Hey Friends,

I have been getting quite a few requests for more blog posts on homemaking! Considering the fact that I’ve only been a homemaker for about two years, I don’t feel like the most qualified person to share tons of helpful things on homemaking – however, I have been learning a thing or two. 😉

One aspect of homemaking that I really enjoy is meal planning (plus the grocery shopping and meal prepping!). Cooking is a hobby of mine, so naturally, this part of homemaking in enjoyable for me. Even though my routines for meal planning, grocery shopping, and prepping my meals changes from season to season (even month to month) I still have a basic plan that I follow to get it all done and have a hot meal on the table each night.

Today I want to share how I go about planning our weekly meals (and a little bit on how I shop for the items we need and set about cooking each meal). Let’s just jump right in!

My Current Meal Planning Routine

Planning our Meals

When – I have been planning our meals over the weekend – that way, on Monday, I have a plan set in place for the new week plus a grocery list written up and ready to go. It’s not uncommon for my husband and I to watch a movie on the weekend – I like to multi-task, so this is often when I make my meal plan and grocery list.

How – My daily planner doubles as my calendar so I write each night’s meal at the very top of each day. (I double check my calendar for any date nights or family get-togethers where we might be eating out or with family.) I try to put variety in our main meals and side dishes. Here’s an example of our meals from this past week:

• Monday: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and Baked Salmon
• Tuesday: Date Night ♥ (Hubby brought home subs from Subway. We enjoyed fresh watermelon for “dessert”)
• Wednesday: THM Lasagna (from the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook)
  and sauteed zucchini from our garden
• Thursday: Crockpot Chicken and Gravy w/ Mixed Veggies
• Friday: “Cabb and Saus” in the Crockpot (also from the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook)
• Saturday: Leftovers!
• Sunday: Spaggetti (our typical Sunday dinner)

As you can see, there was a LOT of variety in our meals! Sometimes I make a side dish once or twice, or make two meals with potatoes since I usually buy a large bag at a time, but for the most part, we like variety. If we have any leftovers, I eat them at lunch, send them in my husband’s lunch box, or we eat them at the end of the week.

P.S. I make a LOT of meals in the crockpot – this crockpot is my favorite!

Making the Grocery List

It’s more efficient to write up a grocery list while you’re planning your meals. I’m usually looking right at the recipe (usually in a cookbook or via Pinterest) while I make my meals plans, so right away, I write down the items we will need.

Don’t forget items for breakfast, lunch, and snacks! It’s easy just to plan for evening meals, but don’t forget your family needs to eat breakfast, lunch, and (sometimes) snacks too! We typically have eggs and bacon or a breakfast casserole in the mornings so I make sure to have what I need on my grocery list. We eat leftovers for lunch but I still need to plan on extra items for my husband’s lunch. Snacks for us usually consists of fruit, pretzels, homemade treats, yogurt, or cheese and grapes. I put those items on my grocery list as needed.

Buying Meat in Bulk

You might be wondering how we can afford to eat so many different meats in one week! The secret? We buy about $50-$60 worth of meat every 6-8 weeks. Because we buy in bulk at a Farmer’s Market, we save money and get to enjoy a variety of meat throughout the week. This is what a typical bulk meat purchase might look like for us:

• 10 Pounds of Chicken
• 5-8 Pounds of Ground Burger or Chuck
• 1-2 Roasts (either pork or beef)
• Sliced Ham or Turkey for Sandwiches (or on top of salads)
• Ham Steaks and/or Sausage Meat

(I’ve learned to portion out our meat so it lasts us for several weeks.)

Having a variety of meat in the freezer allows me to cook a variety of meals during the week. When we want seafood, I pick up a bag of frozen salmon, tilapia, or haddock at my local Aldi where it’s about $4 for four fillets.

Packing Hubby’s Lunches

Sometimes I completely run out of ideas for my husband’s lunches. We don’t eat a lot of bread right now, so I don’t typically make him sandwiches anymore. Now, I usually send a large salad, or leftovers in his lunch. Here are some of the other items I put in his lunch (I try to change it up so he gets a variety):

• An apple, orange, or peach
• Grapes and cheese
• Larabars
• Yogurt
• Pretzels
• Small container of chopped watermelon or pineapple
• Carrots and celery sticks
• Mini bag of popcorn
• Sunflower seeds or other nuts

What do you send in your husband’s lunches? I would love more ideas!

Going to the Store(s)

Currently, I like to do my grocery shopping on Saturday or Monday so I have all the food I need for the week ahead. I visit two stores, a discount grocery store for bargains and deals and my local Aldi for everything else. This particular shopping routine has been working great for me, but it will probably change once we move.

P.S. Don’t forget to take your grocery list to the store! This one thing will help you save money and only buy the things you really need!

Making the Meals

When I was working full time, I liked to cook and prep all our meals in one afternoon to free up time for the rest of the week. Now, I’ve gotten back to prepping most of my meals in the morning on the day I need it. Both routines work well for me depending on the busyness of my current life season.

Just because something works well for a few months, doesn’t mean it’s the best routine to follow forever. Life is constantly changing, and we need to be able to adjust accordingly. 🙂F

What to Do When You Run Out of Ideas…

Sometimes I sit down to craft out my weekly meal plan and my mind goes completely blank! When this happens, I’ve learned a few tricks to get my ideas flowing again:

• Ask Hubby – I like to ask Adam if there’s any meals he would like me to make in the following week. Sometimes he doesn’t care, other times he mentions a meal I haven’t made in awhile, so I’ll add it to the list!
• Pinterest to the Rescue – Pinterest is definitely the #1 place I go to for meal ideas. I have several boards for dinner, breakfast, and snack/desserts recipes. A quick scroll through my boards, or a search for something new usually provides several ideas.
• The Cookbook Shelf – I have a shelf in our dining room with all my cookbooks. I know my favorites, and typically grab one or two of them to page through when I’m making my weekly meal plan. It works every time!
• Ask Friends and Family – Last but not least, I’ve gotten several meal ideas from friends and family members. Just ask what they like to eat for dinner and you’re sure to get some new ideas too!

You can click here to view all my favorite cookbooks! ♥

Final Thoughts

Meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking can get a little mundane because it’s done week in and week out. The Proverbs 31 Woman is my role model in this area because it’s obvious she takes delight in providing food for her family! In Proverbs 31 we read…

“She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” Proverbs 31:14-15

She also “…looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27

This is a woman who is diligently providing for the needs of her family – and I imagine she took great pride and joy in doing so! If you’ve lost the joy in meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking, ask the Lord to help you see the eternal value in what you are doing – you’re providing for the physical needs of your family and God will bless you for it! ♥

I Would Love to Know

Do you enjoy meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking for your family? Which part do you enjoy the most? What are your go-to meals?

I am looking forward to hearing from you in the comments!

Further Reading:

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy these related posts:

• 20+ Tools and Resources for Marriage and Homemaking
• Homemaking Tips for the Brand New Homemaker
• Over 15 Great Books on the Home
• How to be Happy At Home: For Homemakers and Young Ladies