The Beginner’s Guide to Meal Planning Success

Meal planning doesn’t have to be some grandiose, time-consuming all-day task. If you’re not ready to commit to a weekly meal plan, it can be as simple as deciding on a few meals ahead of time. If you’re feeling industrious, it can be as detailed as plotting out every bite. No matter your style, I’m here to guide you through the basics. You can do this, with a little help from Granny. Let’s dive into the world of meal planning together, shall we?

Why Meal Plan?

Before we start, let’s pause for a moment. Why do you want to start meal planning? Is it to save money, perhaps? Or maybe to eat more nutritious food and have better control of what goes into your food? Or to simply reduce the stress of last-minute cooking? Understanding your motivation can help guide your planning process and keep you committed. Meal planning can save the average family of four approximately $200 per month, simply by reducing the frequency of dining out. Add to that the money you’ll save by planning your meals and making one trip to the grocery store instead of several and avoiding those impulse purchases. You’ll find there are many benefits to meal planning. Once you start, you’ll ask yourself why you waited so long to begin!

Start small. Maybe plan meals for just a couple of days a week and gradually build up to planning for an entire week. I used to plan meals for only dinner. Now that we have a home daycare, I plan breakfast, lunch, two snacks, and our dinner. I plan for one week or sometimes two. That’s just how I like to do it. The beauty of meal planning is that you can tailor it to work exactly how you need it to. 

If you’re used to deciding what you want for dinner in the morning and running to the store for the ingredients, meal planning might feel a bit strange to you. I find it comforting to have meals planned out and the ingredients on hand. It’s one less decision I have to make each day.

Allrighty, so you’ve set your goals. Now, let’s talk about the process. You don’t have to plan every single meal down to the last crouton on the salad. Start with dinners – they’re typically the most intimidating. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can add breakfasts and snacks into the mix if you want to. I find that I save the most money planning for all the meals. I check the weekly sales flyer and plan meals and snacks based on what’s on sale.

A simple weekly planner can work wonders. Many free templates are available online. I purchased this one and it works well for me in my daycare, as well as for planning our dinners. There are several choices and it’s a fillable PDF.

This may not sound like meal planning, but it’s a huge help. Batch cooking and snack prepping can be incorporated into your meal plan for the week.

Prepare a big batch of baked oatmeal, overnight oats or granola bars to use throughout the week. Muffins and quick breads are fantastic items to make ahead of time. If smoothies are a common breakfast or snack in your home, make smoothie bags and you’ll have ingredients ready to toss into the blender. Portion out nuts, fruits, or veggies in small containers so you’ll have grab-and-go options. Then, plan these things for breakfast and snacks.

Browning several pounds of ground beef at once and freezing it in 1-pound portions to use later is a great way to save time. It’s easy to put together dishes like Beef Nacho Casserole or Chile Relleno Casserole if the meat is already cooked. Chop veggies and marinate chicken breasts ahead of time to help save time cooking during the week.

Meal prepping can seem daunting, but a little time spent in preparation can go a long way. Dedicate one or two hours one day a week for prep. Having things ready to go on a busy weeknight is a big help. It takes a little bit of work and planning, but strategies like these can help you save time and money, making meal planning an even more worthwhile endeavor.

Your freezer is your best friend. It can be a lifesaver on those days when you’re too tired to cook. When cooking, double recipes and freeze half for later. There are also freezer meals you can make that you can cook in the slow cooker or the instant pot. Keep track of what’s in your freezer with labels and dates. Then, work those meals into your meal plan and give yourself a break!

Now, let’s talk shopping. Meal planning can significantly cut down on your grocery bill if you approach grocery shopping with a plan. Did you know that most people waste about 30% of the food they buy? That’s so much food, and it’s money from your grocery budget going straight into the garbage!

A shopping list based on your meal plan will ensure you have the ingredients you need for the meals you’ve planned. To save the most money, create a grocery list and stick to it. I find grocery pickup to be essential in helping me stick to my budget. If I don’t enter the store, I don’t buy any extras.

Keep a running grocery list. I know there are apps for this. We just use a whiteboard. When we are low on something, we jot it down. You don’t want to plan a meal and find out when you start to make it that you’ve run out of an essential ingredient.