Meal planning can be a game-changer when it comes to managing your home and family life. It saves time, reduces stress, and ensures that you have delicious and nutritious meals on the table every day. One key step in effective meal planning is taking the time to review your previous week’s plan and assess what you have on hand. In this blog post, I’m sharing my quick & easy meal planning routine I use each week.
Step 1: Review Last Week’s Plan
Start by reviewing your meal plan from the previous week. This simple step serves two important purposes. Firstly, it helps you avoid repeating meals too frequently. Secondly, it allows you to identify any meals that were missed due to unexpected changes in plans. If you have the necessary ingredients on hand for those missed meals, consider moving them to the following week’s plan.
Step 2: Evaluate the Week Ahead
Take a look at your calendar for the upcoming week. Identify any days that are particularly busy or will result in late arrivals home. These are the days when you’ll want to prioritize quick and easy meals. Having a few go-to recipes for such occasions will save you time and energy during those hectic days.
Step 3: Look Over Your Rotating Meal Plan and Past Meal Ideas
Now it’s time to tap into your arsenal of meal ideas. Take a moment to review your rotating meal plan, if you have one, as well as any lists or notes where you’ve jotted down past meal ideas. By doing so, you’ll be able to add variety to your weekly menu without having to assign specific meals to particular days. The goal here is to ensure that you have enough meal options for the entire week.
Step 4: Write Down Meal Ideas and Assess Your Inventory
As you go through your meal ideas, start writing them down. Once you have a list of potential meals for the week, check your pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what ingredients you already have on hand. Take note of the items that need to be replenished or purchased from the store.
Step 5: Finalize Your Menu and Grocery List
With your meal ideas and inventory assessment in hand, it’s time to finalize your menu for the week. Consider factors such as variety, nutritional balance, and personal preferences of your family members. Once you’ve decided on the meals for the week, create a grocery list with all the necessary ingredients. If you prefer online grocery shopping, take advantage of this step by adding the required items to your virtual cart.
By following the five simple steps in this meal planning routine, you can simplify your process and ensure that you always have a well-thought-out menu for the week ahead. Start by reviewing last week’s plan and assessing what you have on hand – you’ll be amazed at how much smoother your meal planning becomes!
