I’ve been putting helps up on TikTok (see this post for more info) for my children because I realized that there would be times that they might need some basic helps and it would be there for them. The one I am putting up this week is about meal planning and requires an extra step – a blog post.

Here is the TIKTOK Video – Making Weekly Menus

Menu planning is so helpful because it will save you: time, money, health, frustration. This one is simple, it has both the ability to be structured and flexible.

I have a simple document that I use for meal planning and so I’m putting it here. Download it, make it your own, etc. I have no doubt that my children will improve on it and I’m sure that you the reader will too. But hopefully it will help you.

More tips –

• Keep a shopping list on the fridge so that you can easily add items (or the family can)
• Choose to use items that you can use in two recipes (so if I buy some cilantro, I can use the bunch in tacos and later chicken tortilla soup that week or the next week).
• If I end up not wanting to make something, I can change it up by day or by week. (Cross off what I’ve used and then I’ll know what ingredients I still have for later that week or the next week).
• Take advantage of grocery store pickup or drop-off (saves time and money)
• For variety, choose to make different types of meals each week
  • by ethnic foods – i.e. Italian, Mexican, Chinese,
  • by type – soup, salad, brinner, traditional Sunday, etc.
  • by cookbooks (sometimes I’ll just choose a new cookbook to focus on that week.)
• Train your family to go to the menus for ideas of what there is to eat or snack on!

Please feel free to add your ideas in the comments of what you do for your menu planning!