Meal Planning for Success
Being a full-time working mom, I find it quite challenging to keep up with the day-to-day tasks of running a household and being the wife and mom I want to be. As the school year gears up, my family’s schedule is bound to grow even busier. So, between work, school and extra-curricular activities, I have found the only way to keep up is to maintain a structured routine for the whole family. One of the most important things that I have implemented into this regimen is planning out all of our meals for the week ahead of time, to make for easy meal successes during busy weeks.
Typically on Saturday mornings, I sit down with coffee in hand, to plan meals and cut coupons. It is tough to ensure that we are providing wholesome meals while also factoring in time constraints during the week. So, all of this is taken into consideration when planning for the upcoming week. I start out with a blank meal planner sheet. I figure out what activities are on the schedule each night, and then select meals accordingly. When we have less time in the evening, I try and do some easier, less time-consuming meals, such as sandwiches, semi-homemade pizzas, crockpot meals, or even breakfast for dinner! As the meals are determined, I also create my grocery list right there on the same sheet. Once I have it all figured out, I tend to grocery shop on either Saturday or Sunday and lately we have even begun to prep the actual meals for the week on Sunday evenings. This makes it even easier to have a nutritious dinner ready on hectic weeknights. I have found that this method really works for us and helps us stay within our grocery budget. So, in the end, the system is a win-win.
If you would like to download a copy of the weekly meal planner we use in our household, click here.
If you are interested in meal ideas, check our Facebook and Pinterest pages for mealtime inspiration.
Lastly, are you are an avid meal planner? What techniques and strategies do you have to share? We would love to hear some more ideas!
This post was originally published on the OrganWise Guys blog, a Together Counts™ partner. The OrganWise Guys Inc. began in 1993 with a vision to inspire individuals to take charge of their health by assuming personal responsibility for their choices. By bringing the body to life via lovable organ characters, kids of all ages learn what it really means to be smart from the inside out. Wanna learn more about The OrganWise Guys beginnings? Check out these videos: Meet The OrganWise Guys! & How OWG Began.
For more meal planning tips check out these resources: