Learn how to get more organized and plan your meals for the week so you can stay on track with your health and fitness goals.
What's in this Post
Getting Started with Meal Planning
Have you been wanting to try meal planning but don't know where to start? I've got you.
In just a few simple steps, I'll show you how to plan your weekly meals and stay organized. You'll be saving time, money and stress, all while sticking to a healthy lifestyle!
How to meal plan
Step 1: Make a primary list of recipes.
The first step is to make a primary list of recipes that include:
- Recipes you've tried and like
- Quick meals ideas (think pita pizzas or breakfast for dinner)
- Recipes you want to try
Keep the list in a Word doc, the Notes app on your phone or in a physical binder and refer to it when picking your weekly meals.
Step 2: Shop your pantry and fridge.
Take a look at what you already have at home. It'll help reduce food waste and cut down on your grocery bill.
Step 3: Factor in weekly plans.
Factor in any weekly plans like sports or activities. On busier days, plan for something easy, like an Instant Pot recipe or a dump dinner.
You'll also want to factor in that some nights you won't feel like cooking, which is totally fine. Just make sure to mark it down!
Step 4: Choose recipes with overlapping ingredients.
Try and use the same ingredients for multiple recipes. It'll save you time and money, and you'll still have a ton of variety.
For example, if you need jarred pesto for sheet pan chicken, you can also use it to make pesto pasta.
Step 5: Fill out your meal planner.
Write down your meals for the week in my handy little meal planner you can download for free then make your grocery list.
Keep your plan pinned up on the fridge or somewhere you can easily refer to it.
Meal planning tips & tricks
Here are some of my top tips to keep you on track:
- Plan to plan: Pencil in the time each week for meal planning.
- Factor in leftovers: Eat leftovers for lunch the next day or repurpose them into something new.
- Prep some snacks: Add healthy snacks to your meal plan to keep you on track.
- Use an app: Stay organized on the go with a meal planning app.
- Get the family involved: Have them participate in the planning so they all like what they're eating (this is the key to making healthy meals for picky eaters).
The best meal prep containers and tools
- Glass meal prep bowls are so great for reheating your lunches.
- Mason jars are a great option for salads and soups.
- Salad containers are another great option.
- A Rice Cooker saves a ton of time.
- Bento box containers are perfect for snacks and lunches!
- Keep your freezer full of high-quality grass-fed beef and poultry from Butcher Box.
- My Vitamix blender is great for sauces, soups, dressings, smoothies and more.
- **View my Kitchen Essentials List for more meal prep tools**
Comments & Reviews
Robin Johnson says
You must be my meal-planning soul sister! I sat down and thought about my perfect meal plan, and it included eating the same breakfast everyday that week and making enough dinner so that I had the next day’s lunch ready to go! Since we apparently want the same things out of life (or, you know, maybe just our single-lady meal plan), I am really excited to try your other tips.
Taylor Stinson says
Wow we really are matching in our goals Robin!!! So glad you found some of these tips helpful! I think the way we cook is definitely suited more to single people but it could even be good for families with different schedules too 🙂