How do I Plan Gourmet Meals for the Week?

With a family of five (soon to be six), life can be hectic and expensive. Eating out is often the easiest choice, especially with everyone’s different schedules and food preferences. But those restaurant bills and takeout orders add up quickly. To stay on budget and still keep things simple, I started meal planning about two years ago.

It’s pretty straightforward: meal planning means deciding what you’ll cook for the week ahead. You can choose based on your schedule, your family’s likes, what you already have in the kitchen, or what’s on sale at the grocery store that week. Once you’ve picked the meals, you check the recipes and make a grocery list based on what you need. It took me a few weeks to find a system that worked best for our family, but now that I’ve got it down, we eat healthier, waste less food, and save around $500 a month on groceries.

If my savings sound too good to be true, don’t worry—I’m not doing anything extreme. I only shop at one grocery store and don’t use coupons. I know the basics of couponing, but the circulars in my Sunday paper are mostly full of deals on beauty and cleaning products, not food. I don’t have the time or energy for complicated savings methods. Instead, I focused on saving money without coupons, and meal planning has been my secret weapon.

Why Meal Planning Works for me?

Meal planning is awesome because it cuts down on how many trips I have to make to the grocery store and helps me stay on budget. I go to the store just once with a list of exactly what I need for the meals I’ve planned for the week. And even though I always end up adding a few extra things to my cart, I still manage to stay $125 to $150 under budget. It might not make me a super saver, but it definitely helps my bank account.

Without meal planning, I’m wandering around the store, trying to remember what I need while deciding what I want to cook. When that happens, I end up spending most of my weekly budget and always have to go back because I forgot something. So while meal planning saves me a ton of money and takes the guesswork out of dinner, it’s not a perfect system.

Our family has a solid list of favorite meals, but with three young kids, one day they might love pork chops and the next, they won’t touch them. Some mornings I forget to take chicken out of the freezer, and sometimes I open a package of ground beef and it’s gone bad. And of course, there are days when I just don’t feel like cooking what’s planned. But instead of dialing for pizza (which no one really likes anyway), I keep a few easy, crowd-pleasing options in the fridge.

On those nights, I’ll make breakfast for dinner. It’s a go-to for us, so I always have buttermilk for pancakes and bacon or sausage in the freezer. Or I’ll give the kids fun food like chicken nuggets, ravioli, or pasta with butter while I make egg or chicken salad sandwiches for me and my husband. And sometimes, I just want nothing to do with the kitchen, so my husband picks up Chick-fil-A on his way home from work. Since meal planning saves us so much money, I don’t feel guilty about the occasional fast-food night.

Meal planning might sound like a lot at first. How do you know on Sunday what you’ll want for dinner on Thursday? How do you keep track of everything? Will you be stuck in the kitchen every night? And what if you have picky eaters? It can be overwhelming at first, and it might take some trial and error to figure out what works for your family. But the flexibility is another great thing about meal planning. Keep reading for the best tips and tricks to make it a success!

How to Meal Plan?

If you like the idea of saving money and spending less time wandering around the grocery store, it’s time to give meal planning a try. The tips below are a great place to start. And the more you meal plan, the easier it will get, helping you create a simple system for planning your weekly menu.

Look at your schedule

What does your typical week look like? Maybe you have time to cook from scratch on the days when everyone is home at a regular time. But on days with appointments, meetings, or activities, a Crock-Pot or Instant Pot meal might be a better choice.

Trust me, I get it. Two days a week, I either don’t get home until 5 p.m. or I’m rushing out at 6 p.m. to take my kids to lessons. On those busy days, I plan for something quick, like tacos or an Instant Pot meal, or just serve up leftovers.

And don’t forget to set aside one day each week for meal planning. I make time every Sunday to plan, shop, and prep for the week ahead.

Plan Your Meals

It might take a little time to find the meal-planning method that works best for you. If you’re stuck on what to make for dinner, try asking your family for suggestions, pick some old favorites, or find recipes that fit your schedule, skill level, and budget. (Pro tip: When you come across a recipe you like, save it to a Pinterest board. Then, you can easily check it when planning meals for the week.)

I always start by checking what I already have in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. (This is where keeping your fridge organized really helps!) For example, if I have ground turkey in the freezer, eggs in the fridge, and breadcrumbs in the pantry, I’ll plan to make baked turkey meatballs, adding any missing ingredients to my shopping list. Over the years, I’ve gathered a collection of family favorites, and I’ll usually ask for input before I finalize the menu.

I also make sure to plan at least one leftover night each week. It gives me a break from cooking and helps cut down on food waste. When we’re ready for something new, I’ll browse the internet for inspiration. Whether you’re after simple meals, 30-minute dishes, or restaurant copycat recipes, there’s always plenty of ideas online.

Once I’ve decided on the meals, I write them on a cheap magnetic menu and stick it on the fridge, so the family knows what’s coming up.

Make Your Shopping List

Once you’ve got your menu ready for the week, it’s time to make a shopping list. Go through the recipes and see which ingredients you already have and which ones you need to buy. This is also a good opportunity to restock anything you’re running low on. Since I plan my menu around what I already have in the fridge or freezer, my lists tend to be pretty short.

Go shopping

I used to spend a lot of time checking the weekly flyers from local grocery stores to find the best sales. That usually meant visiting at least three stores in one day. Sure, I was saving money on some items, but driving all over town just wasn’t worth it.

Now, I do most of my shopping at Aldi and just pop over to the bigger grocery store across the street for any extra items I need. (Bonus: Shopping at one affordable store instead of driving to several helps me save on gas!)

No matter where you shop, always bring your list with you and try to stick to it.

Prep What You Can

Pick a day and time that works best for you to prep your food. Depending on your menu, this might include defrosting meat or chopping veggies ahead of time. You can also use this time to prepare lunches for the week.

On Sundays, I cook a batch of grilled chicken and sheet pan veggies for my husband and me to eat throughout the week. The chicken is versatile, so I can use it in soups, salads, quesadillas, or whatever else I’ve planned. I also boil a carton of eggs for quick breakfasts or snacks. They’re great for making a quick egg salad too, which makes for an easy and filling lunch.

Just make sure to store your food properly so it stays fresh!

Get cooking

Starting the week with a menu plan and all the ingredients ready to go makes dinnertime so much easier. You won’t have to stress about what to make or rush to the store because you’re missing something important. Plus, the more you meal plan, the simpler it gets.

So, if the first couple of weeks feel a bit tricky or time-consuming, don’t give up! Before long, you’ll find what works best for you and your family.

Also Read: What are the Best Meal Prep Containers for Gourmet Meals?

Meal-Planning Tips

To save even more on food and keep meals interesting, try out these meal-planning tips:

• Check store flyers for coupons (even if it’s not my go-to method, it might work for you!). You can also plan your meals based on what’s on sale that week.
• Download your favorite grocery store’s app for extra savings or recipe ideas.
• If you want to save even more, learn how to find and use coupons effectively.
• Double up on your favorite recipes and plan for at least one leftover night each week. Make sure you have good food storage containers to keep things fresh.
• Add a theme night or two to your weekly menu to keep things fun. Options like Meatless Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, and Pizza Fridays are always a hit.
• Plan meals around what’s in season. For us, summer means burgers, and winter is all about soups and stews.
• Always have a backup plan. I keep pie crust in the freezer for quick quiches, and leftover chicken is perfect for a speedy chicken soup.
• Plan one meal per night, not different dishes for everyone. I have picky eaters, so I know how hard it can be to please everyone, but I don’t make several meals. However, I do keep quick and easy meals for the kids if I’m making something spicy.

Once you get the hang of meal planning, look for other ways to save or even make money in your daily life. Budget apps can help you save without too much effort, and the right side hustle idea can bring in extra cash. Plus, learning how to negotiate can save you money or even help you earn more!