Family Meal Planning: Tips to Make Your Week Run Smoothly
Attempting family meal planning every week used to be the bane of my existence. I was always reactive when it came to prepping meals in the evening, which often led to a lot of chicken nugget dinners for my kids when they were younger. Committing to planning in advance for the upcoming, dreaded grocery trip was also a struggle.
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Why is Family Meal Planning Important?
Save Money: Family meal planning helps save a lot of money. We used to waste a lot of money on unplanned eating out with the kids. As you know, family meals out add up quickly and may not fit into the budget multiple times per week.
Healthier Meals: Planning out your meals for the week makes it much easier to uphold healthier meal standards for your family. When cooking a healthy meal at home becomes easier than ordering takeout or loading everyone up to go to a restaurant, you’re more likely to follow through on your health goals, benefiting the whole family.
I hope this blog post empowers you to tackle family meal planning as part of the organized mommy life.
Tips for Effective Family Meal Planning: Getting Started
Plan on Sunday Evenings: Commit to planning your meals at the same time every Sunday. This consistency makes it easier to stick to and eventually becomes a habit.
Preset Grocery List: Keep a list of basics you buy regularly in the notes section of your phone and add to it each week. Regular perishables like apples and bananas should always be on this list to avoid forgetting them.
Grocerty Shopping Tips
Online Grocery Shopping: Shopping online can save money and prevent impulse buys, especially if your kids tend to ask for everything they see. Digital coupons are also easier to use than physical ones, helping you save even more.
Grocery Pickup or Delivery: Utilize grocery pickup or delivery services. While I mostly use pickup, I opt for delivery during particularly busy weeks.
Organize In-Store Shopping: If you prefer in-store shopping, organize your list based on the store’s layout to save time. Stick to the store’s perimeter for healthier options and avoid tempting aisles like the cookie aisle.
Family Meal Planning and Preparation
Choose Simple Recipes: Start with simple recipes, especially if you’re new to meal prepping. Most of the recipes I use have fewer than 10 ingredients.
Match Meals to Your Schedule: Ensure your planned meals fit your weekly schedule. Recipes requiring lengthy prep times might not be suitable for busy nights.
Involve the Family: Ask family members for dinner ideas to reduce decision fatigue and ensure everyone is excited about the meals.
Theme Nights: Implement theme nights like Taco Tuesdays or Pizza Fridays to simplify planning and add fun to your routine.
Rotating Schedule: Create a rotating schedule of weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meals. Include one night a month for trying out a new recipe if you’re feeling adventurous.
Leave One Night Unplanned: Reserve one night for flexibility. Use this night for eating out, having leftovers, or making something quick like spaghetti or sloppy joes.
Emergency and quick meal options
Stock Quick Meals: Keep a few quick and easy meal options in your cupboard, like Zatarain’s Red Beans and Rice, Hamburger Helper, or canned chili.
Use Crockpots and Instant Pots: These gadgets can save time and effort, making meal prep more manageable.
Advanced preparation
Prep on Sunday: If possible, do some prep work on Sunday after your grocery trip, such as chopping vegetables for upcoming recipes. This makes weekday meal preparation quicker and easier.
Weekend Casserole Prep: Prepare a couple of casseroles on the weekend and freeze them. These can be lifesavers during a hectic week.
Double Recipes: When making casseroles, double the recipe. Freeze one for later or split it in half to enjoy another time.
Daily and Weekly Habits
Prep Lunches and Breakfasts: Prepare these meals the night before to avoid morning rushes.
Plan Healthy Snacks: Make healthy snacks easily accessible and store unhealthy snacks out of sight. Pre-sliced strawberries are more likely to be eaten if they’re ready to go.
Visible Meal Calendar: Write down your meal plan on a visible calendar. This allows other family members, like your husband, to start dinner if you’re not home.
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Start small and build habits
If you’re struggling to commit to meal planning, start small. Begin by planning just 2-3 dinners per week and do your planning at the same time each week. Set a reminder on your phone and stick to it. Once it becomes a habit, it will be easier to expand and enhance your meal planning routine.