Minimal Mondays: Simple meal planning

Meal planning is one of those things, either you do it or you don’t. But I am here to tell you that if you try this, it will save you so much time, money and stress. And really, isn’t that what we all want?

Here are 5 easy steps to get you going:

1. Go Through Your Fridge and Pantry:

Sort through what you have in the house already and see if there’s anything that you need to use up. While you do this, wipe down the shelves in your fridge and throw out anything expired.

2. Grab Paper, Pen and Your Computer:

Sit down and write the days of the week that you need to make dinner at the top of your paper. Then go to your favorite food websites (like Scaling Back of course!) to find meals that sound good for the week. For example, Monday I’m going to make roast chicken and vegetables so I would write that at the top and then list all the ingredients I need. Then, I’ll chose a meal later in the week that I can use the leftover chicken for, like chicken and cheese enchiladas.

3. Write Down All Your Staples and make a shopping list:

Make sure to add everything that you use during the week like milk, coffee, butter, toothpaste, etc. Don’t forget about school lunches and any extra food you might need for playdates or having friends over.

4. Shop!

Take your list and a pen and get shopping! This will be your one and only trip to the store this week, so have fun.

5. Post It:

Make sure to post up your final meal plan so you know what you’re making each night. I just put up a little post it on my calendar but there are lots of cute printable meal planners out there too.

Each week that you do this it will get easier and easier, I promise. And without making those multiple trips to the store, you’ll have extra time and money for you!

Hope this helps!

Michaela