![\"Happy](\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/3295812\/Imported_Blog_Media\/Meal-Planning_1mb.jpg\")
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It\u2019s that dreaded question. It might be casually asked in the morning before work and quickly brushed off. It might be that mid-afternoon text you\u2019re not sure how to answer. Or it might come from your 7-year-old right when he wakes up because he likes to know what his entire day has in store for him and whether he needs to complain or not. (No? Just me?)<\/p>\n
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What\u2019s for dinner tonight?<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s the one. For some people, planning meals can be a HUGE cause of stress. When you\u2019re a busy family with a crazy schedule, planning practical, healthy meals during the week can be a pretty difficult task. But it\u2019s something most of us would like to get better at so we\u2019re not going out or ordering in all the time. It\u2019s also a great way to save some money, eat healthier, and enjoy dinner around the table as a family.<\/p>\n For as long as I can remember, I\u2019ve been a planner. So, meal planning has always made sense to me and it\u2019s just something I\u2019ve always done. I usually take some time every Sunday to sit down and check our schedule for the week ahead and plan our meals. I know this doesn\u2019t come as easy for others, so I\u2019ve put together some tips to help ease you into meal planning for your family.<\/p>\n Keep it Simple<\/strong> \u2013 Meal planning doesn\u2019t have to be elaborate. I\u2019m definitely not suggesting you plan a meal that will take hours to prepare in the middle of the week after you\u2019ve worked all day. In fact, I suggest you keep it simple. Simple often means healthier too. Grilling some meat and veggies and tossing together a salad is super quick and easy \u2013 and also delicious and healthy!<\/p>\n Know Your Schedule<\/strong> \u2013 Knowing your family\u2019s schedule for the week is important when meal planning. For instance, my husband usually takes care of the BBQing, so I don\u2019t plan anything that needs grilling on a night I know he\u2019s home a bit later. Our boys play baseball on Mondays and Wednesdays this summer, so on those nights I make sure I plan something quick and easy, or something that\u2019s ready to serve from the slow cooker. Since our weekends are more relaxed, I usually plan meals that require a little more prep time. Like bacon wrapped stuffed chicken with grilled asparagus, or homemade hamburgers and pasta salad! Mmmmmm!<\/p>\n Check Your Freezer<\/strong> \u2013 Do a quick scan of your freezer and plan your meals around what you already have on hand. Thaw whatever meat you need so it will be ready to cook when you get home. If you know you\u2019ll be short on time on a particular night, make extras the night before so you\u2019ll have leftovers you can quickly heat up.<\/p>\n Make it Fun!<\/strong> \u2013 Meatless Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Web Wednesdays \u2013 these are little daily things you can do to make meal planning fun and easy! We do Taco Tuesday in our house because we\u2019re all big taco fans! So, every Tuesday, I know what we\u2019re having for dinner. In the fall and winter months, Sunday is usually Slow Cooker Sunday. (It always makes the house smell amazing!)<\/p>\n Involve the Kids<\/strong> \u2013 If your kids are a bit older, ask them what meals they want and let each of them plan a meal every week! Not only will it help you plan the week (bonus!), but you know they\u2019re picking meals they actually like and won\u2019t complain about. I let each of our boys plan a whole week every now and then and they love it!<\/p>\n Be Flexible<\/strong> \u2013 When you make a meal plan for the week, remember it\u2019s just that \u2013 a PLAN. Leave room for flexibility. Sometimes the week will go exactly to plan and sometimes\u2026it won\u2019t. Life happens. Things pop up. Don\u2019t be hard on yourself if a day gets changed here and there. Just adjust the plan and don\u2019t let one little hiccup mess up the rest of your week.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I hope these tips help make dinner time a little less stressful\u2026and a little more enjoyable!<\/p>\n Happy Meal Planning! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s that dreaded question. It might be casually asked in the morning before work and quickly brushed off. It might be that mid-afternoon text you\u2019re not sure how to answer. Or it might come from your 7-year-old right when he wakes up because he likes to know what his entire day has in store for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-827","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-food","7":"category-mom-moments","8":"category-parenting"},"yoast_head":"\n