By Maria White
Being a full-time working mom, I find it 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 summer is coming to a close and back to school is approaching, 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 when it comes to the daily grind. One of the most important things that I have implemented into this regiment is planning out all of our evening meals for the week ahead of time.
It is tough to ensure that we are providing healthy meals while also factoring in the time constraints during the week. So, all of this is taken into consideration when planning. Here are some tips to organize your weekly meals to ensure less stress and even save you money!
- Cut coupons – It’s worth it to look through coupons you have to help make decisions each week. If certain meats/fish or other items are on sale during a specific week, that can help you determine meals while cutting costs.
- Plan your meals – Figure out what obligations or activities you have each night and plan accordingly. Select less time-consuming options such as salads, sandwiches, homemade healthy pizzas, crockpot concoctions, or even breakfast for dinner, on the busier nights.
- Create your grocery list – As you set your weekly menu, jot down the items you will need to purchase at the store. Make sure to include your breakfast, snack, and lunch needs on your list.
- Shop and don’t stray – Typically there will be days and times during the week where the grocery shelves are freshly stocked. This is the best time to shop! Figure out which time works best for you and don’t stray from your list!
- Prepare meals ahead – Take some time during the weekend to go ahead and prep the meals (whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner) ahead of time. This makes it even easier to stick to your menu and avoid chaos at meal time.
- Get some help – If your spouse has some tasty recipes, try swapping off nights so that you are not stuck cooking dinner every night. You can also recruit your little helpers to help with meal prep as well! They love to be involved!
I have found that this method really works for my family and I must say, if I stray a bit from my meal planning, we end up eating out more frequently and spending more money! 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 healthy meal ideas, we frequently offer healthy AND tasty snack and meal ideas on our blog. Check our Facebook and Pinterest pages for these meal suggestions.
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!
