Today is all about BACK TO SCHOOL MEAL PLANNING!
I am such a meal planner…
…hello, I even wrote a book about it…buuuuut even I can get lazy during the summer and just find something for dinner instead of actually planning. Oh, we have sausages? Let’s grill! Ground beef? Quick burgers again! You know, it’s hot, you have a relaxed schedule…meal planning, even for me, can be an afterthought when it’s summertime. Come school year though? I have very specific meal plan that ensures everything we need to make suppers for the week is in the pantry and/or fridge, ready to go so that I can whip up something yummy and quick when we’re in-between schoolwork, therapies, and extracurriculars. After all of these years of meal planning with you guys, I know many of you are the exact same way. Once that back to school season starts, your hardcore meal planning begins too!
Anyone else?!
Today, I’m sharing exactly what I do when I meal plan PLUS answer many of your questions!
HOW I MEAL PLAN:
I’ve mentioned this many times before, but I meal plan for the entire month on a legal pad. I write out all of the days of the month on a piece of paper (front and back). Next, I go back through and add any important dates/reminders to that month’s calendar and then, I start to meal plan for the month. I try and cook dinner five nights a week plus I make breakfast for my Bible Fellowship Group (BFG) at church every Sunday morning and then, I bake an extra sweet treat or two a week to feature on my blog. Now, that I have a solid list for the month, it takes me only minutes to make my weekly shopping list (because isn’t figuring out what to make the hardest part?!). Obviously, these last six months have been tricky/weird/totally odd but for the most part, I have really tried to stick to my routine. Even though we haven’t been to church since February (WHAT?!), I’ve still enjoyed making breakfast for my family on Sunday mornings while we watch church online.
Here are my exact steps to meal planning (and then, I want to hear yours!!)…
1: I make my monthly meal plan.
2: On Mondays, I build my grocery list for the week based on my already prepared monthly list and then order my groceries online for free grocery pick up at my store. I love doing this because you can “favorite” things and then quickly add them to your cart. Things like milk, paper towels, bananas, avocados and such are favorited items, so it’s easy to add those things in along with our dinner groceries. I also take a sticky note and write down things that I will need to pick up later in the week that are fresh. I shop on Tuesdays, so if I think that by the following Monday, I’ll need 2 pounds of ground beef or more bananas, then I add that to my list and sometime between Friday and Sunday, I will grab those items from inside the store.
3: On Tuesdays, I go and pick up my groceries from my local supermarket and bring them home.
4: About once every 10 days to 2 weeks, I’ll stop by Trader Joe’s and pick up any fresh items I need that I didn’t grocery pick up or just to grab some things only sold there.
5: Then sometime later that week, like on Friday, I will go inside the store and grab a handful of “fresh” items that I need or anything else that has come up (should I need some more fresh items over the weekend). Many times, Andrew will stop by and grab us the fresh items instead…but either way, we typically make one more trip to the store to replenish those items after our weekly “big shopping”.
And then…repeat the next week.
Now, I’ve tweaked this over time as our schedules and such have changed, but this is what we’ve been consistently doing for about a year or so. During the school year, I’ve been typically going to Costco about once a month to stock up on lunch items for the kids like yogurt, chips, applesauce, etc. as well. I also have found many great gluten-free items on Amazon Fresh that when we need, I order (I just ordered more g-free soy sauce this week!).
So, that’s what I’m doing these days.
Last week, I asked you if you had specific questions about our meal planning and you had MANY!! I picked the 10 most popular and have them along with my answers below…
For dinner, always! For lunch, it varies. Andrew always makes his own lunch to take to work each day (some sort of chicken with a veggie), typically the kids are “at school” and eat lunchbox food, but during this quarantine, I have been making lunches at home that the five of us have all enjoyed together (the most popular being grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup as it’s g-free, easy and all four kids plus me love it!). When the kids are at school, I eat lunch on my own…typically something from Trader Joe’s (salads, wraps, soups, etc).
I make dinner Sunday through Thursday nights. On Friday and Saturday night we typically eat out or if we do stay home, we grill (and if that’s the case, Andrew or I will pick up food for that). On Sunday mornings, I make breakfast for my Sunday school class and my kids eat whatever at home (frozen pancakes, cereal, etc). Weekends are simple. Now, sometimes, if we have time, I will make a Saturday morning breakfast for my fam, but that totally depends on the sports schedule that day. All of that is pre-planned when I do my weekly shopping.
If you hate it, you should really do it once a month. This way, you’re just hating it one day of the month instead of several days. I think if you sat down and did one big meal plan you would be thrilled each week when you knew exactly what to buy and make.
During the spring, we had our own schedule (nothing was “live”), so we all five ate lunch together, this fall, my kids are all going to be live with their teachers and classes and eat lunch during their normal lunch time…which means, all four of them will eat lunch at different times, so they’re going to make their lunches each day just like they were going into the building and then eat those lunches during their specific lunchtime. This will get us back into the habit of making daily lunchbox lunches, make lunchtime faster for them (it’s all ready to go!) so they can fully enjoy their 30 minute lunch break, save me from being in the kitchen for 2 hours every day and keep the noise down (so that the other three can continue learning).
Because I have a good plan!! When we get busy, we pull out the slow cooker!! If I have the ingredients and take the extra minutes in the morning, I can pop my dinner into the slow cooker and we’re ready to go at suppertime no matter how busy we are. Did you know…
…that my Back to School Slow Cooker Suppers post is always one of my MOST POPULAR posts every single year?!?! I have so many great recipes that you can use all school year long!
Yes!! We both worked outside the home, so when we got back in every night, I wanted to have everything handy for dinner. I didn’t want to have to think about it…I just wanted to know what to make and in a short amount of time.
Totally change it up! I will say, most of the time, this doesn’t happen to me, but if for some reason, I’m just not feeling it at all, I totally switch it with something else I’m supposed to make later that week or I tweak whatever it is to make it seem more like what I want. Not really interested in tacos? You can make chili! Most basic recipes have ingredients you can mix and match into other things 😉 .
I have so many quick cooking recipes (like those Sloppy Joe Bowls I shared last week!) or I have stuff ready to go in the slow cooker!
It depends. I’m not really a “leftover” girl because I don’t enjoy eating the same thing two nights in a row, BUT I frequently make double batches of some things that I can mix and match into different dinners the following night. For example, I will make extra brisket one night and then use the leftovers for my Brisket Chili the next night. Or make a double batch of Andrea’s Pulled Pork and then make Pulled Pork Tacos the next night!
Yes!! Now, when they were super little, I didn’t, but now that they’re older, I ask every week! They don’t all always get what they want, but many times, their input totally dictates several meals. Usually my kids throw out generic terms “I want chicken” or “I want shrimp with pasta”…so it gives me wiggle room to make it my own, but other times, they say “I want that Taco Pasta” and I try to oblige as often as I can!
Okay, every single Monday, I share my MEAL PLANNING MONDAY with you to hopefully give you ideas about what to make each week. This week’s MPM is extra tasty…
…and includes my favorite recipes for Back to School Week!!
Okay, what are you guys doing for meal planning? Please comment and share!!!!
Carrie says
I have not meal planned as often since March because it was hard to know what I could actually find at the grocery store. Things are so much better now so I will get back to it. We have been doing take out more often for a few reasons but one is that we really want to help our struggling local restaurants. But a lot for us is actually 2x a week… My kids will start with remote learning and I think I am going to make a big tray a few times a week and everyone can take from it ( husband is home too). It will likely have a protein, fruit, and veggies. I figure I can make this the night before and they can eat when it’s time. I am also going to use the crockpot to keep some meals warm and they can also help themselves when ready.
Elspeth says
I love the concept of meal prepping and planning. I do it for my lunches every week! Any lunch meals or suggestions to change it up, I’m looking for dry or snack like foods?
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Mix and Match Mama says
What about a little lunch charcuterie board? I love to do this from time to time! Add some pepperoni or deli meat, even a great spicy mustard and pickles…change it up with a “board”!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
You’re all set to tackle the new school year, Shay! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Erika Slaughter says
Your Sloppy Joe Bowls, Meatloaf, and Chicken Parmesan are all on our menu this week!
Michelle Lykins says
Happy Monday! I meal plan once a week as I go to the store once a week. I find it very helpful and my whole family pitches in ideas as well as I get things off Pinterest.
I tried monthly meal planning but it just didn’t work for us. And if we aren’t in the mood for what we planned we always have other things on hand.
Nicole says
Love this! Will you share what your typical meals look like in a day?
Mix and Match Mama says
Mine? Pretty normal! Today, I’ll have one of those Trader Joe’s cauliflower and egg bites for breakfast, a wrap for lunch and then for dinner, I’m making a new enchilada recipe!
Nicole says
Do you have snacks usually or before bed treats? Thanks!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I typically have an afternoon snack (nuts, a little cheese, sometimes a Oui yogurt). We used to have dessert every night but once we went g-free, that stopped.
Becky Simpson says
My 6 1/2 year old daughter has always danced on Saturday mornings, but now she is taking three classes on Friday nights. We will have one hour to get home from school, get ready for dance, and drive to dance. (10- 15 min away) I am already trying to think of quick dinner ideas for her, since she will be dancing for 2+ hours over dinner time, and I’d like to avoid the McDonalds drive thru every week. Suggestions for quick, ready-made dinners for home, or what she can eat in the car?
Mix and Match Mama says
My brain immediately went to wraps! I love the versatility and portability of them. You could do cold wraps (deli meats, cheeses, sauces) or warm wraps, even breakfast wraps as a change up!
Sheaffer Sims says
I laughed out loud at the “There’s just a bunch of ingredients” meme. That is SO ME!!!!
Laura says
Right now I’m using The Lazy Genius method (~10 types of meals on repeat through the whole summer) but eager to switch it up for fall! Question: my struggle is grocery shopping for breakfasts, lunches, and SNACKS especially. I either don’t buy enough or forget those things and just buy dinner foods. Any tips there?
Tracy says
We always end up running out of snacks too! Maybe I just give them too much freedom in the kitchen??
Jennifer says
I struggle with this too! I either focus more on dinner or breakfast and snacks….it’s like I don’t have the capacity to think of everything. And then I never seem to buy enough!
Tracy says
I have a similar routine to yours. I always find the hardest part is coming up with the meal plan because a lot of times nothing really sounds good to me, the one making the plan! If I ask for my girls’ input I can guarantee it will always be “pasta.” I try to use the different cuisine types as a guide (Mexican, Italian, American?, Asian and then some type of sandwich and something on the grill.)
Beth Knecht says
Yes for meal planning!! I’ve been meal planning each week on a Google spreadsheet so that I can go back and look at what we had last week/year. I love that it allows me to see what we were eating last year around this time but I think I’m going to start doing the whole month like you suggest instead of just each week!
Julia says
When did your kids start eating the “grown up” meal? My 3 year old is stuck in his “kid food” routine.
Mix and Match Mama says
I always, always plated what we’re eating for them too. I encouraged them to eat that from the beginning…sometimes, they picked at things and then, I would supplement as needed, but I really only ever made one thing for dinner.
Kerry says
I do a weekly meal plan mon-sun. This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’m thinking I might try 2 week blocks or maybe monthly like you do. I typically do my meal planning Saturday and the shopping on Sunday. We’ll pop by the grocery store later in the week to get fresh items we need or something that was forgotten.
We use our slow cooker all fall/winter. That thing is a lifesaver!
Katherine Darlington says
What about leftovers? Do you ever skip a meal you’ve planned for the week and just eat leftovers? I cook 2-3 big meals on Sundays and we eat those during the week and that way I only have to come home from work and cook 1 night or 2 at the most.
Mix and Match Mama says
I know a lot of people do this, but we don’t eat leftovers for dinner (unless we’re using like the extra brisket to make a different recipe).
Mary says
Shay-in your blog pic, it looks like there could be a Fall recipe cookbook in the works?? (Or did I miss you talking about it?) I have your other cookbooks and just pulled them out to get a few new ideas-I am stuck in a rut for sure!! Fall is my favorite for decorating and I also LOVE all those “Fall foods” 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I keep all of my blog recipes (that you see here!) in spirals categorized by seasons so it’s easy for me to keep up with ideas/recipes/content 🙂 . I’m not planning on writing any other cookbooks.
Mary says
🙂 I have read your blog(s) for years and LOVE them-and I know how much you love fall-I guess that fall cookbook was wishful thinking (and hoping) on my part! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Wouldn’t I have fun working on that though?! It would be amazing!!!!!!! Thank you for reading my blog. You have no idea how much that makes my heart happy 🙂 .
Kim S. says
I meal plan a month at a time. On Saturdays and Sunday I make a double batch of whatever we are having so we always have leftovers on Monday and Tuesday. I try to stick with it the meal plan but some days are just crazy so I always have quick meals on hand. Fish sticks, Costco orange chicken, spaghetti and meatballs stuff like that. It’s a lot of work one day a month to plan it all out but it’s so worth it!
Christine R. says
I’ve meal planned weekly for years – and have started to dread it. Planning ONCE A MONTH is genius!! I’m trying this with my family – my teenage boys always contribute to the planning, the shopping and the cooking. I am so looking forward to this. Thank you Shay!!
Ashley P says
I’ve started doing my weekly meal planning on a google calendar, so I can easily look back and see things that we haven’t had in a while when I need some inspiration. It’s also easy to move around when we don’t follow the plan ?
Kerri says
Celiac question here…newly diagnosed….What is your favorite Gluten Free Pizza and also Bread? I like for break Canyon Bakehouse and Trader Joes, but wondering if I am missing anything good. Frozen pizza, Against the Grain has been my fav. but would love to hear any other ideas!
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m going to say Trader Joe’s for both!
Missy says
I need to try this out….again. Years ago I took a stab at meal planning but quite frankly sucked at it. LOL!
I’m older and maybe a little wiser (depending on who you talk to) os maybe I will be great at it this time around.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Kelly Henderson says
I am a big believer in meal planning, I plan weekly but not for specific nights, just 6 dinner meals per week. I pretty much decide on the day of what meal it’s going to be. We have found as long as we have a plan, we work the plan and don’t “just get something” on the way home. I am currently working full time from home and the kids are expected to do a hybrid remote learning plan once school starts. I have enjoyed being able to use my slow cooker more now that I am home and can use it for 4-6 hour recipes, before I was limited to 8-10 hour recipes. During quarantine, we have declared Saturdays as “take out Saturdays” and we look forward to it all week.
CampDallas says
I have been a weekly meal-planner for years. Since being home more (all the time?!) in recent months, my husband and I joke that meal planning and making the grocery list is the highlight of our week. Ha! I am a teacher, so when life is “normal” during the school year, I scheduled my grocery pick-up for Saturday mornings and also make a stop at Aldi while I’m out (because we LOVE Aldi!!). For that reason, our meal plan typically runs Saturday – Friday. I always look at the calendar as I plan and always consider when our avocados will be perfectly ripe before deciding on Mexican night. LOL! I meal plan for dinners only, but have things on hand for breakfast/lunches, of course. My husband and I often eat leftovers for lunches. I only want to go to the store 1x/week (because as a mom who works outside the home full-time, there isn’t easily time for more!). The most I will do mid-week is run by our local butcher for meat, but even then, I prefer to have it on hand when possible. By planning our meals, I’ve found we eat healthier, save money, and free up time for family in the evenings! I enjoy hearing how others make meal planning work for their families!!
Tara says
Hi Shay,
Random question but I was wondering if you food shop generally on Tuesday who watches the kids or do you bring them with you? Having 3 kids under 6 years old and a pandemic I feel like I’m trapped in my house and lucky to get to food store when my husband finally gets home from work. You really seem to have time management and routine down pat. I need more of that in my life!
Thanks,
Tara
Mix and Match Mama says
I bring them with me and do curbside pick up. When I go to Trader Joe’s or stop by my neighborhood store to grab things, they’re home with Andrew.
Miranda A Foster says
I have meal planned for years. Now that we are a family of 4…we plan for the week and one weekend night. I also plan a healthy food prep recipe for lunch.
Angela Ellingson says
Such perfect timing!! Very motivated to get back to consistent meal planning! I’m trying the once a month to get it all done at once. Love these posts.!
Heather says
Love all of these tips!! I have to meal plan each week or it will drive me CRAZY! I tell my kids if you don’t give me your input when I ask for meal ideas, then you can’t complain when I make dinner! HA
Also, I LOVE all your cookbooks and refer to them often!
LaceyD says
I have been meal planning since 1996, and I love it. When we purchased our first home computer in 2000, I started keeping my meal plans and recipes on file. I must say after 20+ years, 3 pregnancies, and living overseas multiple times, reading my menu plans is like going back in time and reviewing my personal history.
I can tell you where we lived, if I was on Weight Watchers(haha!), if I had access to a fresh fish market in Tokyo, or went Paleo due to many dietary issues. I highly recommend recording them and going back to look over them. Another benefit to keeping them, is that I now have 20+ years of August meal plans to take from, they are all seasonally appropriate, and easily compatible/transferable/shareable with your phone to have access to your shopping lists. Easy peasy.
Meal planning makes everything more efficient- from time management to finances. Plus it rids the ever nerve grating discussion, “What’s for dinner? I don’t know…what do you want??♀️” ??♀️
Em says
Hi Shay! Thank you always for all the great meal-planning tips and amazing recipes!! We use so many of them in a constant rotation over here 🙂 I was wondering though, if there is anyway that you’re able to make your Hamburger Stroganoff a pin-able recipe?? It’s on an old post, I think actually from 2011! I’ve tried other stroganoff recipes, and I know it’s so easy and simple, but I always come back to yours every time!! And while I know it’s more of a fall/winter meal for most, we do enjoy it year round 🙂 If that’s not possible, no problem at all! I will continue popping on your site to find it 🙂 thank you again!! Happy Monday night!
Mix and Match Mama says
Okay, I just went to look! The image is too old/small for my pop up to pull but do you have the “Pin-It” button installed on your computer? If your toolbar at the top? If so, it will let you “Pin It” yourself (and not just off of my Pin It widget!. Let me know if that works!
Alissa Rojas says
What is in your Erin Condren? Favorite recipes? Do you have a template to put them in there?
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s where I right down all of my ideas and my personal recipes.
Tish says
Shay, what wraps do you use, a certain brand/variety you like? Any suggestions on salad dressings and what you like to put in a salad for lunch or a side? Also, do you have a trick for keeping tuna salad from getting watery after a few days? I use tuna in water and drain it and use mayo but after a couple days in the fridge, it seems to be more watery again. Thanks for all the tips today!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Just used Misson’s g-free yesterday!! Those would be our fave right now. Annnnnd…I don’t eat tuna. That would be the one and only thing I don’t eat.
Katie says
What pens do you use? they are so pretty and colorful and make meal planning look like more fun 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I haven’t made that one in the IP yet!
Carly says
For Andreas pulled pork, do you have a recommendation on timing in the Instant Pot? Does a frozen pork shoulder work?
Christie says
Hey Shay! Love your blog and this post!
Two questions: do you ever do a “meatless Monday” ?
What do you do if a picky eater doesn’t want to eat/ doesn’t like what you made?
Mix and Match Mama says
We don’t do meatless meals very often because my family (especially my hubs) is very much a meat eater. That being said, sometimes, we do (I have a vegetarian tab on my sidebar to locate meatless recipes!). How old is such picky eater? After you’re five in our house, you eat or you go hungry. They always eat. I really try and only make foods they’ll enjoy.
Kelly says
I love that you shared this and the steps so you are making it super easy. The only 2 follow up questions I have is, how do you decide what to meal plan? I know you have your go-tos and your books to pull from, but I feel like that’s the hardest part. Especially with a picky 5 year old. Do your kids always eat what you make? I feel like I try to and then come to find out she doesn’t like it any more. I have been struggling with saying, “Well, that’s what’s for dinner” or saying okay, well here is a PB&J sandwich.
Mix and Match Mama says
I typically make five dinners a week and usually there are 2 brand new recipes I’m trying out to share with you along with three other recipes that are not new. Because I write recipes for you guys, I keep a really solid list of “what to make” on my phone and in notebooks…BUT I always ask my family for input too (plus, I ask them about what I should be making for the other three recipes). Needless to say, I write down ideas and ask my peeps. I totally get picky eaters when they’re really little, but five was always the cut off for us. They either ate what I made or didn’t eat…that being said, I really try and make things they will like. I want the family dinner table to be a happy time, so I’m not going to put something in front of them they absolutely do not love, but at the same time, they need to try new foods and by five, I feel like they can understand that. It’s hard, mama!