Make the Weekly Chore of Executing Dinner Ideas a Little Easier with Intentional Organization
Sorry for making you think about dinner again.
Ahhh dinner ideas planning. A household necessary evil. I consider myself a foodie and used to love unwinding in the kitchen; but since I became a mom keeping up with the weekly dinner menus has become a chore for me. *Sigh* Can you relate? Don’t get me wrong, some weeks I’m more motivated than others, but needing to plan dinner all the time just is emotionally taxing! And if you have kids who are involved in evening activities that adds another layer of “nope” to the situation. Fortunately for all of us, organizing exists.
Whether you’re juggling family schedules or just wanting a smoother week ahead, organizing your dinners can be a total game changer. Here’s a breakdown of how to plan your dinners from start to finish, without the overwhelm. Grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive into the essentials of meal planning for the week!
1. Take stock of your inventory
Before you start diving into cookbooks, Pinterest, or your favorite food blogs for dinner ideas, check your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Knowing what you already have can reduce food waste and simplify your dinner ideas decisions. Those veggies nearing the end of their life? They should be used up in a stir-fry or soup. That half-used box of pasta? Time to pair it with something fresh. Using what you have first also helps you stretch your culinary creativity muscles (any Chopped fans here?).
Pro tip: Make a habit of doing a quick inventory every Sunday. Jot down the things you need to use up that week and keep it visible on your fridge or the Remind app on your phone.
2. Gather recipe inspiration
Once you know what ingredients you have, it’s time to figure out what’s going on the menu. This part always feel intimidating for me since I need to really use my brain, but you don’t need to overcomplicate it! Look for meals that are simple, family-friendly, and use overlapping ingredients so you’re not buying a ton of specialty items.
Do you prefer to browse analog or digitally? Here are mix of both to look for inspiration:
- Pinterest: Create a board specifically for quick and easy dinner ideas.
- Recipe websites or apps: Sites like Smitten Kitchen or apps like Paprika can help you search for meals based on what you already have.
- Cookbooks: If you have a few favorite cookbooks, pick just 2-3 go-to recipes for the week to rotate through.
- Family favorites: Don’t forget about your tried-and-true recipes! Bust out the stained and well-loved pages of your favorite family cookbook for an easy crowd-pleaser.
Pro tip: Aim for a mix of easy, familiar dishes and maybe one or two new recipes. This way, you’re not spending every night navigating unfamiliar territory in the kitchen. This will help lighten your mental load.
3. Map out your menu
Now that you have some recipe ideas (I always end up with 50 tabs somehow), it’s time to build your menu for the week. It’s important to keep it realistic. If you know Wednesday nights are packed with soccer practice, don’t schedule a new recipe for that day. Keep your dinner ideas simple, like tacos or a slow-cooker meal you can prep earlier in the day.
A simple template could look like this:
- Monday: Stir-fry (using leftover veggies)
- Tuesday: Taco night
- Wednesday: Slow-cooker chicken
- Thursday: Pasta with homemade sauce
- Friday: Pizza night (homemade or takeout)
- Saturday: Leftovers or a freezer meal
- Sunday: Roast or one-pan dinner
Pro tip: Post the menu somewhere visible, like a chalkboard, on the fridge, or a shared Google calendar (my personal favorite). This helps everyone in the house know what’s coming and reduces the “what’s for dinner?” questions. Also, maybe other family members will take a turn cooking if they know what needs cooked!
4. Create your grocery list
Now that you’ve mapped out your meals, it’s time to create your grocery list. If you’re balancing a busy schedule, you want this step to be as efficient as possible. To be ultra organized, break your list down by sections of the grocery store (produce, dairy, canned goods, etc.) so you can shop quickly without running back and forth between aisles. Personally, I’m a grocery pickup kind of girl so I don’t really worry about creating insanely organized grocery lists!
Pro tip: Use a grocery app or list tool like the Remind app on your phone. This way, your list is always with you—even if you make a last-minute stop at the store.
5. Keep your meal plan organized
Now that the meal plan is set and the groceries are bought, how do you stay organized during the week? I usually start pretty energized with cooking on Monday but I feel myself wearing down pretty quickly by Thursday. The motivation to keep organized with the never-ending dinner chore just vanishes. Here are a few tricks I’ve learned to actually help you keep it together as the week rolls on:
- Prep in advance: If you have time on the weekend, chop veggies or marinate proteins in advance. This way, when the week gets busy, you can simply grab and go. Even just prepping small things like washing lettuce for salads or portioning snacks can save you time.
- Batch cook when possible: If a recipe doubles easily, DO IT! Future you will be so happy. You can use leftovers for lunch the next day, freeze portions for future meals, or just eat it again the next night. Cooking once and eating twice is a game-changer when you’re short on time.
- Stay flexible: Life happens, and sometimes your perfectly planned week might take a detour. If something comes up and you can’t stick to the plan, that’s okay! Having a few backup meals like frozen pizza or ingredients for breakfast-for-dinner (eggs, toast, and fruit) can help keep things moving without throwing in the towel.
That’s it!
Meal planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. You still need to do it, which is definitely annoying, but with a touch of strategy and organization you can make dinner one less thing to worry about during your week. Start small, stay flexible, and don’t be afraid to mix up your routine when needed. Also, have some fun with it!
