Are you a fan of meal planning? It’s one of my resolutions for the year.
With so many different ways to meal plan, we’re going to talk about some ways you can make meal planning automatic.
Three quick strategies that will change how you meal plan:
1. Have set theme or specific meal nights.
Planning specific meals on specific nights takes a lot of the work out of meal planning. Of course, this doesn’t have to be set in stone, but it really helps. In our house, we do Mexican Mash-Up on Tuesday nights. (Our version of Taco Tuesday.)
I get asked this recipe a lot so I’m sharing it here:
- 1 can black beans
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 rice pouch
- 1 container of pico de gallo (or a fresh salsa)
Mix all the ingredients together in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add your favorite taco seasoning (we use our own mix of onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and cayenne pepper, but use whatever seasonings your family enjoys). Serve with hard shell or soft shell tacos, and any toppings you like – salsa, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, etc.
For each night (or at least a few 3-4) have a specific theme – such as pasta, fish, or takeout. Maybe it’s special for your family to have pizza on Friday nights. Or, takeout on Saturdays. Having a general idea helps when you’re meal planning that “Wednesday night is pasta night”. That could mean a pre-made lasagna, or pasta and sauce. Having a general theme helps with your ideas.
2. Organize your recipes.
Store your recipes somewhere easily accessible that you will reach for when you’re meal planning. And, for bonus points, go through your recipe books and donate any that you no longer use. Take some time to go through the books and mark pages of recipes you may actually make.
In addition, organize your recipe boards on Pinterest. Flip through your pins for new ideas you forgot you pinned!
3. Build in flexibility.
As much as I love a good plan, I try to allow for flexibility. This means having quick dinners on-hand to make in a pinch. If you end up working later than you thought or one of your kids gets sick or doesn’t nap – any number of things can throw off the dinner plan. This may mean a frozen pizza, or scrambled eggs and toast, or salad from a bag. Having other quick foods on hand and being flexible with your schedule are keys to creating ease in your meal plan.
What other tips do you use to meal plan quickly?
