How I Finally Got Consistent with Meal Planning
For a long time, I was that mom standing in front of the fridge at 5:30 p.m., hoping dinner would magically appear.
Desmond or Callie would ask, “What’s for dinner?” and I’d sigh, stare into the fridge, and try to piece something together from half-used veggies and a pack of chicken. Most nights, I’d throw together some kind of “chicken bowl” — chicken, rice, and whatever vegetables we had. It wasn’t bad… but it was boring. And it was happening about five nights a week.
I’d been buying all the “right” foods from the Mediterranean Diet shopping list, but without a plan, they just sat there. Some went bad before I figured out what to do with them. Dinner time became frustrating — it felt like a chore, not something to enjoy.
Why I Finally Needed a System
At some point, I realized that the frustration wasn’t just about dinner — it was about the mental load. Every night felt like starting from scratch. I didn’t want to dread that question anymore.
So I decided to make a change. I sat down one Sunday night, wrote out actual meals for the week, and placed one big grocery order for curbside pickup Monday morning. It was simple, but it completely shifted how I felt about cooking.
The “What’s For Dinner?” Board
During one of my Dollar Tree runs, I found a small whiteboard and wrote “What’s For Dinner?” across the top. It’s now stuck to our fridge, and it’s honestly been the best thing I’ve done for my sanity in years.
Each week, I list out the meals for Monday through Saturday — things like:
Chicken + Veggies Sheet Pan
Chickpea Soup + Bread
Chicken Subs + Avocado Dip
Big Dinner (our code for “snack-style dinner”)
Waldorf Salad
Now, when someone asks what’s for dinner, they can just look instead of asking me ten times.
It’s small, simple, and kind of cute — but it’s made a huge difference.
What’s Changed Since I Started Meal Planning
Less Waste: I buy ingredients with a purpose now. Everything that goes into the cart already has a plan for the week.
Less Stress: I know what’s coming. If dinner’s more time-intensive, I plan my day around it.
Fewer Grocery Trips: One big order each week instead of three small “just need one thing” runs.
More Variety: We’ve broken out of the same three-meal loop. I try one or two new recipes every week now.
Built-In Flexibility: I plan a “Big Dinner” or leftover night so we can use up extras and I can take a night off cooking.
Sticking With It (Even When I Don’t Feel Like It)
The first couple of weeks felt amazing — everything ran smoothly. But I’ll be honest, there were Sunday nights when I was this close to skipping it. I’d rather scroll TikTok or start a show, but I make myself sit down, plan, and order the groceries anyway.
Now that it’s part of my routine, it feels easier. I know what works, and I don’t have to think about it as much. This system has made our home calmer, our meals better, and my evenings far less chaotic.
It’s not fancy or complicated. It’s just a plan — and it works.
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My real-life “What’s For Dinner?” board — the $1 system that finally made meal planning stick.
