If you’re struggling to meal plan, you are not alone. However, most of the advice out there is geared toward people who just aren’t sure where to start. The big problem for a lot of us who are already familiar with the ins and outs of meal planning is finding the motivation to get it done. That’s where meal planning tricks come in handy, simple strategies to make the process easier and more doable.

What can you do when working on a meal plan is the last thing you feel like doing? Check out these 8 meal planning tricks!

1. Make it a family affair

Have you ever tried convincing your kids that tidying up is fun? I’m definitely more eager when playing The Cleanup Dash. Sometimes, getting kids involved in meal planning is the push you need. Ask what they want to eat next week and involve them based on their age. This helps picky eaters feel more in control of the menu! Struggling to meal plan can very quickly become a thing of the past using this one trick!

2. Come up with just one meal

Sometimes, you just need a little direction to start meal planning. If you’re batch cooking chicken Monday, leftovers work Wednesday. Pasta feels like an obvious Tuesday choice. Once you plan one meal, the rest often falls into place.

3. Think of a theme for the whole week

If you’re getting tired of making the same meals over and over, commit to a theme to shake things up. Maybe you’ll devote this week to making different meals from the same country or geographic region, or you could try making it a week of finger foods or favourites that your grandmother or mum made when you were young.

4. Make it a math game

Check last week’s grocery receipt and try to spend less this week, even by a few cents. Meal planning always saves money. For some, getting the numbers right makes it even more exciting.

5. Use-it-up challenge

Clearing out space in your pantry can be so satisfying, so why not go through your kitchen and look for items that are about to expire? Set everything on the counter that is approaching its best-by date and then find ways to use it up in your meal plan. This is also a great way to minimise food waste! 

6. Commit to trying something new

When I’m planning to try a new recipe, I’m usually more eager to make dinner that night to see how it turns out. So why not find a few new recipes to fill up next week’s meal plan? Head to your favourite recipe blog and give yourself 5 minutes on a timer to find 3 new recipes to try, or type a few ingredients into Google and challenge yourself to try one of the recipes that appears on the first page of results. Remember to keep it simple! Do not choose recipes that have a long list of ingredients to prep, and a complicated method.

7. Change your environment

If you work in front of a computer all day, it’s completely understandable if you have no desire whatsoever to sit down at your desk and work on a meal plan in your free time. Head outdoors with your tablet or a pen and pencil, and work on it while enjoying nature or watching your kids play outside for a much-needed change of scenery.

8. Set a timer

Setting a timer can boost productivity, so if you find yourself procrastinating and scrolling through social media when you should be meal planning, use this to your advantage. Set a timer for 15 minutes and do your best to get the whole job done before it goes off – and make sure you have a nice reward waiting for you at the end, whether it’s a cup of your favourite tea or a few minutes reading that novel you can’t seem to put down.

I hope these tips help! Happy meal planning!

Love,

Nakita xxx