Though we’re working hard to make meal planning as easy as possible, it still can be a bit of an involved process. Here’s my best tips on how to make meal planning a breeze!
- Grocery shopping right after I create my meal plan (or scheduling a grocery visit in my calendar, if I can’t go right away) is a key activity that leads to me actually cooking a meal plan.
Without groceries, I can’t cook the meals and I’m more likely to get takeout instead. Plus, having the groceries at home makes me feel guilty about eating out, so I end up cooking even when I don’t feel like it! For me, grocery shopping is the #1 key to successful meal planning. It’s pretty simple, but it works for me 
- Do less than you think you can do / leave room in your schedule for the unexpected.
I’ve found that I’m (nearly) always too ambitious about what I can realistically accomplish. Whether it’s my work tasks for the week or the number of home cooked meals I think I’ll be able to cook, life always throws a curveball and leaves me in a bind. Often, it’s cooking at home that suffers.
Now, I try to leave some room in my schedule for these things I can’t predict. This way, I can still achieve my (slightly less ambitious) goals, and in the long run I actually accomplish more. Practically, this means that I keep my meal plans small (2-4 recipes per week) instead of trying to do too much.
I’ve also written a couple other resources that may be of help. Check out this Meal Planning Guide, Grocery Shopping Guide, Kitchen Cookware Essentials List, and Cooking Tips Roundup Guide.
Do you have any tips that have helped you meal plan more easily (with or without Mealime)? Let’s all share our tips & tricks to help make it easier for everyone.