What’s For Dinner? The Ridiculously Easy Meal Planning System.

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I have used the same Meal Planning system for 7 years, and it has never failed me.

Being around other moms, one of the biggest complaints is that they never know what to make for dinner.

I usually keep my mouth shut, because I can’t join in on their complaining, because I have a meal planning system that works.

And I would just start bragging about how my family gets fed. Every. Single. Night.

Because I always know whats for dinner.

Also, meal planning is the key to any successful diet.

And that’s what I have for you.

There are no fancy gimmicks, no cute printables or to-do list… Just index cards, and a place to put them.

My meal planning system is for the unorganized, and it works great.

Way back in the day, I had a hard time coming up with ideas for dinner.

I would look at the clock and realize I should have had dinner half an hour ago, and I would still not know what to make. As if we didn’t eat EVERY DAY… am I right?

Then 7 years ago I came up with a plan that I still use to this day. It cost me a whopping total of $2.00 (+ tax)

I know there are plenty of apps and websites that promise to create your perfect weekly menus for you, but I get overwhelmed or confused, or even just forget to keep it updated

. . . But one of these that has worked for my mom, and she LOVES LOVES LOVES IT!!!! is Called PlateJoy. Which is a healthy meal plan generator (for multiple different diets, including paleo and keto). Check out her review and how to use it here: https://www.tryitdietsisters.com/platejoy-customizable-healthy-meal-plans-how-it-works/

Here is how my plan works:

Go to the dollar store.

Pick up a card holder like this:

Pick up LINED index cards.

Grab a good pen.

If you want to be really cool, pick up a metal calendar.

And magnets.

Putting it Together:

Start by writing all of your meals on a card (one card per meal).

All of them.

Including macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, pancakes, etc.

Write down the directions you need and the ingredients.

Keep the extra blank cards inside the card holder.

(If you have favorite online recipes, you can usually print them off and tape/glue/print them onto the index cards).

Don’t get overwhelmed. Its okay not to get all the recipes right away. In fact, if you are a pinterest fiend like I am, you will never be done picking recipes.

Now it’s time to go to the store for food.

Grab your index cards, pull out 7 of them.

(Or however many dinners you need for the shopping excursion. I actually do 4 because I found with leftovers, that is about a week’s worth of dinners for my family.)

Quickly flip through the ‘7’ and look at all the ingredients and write a list of the things you don’t have.

Buy those things.

If I’m not using the calendar, I put the list of dinners on the side of my ‘to buy’ list, (which, let’s be honest, is usually the back of some random envelope) and put it on the fridge when I get home.

Or you can put the recipe cards right onto the Calendar using magnets.

Then on those days -Do it. Make the food. Feel accomplished!

Adding extra recipes:

Pick one meal on Pinterest for the week if you want to add more variety.

You can just jot the title and website (I put the website, person, or cook book name and page number, where I got it from in the top corner) onto a blank card if you are in a hurry at the time. Like I did with this card for sweet potato chili that my mom makes.

Just by having the title of the recipe on hand will help jog your memory of how much you liked (or disliked) it.

If you go back more than once to the recipe, put it in on a card.

(I have not been as consistent with adding new recipes I’ve tried lately, and it drives me crazy not having the ‘successful dinner’ that I know I had once)

Tip: Don’t be afraid to write something down. . . and here’s the brilliant part… to throw away a card when you find a better recipe, or you find that you don’t actually like making it!

Most of the recipes I have memorized and made my own. But I still use the system so that I don’t let any of my yummy meals fall through the cracks of my forgetful mind!

Happy Meal Planning!