5 Meal Planning Ideas to get you out of a slump
In a meal-planning slump? I know the mundane of life can make cooking and just being in the kitchen tough. I do these five things to pull out of a slump and create a healthy fresh meal plan routine, that will get me through the summer. Here are my 5 meal planning ideas to get you out of a slump!
Number One: Create a Recipe Binder
Creating a recipe binder has no rules, so do what works best for you. This can be a 3-ring binder with notebook paper, or if you sign up for the RHB community, I have a printable coming soon. Collect your recipes in that binder so you know where to find them. In the front, list your 20 favorite recipes for easy meal planning.
Number Two: Look the Part
Wear an apron. I learned this from my favorite blogger, A Bowl Full of Lemons. When I put on my Apron it’s like the chef’s hat to tell myself that I mean business. Cooking should be fun and enjoyable if we do it every day. Evening time is a celebration at my house. I put on my apron, light a candle, and play my music of choice. It’s a pat on the back for making it another day!
Number Three: Meal Prep
Get on a schedule to meal prep and get ahead of your week. This eliminates the everyday scramble of each meal and all the decisions. Pick the day of grocery shopping or even the day after to prep breakfast, lunch, and snacks. If I have extra time, I prep dinner items like rice, chopped veggies, and brown ground beef. You will find a rhythm that works for you, just block off time during your week to complete meal prep.
This is what a meal prep block looks like for me.
- Clean out the fridge. Remove leftovers and use or discard produce that is old.
- Meal Plan. This includes breakfast, lunches, dinners, and snacks. Use what you have to start this list and reference your favorite recipe list.
- Grocery List and shopping. Obsessed with Kroger delivery right now. I clean out the fridge while I wait for my delivery. Become a member for gas point perks and free delivery over $35 or choose a delivery window with a low fee.
- Wash produce & put groceries away. Having an organized pantry makes this so much more fun.
- Have a plan for lunch or treat yourself to eating out. Some weeks I prep lunch for the week now, so I have food for the rest of the week.
- Plan a simple dinner on meal prep day. Less prep gives you more time to make other items.
- Prep Breakfast, lunches, and snacks for the week. Keep it simple.
Number Four: Close your Kitchen
A clean kitchen in the morning is a gift and sets you up for success the next day. I do this by “Closing my kitchen” at night. After dinner, I finish my kitchen chores and turn out the lights before I tuck the kids in bed. Doing this creates a routine that will serve you well. Cleaning while you are cooking dinner, also makes this quicker.
There are nights I don’t have it in me and leaving dishes for the morning feels like self-care. Life is busy in the evenings some days, so don’t beat yourself up. Miss one night, but not two.
How to Close your Kitchen
- Put up all clean dishes
- Load dishwasher & clean dishes
- Clean sink- I use Dawn dish soap and a sponge, but once a week I deep clean my garbage disposal and Bar Keeper my farmhouse sink.
- Wipe Counters, stove top, and fridge handles
- Quick Vacuum the floor & spot clean if needed
- Lay out a clean dish towel, blow out the candle, and turn off the lights.
My favorite is the kitchen aid mixer and mixer cover. The cover is so inexpensive, yet it gives my counters a facelift by adding texture and keeping the mixer clean!
Number Five: Plan a Baking Day
This is usually monthly for me, but sometimes twice a month. Getting out the mixer and baking takes time and energy, so batch baking is smart and will save you time and money. If you already have your bowls and flour out, might as well make all the things, right??
To have a successful baking day, check your freezer and calendar for the month. I make pizza dough, cookies, birthday cakes, breakfast items, and baked goods for upcoming holidays and events. Trust me in this and I’m telling you, you will never feel more like a woman than after a great baking day. This makes homemade pie crusts and banana bread quick and accessible on short notice.
My Baking Day
I begin my baking day with a clean kitchen and put on my apron. Set the mood by lighting a candle and playing music. Make a list of all the things you want to bake. Once I know what I’m baking, I start with the bread and dough items that take the longest. This makes my day more productive, as I work while breads rise.
At the end of my baking day, I sit down with coffee and a treat to celebrate my time. Make sure to store your baked goods properly and label them with the item and date before you call your baking day a win.
I hope you have enjoyed these 5 meal planning ideas to get you out of a slump. Setting the mood, and routine, ensuring you celebrate your commitment, are the keys to enjoying meal planning! Do these five ideas and you will have fun and great food for your family and friends, prepped and ready to go!
Until next time,
Blogs you might also enjoy:
