Free Meal Planning Template for Beginners and 5 Meal Planning Tips

As a busy working mom, you probably dread figuring out what to make for dinner. 

I’m going to show you how to meal plan with a meal planning template so it becomes a part of your daily routine. After you read this free meal-planning guide, you will know how to meal plan for the week, and you’ll learn tips and tricks to make it as easy as possible while also saving some money while you meal plan. 

I have also created a few meal plan templates so you can print and use them right away. This meal prep plan printable also has a grocery list template on it so that you can meal plan and create your grocery list at the same time. It’s perfect for meal planning for beginners. Let’s get started. 

What is Meal Planning?

A meal prep plan, meal planning, or menu planning is where you plan the meals you will have throughout the week or month ahead of time. If you do not meal plan, it means you are making dinner each day without knowing what you are going to cook ahead of time. 

Not having a menu plan can make you feel frustrated, annoyed if you don’t have all the ingredients you need, and unprepared if you’re rushing to get dinner on the table. If this is you, let’s see if we can make life a little easier with this weekly menu planning template.  

4 Easy Meal Planning Tips

Thank About Why Do You Want to Meal Plan 

Take a few minutes to think about all the reasons you want to start meal planning. Is it because you want to save time? Eat better? Feel healthier? Maybe you want to save some money on your grocery list? 

Writing down the reasons you want to start meal planning will help guide you when it comes time to plan the meals you want to eat for the week. 

If you want to save time, you will look for quick meal ideas. If you want to save money, you want to start your menu planning by planning your meals around what you have in your fridge and pantry right now. If you’re looking for a great and affordable course on how to meal plan and save money, this course called Dishes for Dollars is fantastic. 

Want to save some money on groceries? Have a look at the flyers to see what’s on sale and then build your menu plan around those items.

Don’t Overthink It 

Just because you are meal planning, it doesn’t mean that you have to make extravagant meals. Keep it simple, use meals you already know and love. Pick meals you know how to make and your kids will like.

The goal of weekly meal prep is that we make life simpler and make your life easier.

Printing off printable meal planners is a great way to help guide you to meal planning in less time. 

Use What You Have in Your Fridge and Pantry

It’s always a good idea to have a look at what you already have in the fridge and your pantry before you decide what meals you will eat this week. 

Doing regular pantry inventories will help you save money by not wasting food and not buying more than what you need for this week’s meals. 

If you have veggies in the fridge you need to use up, plan a meal around those veggies for the beginning of the week. 

Do you have cans in your pantry that have been there for a long time? Think of a meal you can make to use those up. This will save you money when meal planning for your family each week. 

Stretch out your Meals and be Practical

Some meals you can get a couple of meals from. For example, you could make a big lasagna or a big pot of chili or soup. These meals could be used for two dinners in a row or you could freeze the leftovers into freezer bags and use them for a meal another week. You can also eat leftovers for your lunches the next day. 

Remember the end goal here is to make life easier while menu planning for the week. 

Meal Plan for the Whole Month

Use the free printable meal planner and plan for the entire month. A monthly meal plan will take some stress off of you even if you don’t complete the full month. Add some meals that you plan to prep ahead of time to your weekly menu planner. 

Add your favorite meals and plan out where you can make them in the coming month. 

You will have less to worry about a week to week when you meal plan this way. 

Step by Step Instructions 

Make a List 

List all the reasons you want to create a meal plan. Remember these reasons when you go to plan your meals. 

Examples would be: 

Save money – check out your flyers

Save time – Quick Easy Meals 

Eat Healthier – Quick Healthy Meals

Make a List of Meals you Already Know and Love 

This list will make sure you’re making meals you already know and love and ones that your kids love. You don’t want to go crazy and start making new recipes each week and end up stressed out if they don’t turn out well or your kids don’t like them. 

Keep meals that are already a hit and easy to make in your weekly meal plan to keep it easy and simple. If you have a busy week, consider that. 

Print out your Weekly Meal Planning and Grocery List Template 

Print out your weekly meal planning template so that as you find recipes and meals you want you can add them to your printable right way. 

The menu planning template has a grocery list template on it so while you are meal planning you can compile your grocery list so you don’t forget any ingredients. 

Search Pinterest 

This is a great resource if you want to find specific meals. If your goal is to save money search for cheap meal ideas. If you want healthy recipes, search for healthy recipes. I use Pinterest when I’m meal planning for the week or month. The other thing you can do is grab a meal prepping idea book for inspiration. 

Check Your Local Flyers for Sales 

Looking to save some money? Have a look at your flyers to see if there are deals you can take advantage of. Plan your meals around what meat is on sale and what produce is on sale. This is a big money saver! 

If there’s a really big sale thinking about possibly buying a few more and freezing them for later if possible might be a good idea. 

Some Easy Menu Planning Meal Ideas

Slow Cooker Meals Ideas 

I love using my slow cooker. It’s so easy, and I can have a meal cooking in the crockpot at night or while I’m working, so it’s ready for dinner time. Remember you can always freeze a slow cooker meal to use next month. You can add a favorite stew or chilly as an easy monthly meal.

Here are some of my favorite slow cooker meals: Stew, Roast and Potatoes, Chili, Pulled Pork 

Freezer Meals Ideas  

Want Super Healthy Frozen Meals? Check out Evive Nutrition Lunches and Smoothies. They are my ultimate favorite frozen meals because they are so healthy. Pure ingredients, no fillers, Vegan, and ready in minutes. You just can’t go wrong.

These meals are a part of my everyday meal plan, I usually have a smoothie for lunch and I’ve been recently adding their Thai dinner to my weekly dinner schedule. 

I’ve written a full review on Evive Nutrition so you can learn more. If you use my code MOTHERHOOD30 you can save 30% on your first box. 

Pinterest also has so many great freezer meal ideas to keep you and your family excited about different meals you can make each day of the week. 

Benefits of Meal Planning

Saving Money

Meal planning is an easy way to save money because you are prepared to the grocery store. By having your meal plan and grocery list with you, you don’t risk going to the grocery store without a plan and buying unnecessary items.

When you go to the grocery store unprepared, you’re more likely to grab items you don’t need and might end up wasting. Try to stick to your shopping list, and you’ll see some money savings week to week. 

Another tip: Before you go grocery shopping make sure you’re not hungry so you don’t buy all the things you don’t need just because you’re hungry. 

Time-savings

Without a weekly meal plan, you run the risk of multiple trips to the store which leads to buying more times and running the risk of more unnecessary purchases. Multiple stops at the stores every week can add up quickly. Try to limit your trips to once a week. 

Productivity

This one just makes sense, creating a menu plan that works for you helps you be more productive because you already know what you’re making all week and you don’t need to waste time multiple times a week looking at what you have and trying to come up with a plan. 

Make Weekly Meal Planning Even Easier

Grocery Delivery

Another amazing way that I save time and you can do is to use your local grocery store’s delivery offer. After you’ve created your meal plan and grocery list just add it to an online order, set your time for grocery pick up or delivery and you’re done! 

Time is saved by having your groceries gathered for you. You can also use a personal shopper from  InstaCart to deliver your groceries for you. They could have your delivery done in as little as two hours. 

There are so many great options to save time for meal planning. 

The Best Meal Planning Template

When I look for a meal planning template or printable I want one that has enough room for Breakfast (hint, overnight oats), Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks and I want a grocery list printable on it. I also enjoy something I can print off for free vs the meal planners you can buy. 

You want something that is convenient, one page and has everything you need. This meal planning printable does exactly that.

Meal Planning for Beginners Summary

Meal planning should be less intimidating for you now. Use the tips tricks and download your free meal planning printable with a grocery list so that you can save time, money and eat better starting today! Happy meal planning!