A Simplified Meal Planning System {with FREE Printables!}

Have you ever thought that meal planning was just too complicated and not worth your time? I used to have those same feelings. But meal planning is such a great way to save time and money! Plus, it doesn’t have to be just another task that overwhelms you each week. So let’s simplify it!

About a year ago, I wrote a post about how I save money by meal planning. I talked about all of the strategies I used to help our family save as much money as possible at the grocery store.

While I still use a lot of these strategies, I’ve streamlined my process quite a bit. So today I want to share with you my new system and it can both save you time and money and keep things simple and pretty at the same time! 😉

So how do I keep things simple when I’m meal planning? I follow a few guidelines to help ensure that I’m not overcomplicating things.

#1 Plan for one week at a time.

I’ve tried bi-weekly and monthly menu planning and, while I’m sure it works for some, it just cause a serious case of overwhelm for me! I’ve found that planning for 7 days at a time is long enough to keep from feeling like you are constantly at the grocery store, but also short enough so that you aren’t overwhelmed by the amount of meals you have to plan or groceries you have to buy (and store!)

#2 Prepare simple meals.

Don’t go overboard on elaborate meals. Keep things simple and you will be much more likely to follow through with your plan. I like to have at least 4-5 of my meals be what I consider quick and easy meals each week. To me, this means I can get it on the table in 45 minutes or less. I don’t mind having a couple more time consuming meals, but I don’t want them to be every night!

Just keep this in mind when you are creating your meal plan each week.

#3 Don’t fix more than one “new” meal each week.

“New” to you meals inevitably take longer. You may have to read and re-read the recipe instructions several times. Make sure to give yourself a little extra time the night you plan to fix your new meal. Try not to make more than one “new” meal each week to keep things a little more streamlined.

#4 Use a meal planning printable.

It just wouldn’t be right if I talked about meal planning without offering you guys a free meal planning printable! So, of course, you can head to the bottom of this post to grab yours for free! I like the keep my meal planning printable fairly simple. I have a spot for dinners each day of the week as well as a spot to write down a few ideas for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.

I also like to keep my menu on a clipboard. This makes it so easy to take the grocery store with me. Plus, this one has a notepad inside where I can write my grocery list! My favorite clipboards are from Target. I really love these and these.

#5 Use only one recipe source each week.

This one is so important if you want to make meal prep time quick and easy! Don’t pick out 7 different recipes from 7 different sources. This will make your evenings even more stressful and overwhelming than they already are because you will be searching everywhere for the recipe you need. Instead, use one cookbook each week or go ahead and print out your recipes from online and stick them in a binder or folder for easy access. This week I used The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime Cookbook which is my all time favorite cookbook!

#6 Shop at no more than two stores.

I would LOVE to shop at just one store each week. However, the money savings gets in the way of simplifying here! I’m an Aldi girl and I just can’t stop shopping there because they save me SO. MUCH. MONEY.

However, they just don’t have everything I need. So I’m left to get as much at Aldi as I can and then follow it up with Kroger or Walmart to grab the rest of what I need for the week.

If you can stick to just one store, I recommend it. However, definitely limit it to just two stores at most each week. And don’t forget to check iBotta before and after you go to the store to grab your rebates. You can sign up for the iBotta and download the free app here. It’s my new favorite way to make money at the grocery store! 🙂

#7 Shop on the same day every week.

Shopping on the same day each week will help in so many ways. You will begin to realize how much you need to get you through the week. This will keep you from over or under buying at the store. This also creates flow for your week. You won’t be stressing about finding time to get to the grocery store because you always have an hour or two scheduled in each week on a specific day for that task.

#8 Try and go shopping without kids.

This one might not be possible. It’s not always possible for me either, but when it is I always take advantage of it! If it means you go at night or early in the morning, I highly recommend shopping on your own. Not only is it easier (mini-mom vacation anyone?!), but it will also save you time and money at the store.

If you still struggle to create and stick to a weekly meal plan after implementing these tips, I highly recommend looking into a meal planning service. It will more than pay for itself in the time and money you will save. I’m a huge fan of Erin Chase from $5 meals. Her menus are super kid-friendly and easy to prepare. Plus, the ingredients are all things you can find in a typical grocery store! You can grab your first 14-days for free here.

I hope these tips will help you to organize and simplify your meal planning and preparation. I know meal prep can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Just keep things simple and follow through with your plan!

Don’t forget to grab your free meal planning printable below!

Are you working to simplify your life as mom? A few other posts you might find helpful:

• 15 Ways to Simplify Your Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom
• How to Save Money by Meal Planning
• Setting Yourself Up to Be a Successful Home Manager
• My Home Management Toolbox
• The Busy Mom’s Sanity Saver - Time Blocking

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How do you keep your meal planning simple?