Finding Joy in Meal Planning

Meal Planning. Why is this something we dread? We know all the pros: save money, spend less time in the store, have your fridge and pantry stocked the way it should be, and skip the stress of figuring out dinner each night. Meal planning has one con: it takes 30 minutes to an hour out of one day each week to write everything down. Somehow, that one con outweighs all the pros! Meal planning doesn’t have to be something we dread.

They say it take 30 days of doing something for it to become a habit and I like to look at meal planning in the same way. Making it a priority will make it a habit. And making it a habit will make it easy, and dare I say enjoyable. I began meal planning about 4 months after being married to my husband. We were on a super tight budget so meal planning was essential to ensure I did not spend over our limit. I started out with themes to make it easier on myself, but it soon became a rhythm and the themes faded.

Pinterest has also been my best friend when it comes to planning. I love trying new recipes, so much so that at one point I didn’t repeat a single meal for 2 months. That rarely happens anymore though, as my family and I have found our favorites and like to enjoy them more often than that. 

Remembering our favorites can be hard, so I created for myself this Meal Planning board on Pinterest >> https://www.pinterest.com/katielynhope/meal-planning/.  All the recipes I make for the week are pinned on this board to easily find when I am ready to cook. If we like the meals, the pins stay. If we dislike the meals, then the pins are deleted. Cookbooks are also a great way to try new recipes and I am obsessed with The Pioneer Woman’s! Her recipes are so easy, fun, and always taste delicious. 

Above is how I make meal planning for my family easy. How do I make it fun? First is perception. To look at your grocery list as another chore can be exhausting. Instead, I like to think of it in a positive way. Every day of each week, my family comes together to share one meal at the table. During this meal, we talk about our day and enjoy being altogether with no distractions of electronics or activities. We are just together enjoying the same food and bonding through this. When I am meal planning, I am thinking of what we can all enjoy together, what is fun to try, and delicious to eat. This simple thought process turns my meal planning from dread to delight because it is for my family. I don’t have to cook for them, I get to cook for them.

The second way I make it fun, is by setting aside specific time for it without distractions. Trying to plan meals while my growing toddler old is running around asking for a snack and my youngest is trying to devour her sisters shoe is not setting myself up for a successful meal plan. My meals are planned after the babies are fast asleep and it includes sitting in my pjs with my favorite snack that I don’t have to share (apples dipped in almond butter with a dark chocolate bar on the side? Mmm, yes please). Now meal planning has become my time to relax and I truly do look forward to it each week. 

Stop thinking of meal planning as a dreadful chore and start getting creative with your family meals!

Do you plan your meals? Please share some of your favorite tips and recipes in the comments!