Simple Meal Planning Calendar

I know some of us avoid organizing certain areas of our life because we think it will take too much time or be too difficult to keep up. Meal planning used to be this way for me. I would gather several cookbooks, my recipe box, the grocery ads, a notepad to make a meal list, paper to make a grocery list, coupons to try to find the best deals...I would spend so much time meal planning. I would plan two weeks of meals and spend forever grocery shopping. I could keep this rigorous act up for about a month and then just give up because the entire process was so overwhelming!

Meal planning doesn't need to be complicated to be effective. I completely changed the way I meal plan and now I enjoy the fact that it doesn't take too long and I can still put meals on the table for my family that they enjoy!

Here are some tips that have helped me organize my meal planning:

• I use a blank monthly calendar to write meals for each day of the week. You can print blank calendar pages here or purchase a calendar at a local retailer. 
• I plan one week at a time. 
• I have a list of meals my family enjoys which I rotate through every few weeks. 
• I keep it simple! A meat, starch, vegetable, and a fruit. Some of my family's favorite meals are very simple: tacos, spaghetti, hamburgers, chicken pot pie, breaded baked fish, pork loin, grilled steak.
• I use recipes that are easy to make with a few ingredients. I used to make complicated meals, using recipes with tons of ingredients. My kids would complain after I'd spent so much time preparing the food. I realized that they are happy with simple meals and I am less stressed out. Win-win for all!

• I add a day for dining out or ordering pizza.
• I add a day for leftovers. If I'm making a meal that my family loves and makes a ton, I usually try to add a fun side or dessert to spice it up a bit!
• I do look at the grocery ads, but more for the side dishes. I purchase meat when it's on sale and put it in the freezer to use when I want.
• I hang my meal planning calendar on my refrigerator. It's always visible and reminds me of what I need to thaw or put in the crock pot for the next day.
• I ask my family what they want me to make. This way I don't waste my time preparing meals that they may or may not like.

Remember that meal planning can be simple and easy! It can be something that you enjoy doing for your family in a reasonable amount of time.