Struggling with meal planning? Susie Renninger, organizer and owner of NEAT Method Baltimore - North, has cracked the code on family-friendly meal planning. Here are her top tips for putting an end to turning dinnertime chaos:
1. Create a Meal Idea Bank
Start by writing down all the meals your family enjoys on index cards. Over time, type these up for easy reading. This becomes your go-to list of dinner ideas, eliminating the "What should we eat?" dilemma.
2. Organize Your Meal Ideas
Divide your meal cards by type in a recipe card box. This makes it easy to find and rotate through different kinds of meals, ensuring variety in your weekly menu.
3. Make Your Meal Plan Visible
Use a wall-mounted board with clips for each day of the week to display your meal plan. This visual reminder keeps everyone in the loop and makes it easy to swap meals if plans change.
4. Involve the Whole Family
Turn meal planning into a weekly family activity. Read out meal ideas and let everyone vote 'yes' or 'no'. This ensures everyone has a say in what's for dinner and is more likely to actually eat it (no promises).
5. Balance Your Week
Match meals to your family's schedule. Plan easier meals or leftovers for busy nights, and save more involved recipes for days when you have more time.
6. Plan for Flexibility
Include cards for non-cooking options like takeout, eating out, or simple alternatives like "breakfast for dinner". This builds flexibility into your system for those inevitable busy or low-energy days.
7. Embrace Technology (Optional)
Consider using a digital tool like a Skylight calendar to store your meal database and plan your week. This can be a great alternative for those who are a little more tech savvy.
Follow these tips to create a meal planning system that works for your whole family. In our experience, it not only reduces stress but makes dinnertime something you actually look forward to!
xx,
the NEAT team
