Tired of the never-ending chaos in your kitchen? The struggle is real, my friend.

Picture this: work deadlines looming, your kids’ extracurricular activities running late, and the ominous void of dinner plans haunting you.

It’s a recipe for disaster. By the end of the day, you’re left feeling like a stressed-out superhero who can’t even whip up a decent meal.

You find yourself drowning in dinner time overwhelm. Talk about a confidence-crusher!

Sound familiar? Don’t worry; meal planning is not the enemy. In fact, when done right, it can be a game-changer. It won’t eat up all your time; instead, it’ll save you time, stress, and even money. The key lies in knowing the secrets.

Welcome to the second installment of our Dinnertime Sanity Saving Secrets series! Today, we’re diving into the marvelous world of meal planning, and here’s how you can make it a piece of cake (pun intended).

Start With a Master Recipe List

We get it, you’re tired. The mere thought of extra effort can send you into a state of burnout. Work is already tough as it is, and adulting is no picnic. So, let’s simplify things. To make meal planning a breeze, you need to organize your recipes in one accessible place. Whether it’s a folder on your phone, computer, or even an old-fashioned notebook, create a master recipe list that you can turn to in times of culinary crisis.

Gather recipes from websites, social media, cookbooks, and your trusty friends and family. Sort them by main ingredient, season, cuisine, or any other categories that make sense to you. Start small, don’t overwhelm yourself. Pick 5 or 6 recipes you want to make for the week, and gradually expand your repertoire. If you’re used to eating out most nights, you can begin with planning just three dinners this week and work your way up.

Having a master recipe list will narrow down your options and provide you with tailored ideas that suit your family’s taste buds. It’s like having a culinary genie at your disposal.

Know Your Schedule

Late-night meetings, evening football games, and never-ending school concerts—your schedule is a battlefield. So, when you’re meal planning, take your calendar into account.

Avoid planning elaborate meals on days when you know you’ll be rushing or juggling multiple commitments. Those are the perfect occasions to embrace leftovers, turn them into new creations (hello, chicken fajitas!), or whip up quick and easy dishes like pasta or defrosted homemade soups and stews.

Meal Planning Basics

When you’re crafting your meal plan, aim for balance. Your meals should include a good mix of carbs, proteins, and healthy fats. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, dairy—the whole shebang! Think of your plate as a colorful canvas, loaded with a variety of vitamins and minerals.

It’s like hitting the culinary jackpot. You already know the ingredients and cooking process, so it’s a breeze. Plus, it guarantees a few stress-free meals in your lineup.

As you fill in your plan, think about making components in bulk that you can repurpose throughout the week. Remember, you don’t have to cook from scratch every single night. Look for time-saving recipes that embrace sheet pan cooking, one-pot wonders, or utilize handy appliances like slow cookers, pressure cookers, and air fryers.

Meal planning becomes a breeze when you work with what you already have in your kitchen. Raid your herb collection, dig into the freezer for that forgotten meat, or use up the milk and butter before they expire. It’s all about knowing what’s in stock and how to put it to delicious use! 

These meal planning principles will get you started on the right track. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to meal planning. It’s all about customizing your plan to fit your desired diet and your family’s lifestyle. It may take some time to find your groove, but once you do, meal planning will be your trusty sidekick.

The better your kitchen organizational and cooking skills, the easier and more intuitive meal planning becomes. It evolves into a relaxed, informal, intuitive rhythm that is free flowing and flexible. Think how different your life would be if you knew the answer to “What’s for dinner, Mom” without hestitation because you knew what you had and what to do with it.

Now, keep in mind, a weekly meal plan is just the tip of the iceberg. We know that getting dinner on the table with ease requires more than that. But armed with a plan, you’re one step closer to reclaiming your dinnertime sanity. Stay tuned for more secrets in this series. We’ve got your back!

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The goal of a Balaboosta is to make memorable meals done with speed, ease, yum and fun. Dinner time should be a shared and enjoyable family time not a chore that you feel obligated doing at the end of an already overburdened day.

Do your foundational kitchen and cooking skills need a refresher course? Are you ready to add some oomph and variety  to your weekinght routine?

Book a free discovery call with me- Let’s unpack what is sucking up your time and enjoyment in your dinner routine. You will walk out with a clear action plan on what to do to achieve your dinner time happiness and how I can help you to get you there. Book your call HERE.

Happy cooking to all.

Looking for some quick and easy food prep hacks to go with your meal plan? You’ll find them HERE

Tired Of Being Bored With Your  Weeknight Dinner Routine?

🤔 We all know how hard it is to constantly come up with healthy meal ideas …  and then find the time to actually cook them!

That’s exactly why I put together this ridiculously easy- Tasty Sauces, Marinades and Salad Dressings Recipe Guide. It will help you add oomph and variety to  your dinner routine in no time flat.

These recipes will work with almost every type of diet … all you have to do is choose the ingredients based on your tastes and preferences!

Want a copy? Just click below and tell me where to send it. Grab your free digital copy now!  ⬇️⬇️