30 Days to Organized Day 12: Manage Your Meals

30 Days to an Organized Life Day 12

It’s five o’clock, you’re exhausted and frazzled from a crazy day and your kids are whining. Then you realize you have no idea what you’re going to make for dinner. Looks like cereal again, kids.

As I mentioned yesterday a weekly meal plan is an integral part of staying organized. Your people have to eat and creating a plan for exactly WHAT you will eat will save time, reduce your grocery bill and help you avoid the stress of the dinnertime crunch.

These three tips will make meal planning easier:

Make It Simple

Many times when we are “officially” writing meals on paper we feel pressure that every meal has to be amazing. Give yourself a break and plan one or two special meals each week and fill in the rest with basics like pasta, grilled cheese and breakfast for dinner. I have a list of simple favorites like Easy Chicken Enchiladas, Turkey Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese and Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Scrambled eggs that I can pop into the list when I am feeling un-inspired.

Make It Routine

Choose a day and time that you can set aside every week to plan meals and create a grocery list. Write this appointment in your calendar and treat it like a doctor’s appointment. If you don’t show up for a medical appointment you have to pay a fee. If you don’t show up for your planning appointment your fee is a week of stress and craziness as you try to get dinner on the table without a plan.

Make It Visible

There is no point in creating a plan if you don’t follow it. Make it easy on yourself by posting your plan where you can see it and refer to it. My favorite spot is the front of the fridge so I am confronted with it every time I open the door to get food.

Once you have a meal plan you can reduce your stress level even further by implementing Morning Meal Prep. You can read more details here but doing a little bit of work in the morning will allow you to get a jump start on rush hour when everyone is hungry and you are tired.

Today’s Task 1: Print the manageYOURmeals page from your ePlanner or The Peaceful Mom Menu planner. Spend 10 minutes making a list of at least 3-5 dinners you can make for this week using ingredients you already have in the fridge, freezer and pantry.
Today’s Task 2: For extra credit create a complete week of meals and write the ingredients you will need on your grocery list.

RESOURCES

How to Make a Meal Plan

Printable Meal Planners

Meal Ideas

Freezer Cooking Plans

Easy Recipes

More Easy Meal Planning Ideas & Tips

Need help with meal planning? eMeals has over a dozen monthly meal plans (clean eating, budget-friendly, gluten free, slow cooker) including grocery lists and recipes starting at just $5 a month when you purchase a 3 month subscription. My readers can get a FREE 2 week trial!