Several nights a week as it would get close to dinner, I would start wracking my brain trying to figure out what to make to eat and if I had all the ingredients. I found that I was telling my husband to pick something up more often than not. This was getting old fast because eating out is expensive, not good for your health and then we ended up moving out to the country where our choices were more limited. I knew that I had to do something to change this habit.
My first step to creating a meal plan was printing out a monthly calendar. Then a month out I mark all the nights that have something going on: holidays, birthdays and our weekly date night. Then I figure out what I am making for dinner. I start filling in our favorite recipes. Then I look through my boards on Pinterest to find new recipes. I try to make sure that I do not have two types of cuisine back to back (like Mexican) or use my crockpot two nights in a row (more than likely it would not be clean for the second day).
When it comes to cooking dinner, I try to pull items out of the freezer the night before so that they have time to defrost in the refrigerator.
The meal plan also helps with grocery shopping. I can look at the upcoming weeks and get everything that we need to make dinner. My tip for getting dinner on the table fast is making shredded chicken ahead of time and freezing it. Then I use the shredded chicken in everything from chicken enchiladas to bbq chicken sandwiches to chicken fried rice.
However, just because I have an idea of what we are having for dinner for the next month, does not mean that I do not make changes or move items around. You always have that flexibility when you are really craving something else. In addition, if planning a month in advance is too much for you, try planning just a week in advance.
Now the question, what is for dinner? is easy to answer. I hope that this helps you with meal planning.
Do you have tips on how you plan your meals, let me know below.
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We are very big into meal planning in our house – we have to be, or we will eat out wayyyy too much. These are all great tips, and I agree with them all!
Thank you Nichole! It’s been working well for us
I needed this today! I know my sweet husband gets tired of running to the store on his way home. Before I started blogging, I was so good about meal planning. I’m going to use all of your helpful tips in order to be more prepared – especially the one about printing out a monthly calendar and marking date night, etc. Great tips! LOL about the crock pot. Been there plently of times.
Thank you Alli! I know what it feels like to fall off the wagon! I hope these tips help you out!
Man I love meal planning – so glad you are sharing your tips, I always seem to learn something!!
Thank you Sam!
I am so terrible at meal planning and that is due to coming home late due to work. I’m noticing we are ordering out way too much but I need to get myself organized and start planning our meals better. Thanks for the tips Paris!
You’re welcome Lou! I know that it is hard when you are tired and don’t want to take the time to make something. I hope that they help you out!
I really need to get back to meal planning; we are starting to eat out way to much! Thank you for sharing your tips! P.S. That chicken chili pie looks delish!
Thanks Nicole! The Chicken Chili Pie is one of our go to recipes in the fall/winter.
I can’t imagine maintaining my budget without meal planning–great post!
Exactly Kristen! Meal planning helps out in so many ways!
These are great tips! I really need to start meal planning. It would be so helpful.
Fried rice is soooo good! I have been very bad with meal planning since I had surgery last July, I never got back into the swing of it. Hopefully when we move, I get back on a routine. Plus work is super sporadic since I am a smidge farther away for the time being. Routines help me meal plan!
I hope you can get back to your routine Sabrina!
I’m getting inspiration for my own meal plans. We definitely eat out too much and as you said, that gets very expensive, specially in nyc. Thanks for the ideas.
I hope it helps you Leslie!
I use to meal plan but have slowly stopped. I need to get back in the habit it saved me so much money.
It does save so much money!
Wow great tips AND that food looks so delish! Great job lady.
Thank you Jessica!
I love meal planning. I get sort of out of place when I have nothing planned and do not know where to start. I usually have a night for different cuisine – Asian, Mexican, Italian and so on….And like you, I try not to have the same cuisine twice in a row. Thank you for sharing with us at #homematters Linky party.
Thanks Zan! That’s a great idea to have dedicated cuisine nights!
Great tips!! I am LOST without meal planning. By the time I’m done at work, pick up my little ones from daycare and get home it’s almost 6…way too late to try and figure out what to make….and then not have what I need. I’ve played around with different types of meal planning (check out the pepperplate app, you can create your meal plan on there). I’m still working on a plan that works for us but I found putting meals in dates never worked because I was always shifting them around. Now I make a list of 10-15 meals and do my grocery shopping for those. Between pizza night on Fridays, a few nights eating out, a few nights of leftovers, etc these last me 3-4 weeks. Then I can decide early in the week my plan or the night before look at my list and take what I need out of the freezer. When I make a meal I cross it off the list. It’s been working pretty good so far and I have to shop less often. Great post – stopping over from the Pick your Pin Party.
Thank you Amy! I am so glad you found something that works for you! It’s such a good feeling to be able to shop less, save money and not be rushed trying to figure out what is for dinner.
Some good tips here. I especially like the idea of shredding chicken for the freezer.
My wife and I, when we are felling organised, plan a week in advance, and what we have found is just how much money we save by doing this, as well as reducing the volume of food waste.
Came here via #TwinklyTuesday
Thank you David! t’s such a good feeling to be able to shop less, save money and reduce food waste.
We have food allergies in the house, so Meal Planning is absolutely KEY to staying sane! I usually do it by the week though, and not by the month… I might have to switch over though! I love all your tips!
Thank you Cristina! I know that meal planning definitely keeps the house running smooth in the evening! Either by week or month 🙂
Oh my goodness – I should really do this. Love the idea of using Pinterest for ideas. I am always scratching my head to come up with ideas for tea and usually get as far as fish fingers or pizza! #TwinklyTuesday
I hope these tips help Linda! Pinterest is a great resource for recipes!
When life gets really busy, that’s when I usually meal plan. The crock pot is my friend at those times! Thank you for sharing with us at Merry Monday, do come again!
I love my crockpot! It gets quite the workout!