Ever had this conversation?
“What do you want for supper?”
“I don’t know, what do you want for supper?”
“I guess we’ll just have frozen pizza.”
Yep, me too. And honestly? Some days I’m just too exhausted to care. Add four picky kids with lots of opinions about what’s on their plates, and it’s enough to make me want to quit cooking altogether. But let me tell you—meal planning has been a total game-changer.
Now, I’m not going to pretend I’ve got it all figured out. I’m not perfect at sticking to my plans. In fact, I like to think of meal plans as more of a suggestion. But having a plan to fall back on when I don’t know what to cook? Life. Saver. So let’s talk about how you can create a weekly meal plan in 30 minutes or less—and actually stick to it!
Why Meal Planning Matters
Let’s be real—meal planning might feel like just another thing to add to your never-ending to-do list. But trust me, it’s worth it. Here’s why:
- Saves Time. Whether you work outside the home, homeschool, homestead, or just feel like you’re always on the go, having a plan means no more staring at the fridge wondering what to make.
- Cuts Food Waste. You’ll know exactly what you need at the store—and what you already have in the pantry.
- Eases Decision Fatigue. After a long day of chasing kids, managing the house, and trying to stay sane, the last thing you want to do is make another decision. Meal planning takes the guesswork out of dinner.
- Keeps Meals Healthier. You’ll end up with fewer frozen pizzas and more balanced meals for the whole family.
Here’s a great resource to help you with meal planning
Step 1: Start with Family Favorites
Start by asking yourself (and your family) what meals you actually love. What are the dinners you look forward to? The ones that make your kids cheer instead of groan?
- Write down your go-to meals. Think tacos, spaghetti, crockpot chili—whatever works for your family.
- Organize the list. Group meals by categories like quick dinners, crockpot meals, and freezer-friendly options.
- Make a master list. Keep it somewhere handy, like on your fridge or in a meal planning app. That way, you can just grab it when it’s time to plan.
Here’s another mom who has made an 8-week kid-friendly meal plan! Check it out.
Step 2: Shop Your Pantry First
Before you run to the store, check your pantry, fridge, and freezer. What do you already have?
- Plan meals around what’s in stock. Got chicken and rice? Boom—chicken stir-fry.
- Keep staples on hand. I always have things like pasta, canned tomatoes, and beans stocked up for quick meals.
- Cut down on extras. Shopping your pantry means you’re less likely to end up with random ingredients you don’t need.
Step 3: Double Up—Cook Once, Eat Twice
Want to save even more time? Make double batches and freeze the extras.
- Casseroles, soups, and chili are perfect for this. One of my favorites is what we call macaroni habika—basically ground beef, macaroni, tomato soup, cheese, and chili powder baked into a casserole. Easy to make, easy to freeze, and always a hit.
- Label and date freezer meals. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re digging through the freezer looking for something quick.
- Freeze in portions. I like to freeze meals in both dinner-sized batches and single servings for lunches.
Step 4: Create a Flexible Weekly Plan
Let’s talk about flexibility. Meal planning doesn’t mean locking yourself into a rigid schedule. Instead, think of it as a guide.
- Theme nights. Taco Tuesday? Meatless Monday? Casserole Thursday? Theme nights make planning easier and give your family something to look forward to.
- Leftover makeovers. Roast chicken tonight? Use the leftovers for tacos tomorrow. Or turn them into soup. Repurposing leftovers saves time and money.
- Shuffle meals if needed. Didn’t feel like cooking tacos on Tuesday? No big deal—move it to Thursday and swap meals around.
Step 5: Write a Quick Grocery List
The last step is making a grocery list based on your plan.
- Group items by category. Produce, dairy, pantry staples—it makes shopping faster.
- Stick to the list. Avoid impulse buys (so hard, I know!). When you shop with a plan, you’re less likely to overspend.
- Plan for sales. If you’re on a variable income like us, you can stock up on extra groceries when the budget allows.
Final Thoughts
Meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small—maybe just plan for a week at first. Once you get the hang of it, you can stretch it out to two weeks or even a whole month.
I can’t promise you’ll never have frozen pizza again (because, let’s be honest, sometimes frozen pizza is the plan). But I can promise that spending 30 minutes to plan your meals will save you time, stress, and money.
So grab your favorite notebook or meal-planning app and give it a try this week. And hey—if you have any meal-planning tips or go-to recipes, share them in the comments! Let’s help each other out.
