exciting, crave-able meals to look forward to each week. Meal planning has taken me several years to figure out what works for me. It took lots of trial and error (and many nights eating cereal or popcorn for dinner!) for me to figure out a simple plan so that I have an idea of what I am eating for the next week(ish). Let’s look at what it takes to make meal planning simple for you!
What does my week look like?
My strategy always starts with a shopping list and the local grocery store ad. As much as I try, I just can’t get away from shopping based on what is on sale! Maybe it is the frugal habit my parents instilled in me (I can’t get rid of!), or because it gives me ideas, but it is always where I start. I also have my calendar open so that I can see what the week looks like. Is it really busy? If so, I will be looking for easy-to-prepare items that will last for several meals.
Usually, I would plan for one of my “go-to” meals for this day or make a large portion of something that reheats well before the busyness starts. Do I have many lunch or dinner dates? Then I know that I don’t need to plan for as many meals as I normally would.
Let’s find some inspiration!
Once I have an idea of the # of lunch/dinner meals I need to have, then I take a minute and think “is there anything specific that I am craving, or really wanted to have in the past week?” If so, then I add that to my menu for the week first. Sometimes if I need some inspiration, I will scroll through Pinterest and see what catches my eye. Even if I don’t use the recipe that I initially see on Pinterest, it gives me some inspiration to look around and find a similar meal that is prepared a slightly different way.
When I did this process last week, I saw a recipe for chili in a slow cooker on Pinterest. I didn’t have time for a slow cooker during the week, so I then searched for other chili recipes until I found a stovetop one that looked tasty.
Once I find the recipe, I will write down the ingredients that I need to have (and check my pantry to make sure I have enough staples for the recipe). Remember, the goal is to get some simple and tasty meals for the week, these don’t need to be complex or expensive recipes. We are making meal planning simple!
What looks interesting at the grocery store?
The next step is to review the grocery ad and see what is on their best deal specials this week. Usually, these are the items that are featured on the top half of the front page. Often I will find a meat or fruit/vegetable item and I will base a meal or 2 around those items. If it is something you are not familiar with or have never cooked with before, then take a minute on Pinterest or Google and look for a recipe with it. You will be amazed at what you find! Take a chance and try something new!
What do I want to eat this week?
Usually, I look for two to three recipes of meals for myself in a normal week. Cooking three times is the maximum I can handle with my busy schedule and I look for each recipe to make about four servings. I find that I don’t mind eating leftovers as long as I have a variety and don’t eat the same thing for more than two meals in a row. Usually, I cook either Saturday or Sunday and then Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I try to save anything that is more complicated or takes more time for the weekend cooking.
Once my three main meals are set for the week, I will fill in the gaps with meals out or with my simple meal plans. I eat a lot of salad, so I always add fresh salad greens to my list. Salad is a great filler and is so flexible to add leftover diced meat or grilled veggies to or eat as a side with a bigger entree. I also look at my breakfast supplies and see if I need anything else purchased so I have available breakfast for the week.
If I am really busy this week, I will often opt for one of my Go-To meals, that I can have ready to eat in 20-30 minutes. My choice last week was the Sweet-Chili Salmon! Delicious!
What do I have on hand?
Yes! Cake is often what I want to eat!
The final step I have is to check my pantry/grocery list that I note anything that I am running out of during the week and add those items to my list. I then write down the main meals on a post-it note that goes on my fridge so I know what my meals are for the week. I don’t usually assign them to a day because I can be a mood eater and want the flexibility to eat what I am craving (again saving me from caving for take-out!)
Make it simple for you!
I find that this process is very flexible and works for me. Some weeks I will have fabulous meals that are filling cravings that I have, and other weeks I just need some simple meals to get me through the week. If you are closer to the “eat to live” end of the range, then your two to three meals can be really simple and healthy.
I have a friend who uses a similar process as I do but rotates through 18 standard recipes in six weeks of three recipes per week. His goal is to eat healthy food with as little thought and effort as possible going into keeping himself fed.
He and I sat down and categorized his favorite recipes into six groups and made shopping lists for each week. My friend never changes them up and is quite content rotating through the six weeks of meal plans and when he gets to the end, he just starts over with week 1! He is taking “making meal planning simple” to more of an extreme than I do, and it works great for him!
The key to this is to experiment to find what works for you. Being an adult is hard, and feeding yourself somewhat nutritious food three times a day (EVERY DAY) can get tedious and takes a significant amount of mental energy each day. Finding a system that fits your life (don’t try to make your life fit the system!), will make a world of difference to how much effort it takes to feed yourself.
Try different methods out. Mix and match them, figure out parts that work for you, and build yourself a system out of those successful parts. Remember, we are trying to streamline our daily tasks so they don’t suck up our mental energy and we can focus on the important things in our lives.
There are no rules!
Everyone is different in what they have time for, and what they want. I have found this to be a good middle-ground for myself and is a very flexible rough plan to have each week. Nothing here is set in stone and can be flexed to accommodate my needs for the week.
The framework can be changed to meet your different needs, or you can just mix it up from week to week. Sometimes, I realize I have a lot of food left from the previous week and then will skip on the shopping and supplement with a special take-out meal (that stretches over two to three meals). You do what works for you and your life!
What are your favorite meal planning tips? I would love to hear them either in the comments below or over on our Instagram page!
Leave a Reply