If there is one thing that helps our week run a little smoother, it’s having a meal plan.
Not a complicated one.
Not a color-coded spreadsheet.
Just a simple plan that answers the question, “What’s for dinner?” before everyone starts asking.
For the longest time, I would head to the grocery store with a vague idea of what I wanted to make and hope for the best. By the middle of the week, I’d be making another trip because I forgot an ingredient, couldn’t remember what was in the freezer, or simply ran out of ideas. This was fine when I lived in town and was down the street from the grocery store. Living on the farm, it is not as easy as running down the street.
Now I spend a few minutes each week filling out a weekly meal planner printable and making a grocery list before I shop. It isn’t fancy, but it helps me stay organized, waste less food, and avoid that last-minute dinner panic.
If you’re looking for a simple way to organize meals for the week, I’ve created a free meal planner and grocery list printable that you can download below.
What’s Included
Weekly Meal Planner Printable
This page gives you a place to map out your meals for the week.
I usually focus on dinners since that’s the meal that takes the most planning around here, but you can use it however it works best for your family.
Whether you’re planning every meal or just trying to figure out dinner, this meal planning printable helps keep everything in one place.
Download Meal Planner Printable →
Grocery List Printable
Once I finish planning meals, I use the grocery list page to write down everything I need before heading to the store.
Having a list helps me stick to the plan, stay on budget, and avoid buying things I don’t actually need.
It also helps me remember the ingredients I always seem to forget.
Download Grocery List Printable →
Why I Started Meal Planning
I used to think meal planning had to be complicated.
The truth is, it doesn’t.
For me, meal planning simply means taking a few minutes to decide what we’re eating before the week gets busy.
It helps me:
- Save money on groceries (and gas!)
- Reduce food waste
- Make better use of what we already have
- Avoid last-minute takeout
- Feel less stressed about dinner
There is something nice about knowing dinner is already decided before the day gets away from me.
More Meal Planning Printables
Visit the meal planning printable page for the complete meal planning binder and other meal planning printables!
Looking for Meal Inspiration?
One of my favorite ways to plan meals is by looking back at what has actually worked for our family.
Be sure to check out my What I Cooked This Week series where I share the real meals we ate, the recipes that were hits, and sometimes the ones that weren’t.
Because around here, meal planning is about making life easier—not perfect.
