The (real mom’s) Guide to Meal Planning

Meal planning is all the rage. And it should be. Sitting down for 30 minutes to an hour once a week can save a lot of money (for more budget tips, visit our series), headache, stress, and calories. But (Mrs. Family Trip here) it feels like so much of the guides and blog posts out there about family meal planning make it such a hard ordeal.

First, our kids do not “want a seat at the table” when it comes to planning meals. For the past two years I’ve been meal planning, when I ask for their ideas. they always shout: “TACOS! PIZZA! HOT DOGS! HAMBURGERS!”

Second, while we want to expand their culinary horizons, and we ourselves enjoy good food, we don’t want to spend time and money making meals that are going to be battles or end with waste. This means the following ingredient items must, in no way, appear on the table: tomatoes, quinoa, red beans, onions (that can be seen), raisins, chiles, sweet potatoes … and you get the idea.

Again, we push them, but some nights we are not up for a fight. Additionally, our youngest is gluten-free for his Reactive Airways. That also complicates things.

But meal planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming, even with all of that. It also doesn’t have to be complicated, gourmet or out to impress anyone.

Here are some tips on meal planning to keep it simple:

• Start with what you already have in your pantry or fridge that needs to be used, and look for recipes using those ingredients (waste not, want not!)
• Don’t plan labor-intensive meals if you haven’t the time to make them.
• Don’t be scared to mix it up as the week goes. I always have seven nights of meals planned, but we don’t necessarily do them in the order originally intended. Cravings change and sometimes I don’t want what’s planned. I am not scared to swap two days.
• Always plan at least one slow cooker/crockpot meal a week. This is for a busy night of running around to multiple games and music lessons.
• We usually eat together at the table, no devices or screens. But one night a week I have an allocated “easy dinner.” My children get something easy and simple early (see ideas below). After they go to bed, Mr. Family Trip and I will eat something we want. Whether that’s a fancy cooked meal or Chinese Take Out, it is a lovely night for us.
• We use leftovers for lunches. (Don’t forget, though, there are a lot of Easy Back To School Lunch and Snack ideas here on The Family Trip, too.)
• Dinners are one main protein, one carbohydrate, and one vegetable. If they need it, we add one fruit.
• We totally bribe our children with dessert.

I don’t use fancy meal planning sheets, printables or boards. I know they are available and they are gorgeous. If you find one you like, have fun with it! But I simply add a spot to each day and write it directly in my day planner (it is even easier with my Bullet Journal system to create space for meal planning). The meals are part of my week, and I like seeing my week at a glance.

By the way, if you are looking for a lot of wonderful weekly meal plans that are affordable and may work for you (because your kids are raised better than mine and will eat more than three things), I highly recommend Thrifty Frugal Mom and her $225/month meal plan.

Here is a sample of a week of family meals from our household:

Here are some “easy meals” I use for my children:

• “Gourmet” grilled cheese. This means they get bacon.
• Chicken quesadillas (using frozen, all-natural, antibiotic free grilled chicken bites).
• English muffin pizzas.
• Breakfast for dinner (frozen turkey sausage links, eggs and frozen waffles).

Here are some go-to vegetable dishes for kids:

• “Bacon kale.” Sizzle bacon in a pan.  When done, remove bacon but save hot grease in the pan. Return to stovetop, reduce heat, put in garlic, immediately add kale (this can burn quickly so pay attention), and cook kale until wilted. Crumble bacon on top and serve.
• “Crispy kale.” Take pieces of kale, drizzle olive oil and sea salt over top. Place in an oven preheated to a low 275-degrees, bake for about 25 minutes, or until crisp.
• Roasted asparagus. Take asparagus (wash and snap off ends), drizzle with olive oil, sea salt, and roast until done at 425-degrees.
• Roasted brussels sprouts. Cut sprouts in half, place face down in roasting pan, drizzle olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt over top. Roast until done at 425-degrees.
• Sauteed spinach. Heat olive oil and garlic in a pan, add spinach, saute until wilted.
• Carrots (raw) with hummus.
• Zucchini noodles with a sauce.
• Steamed broccoli with a hint of sea salt.

Here are some other family meals we love:

• Quiche with cheese and bacon. (Thanks to Instagram friends for that recommendation.) But of course, NO ONIONS (see notes on onions above).
• Spaghetti meat sauce.
• Roasted chicken drumsticks (put a small pat of butter on top and sprinkle on favorite seasoning).
• Grilled steaks.
• Shrimp sauteed in garlic, olive oil, sea salt and a little squeeze of lemon.
• Slow cooker pulled chicken bar-be-que (gluten-free), from Against All Grain cookbook.
• Slow Cooker Skinny creamy broccoli chicken.
• Cauliflower “fried rice.“
• Lamb meatballs from Against All Grain cookbook.
• Gluten-free meatloaf muffins, also from Against All Grain cookbook.

I have tried various casseroles, but since they are gluten-free and health conscious, they aren’t usually worth making again.

And, of course, TACOS! HOT DOGS!

Easy, quick adult meals:

• Tuna and arugula pasta.
• Frozen French Bread Pizza (keeping it real) with a side salad.
• Pesto shrimp (shrimp tossed with halved cherry tomatoes, pesto, parmesan, olive oil, served over angel hair pasta).
• Thai zucchini noodles. (Use a recipe like this.)
• “Gourmet” grilled cheese: different cheeses, bacon, avocado, red onion.
• Grilled chicken (marinated in anything, take your pick).

Recipes we love to make but take time:

• Loaded potato soup.
• Eggplant Parmigiana. (This is simply heaven.)
• Pho. (Never use a recipe that says “quick” for pho.)
• Lasagna.

Meal planning can seem like a pain, or something “other parents” do. But, truthfully, with just a little time once a week, you can save yourself a lot of time throughout the week.

Enjoy!