15 Genius Meal Planning Tips to Make Cooking a Breeze

Meal planning doesn’t have to be a chore. With a few smart strategies, you can save time, reduce stress, and make cooking a breeze. From using leftovers creatively to planning around sales, these tips will have you cooking with ease in no time.

Whether you’re looking to save money, eat healthier, or just get dinner on the table faster, these 15 genius meal planning tips (from a mom of a busy household) will help you streamline your process and make your kitchen time more enjoyable.

Why Meal Plan to Save Money?

The image shows different varieties of fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, and a wooden slicing board with paper and pen, indicating the importance of a meal plan to save money. — Image Credit: LanaSweet from Getty Image.

Meal planning is a smart way to stretch your dollars. When you plan your meals, you avoid impulse buys and reduce food waste. This approach makes cooking at home more affordable. Plus, there is always an answer to what is for dinner!

To learn more: The Best Frugal Living Ideas to Save Money on Food

Can you Meal Plan Easily?

The photo of fruits, vegetables, grains, cheese, and a girl's hand holding a pen while writing on a paper with notes referring to if you can meal plan easily. — Image Credit: Pixelshot.

Meal planning doesn’t have to be hard. Personally, I meal plan within 10 minutes as I’m making my grocery pickup order. This helps me focus on buying what is on sale with what I’m cooking.

With the simple steps coming up, you can save time and money. It’s an easy way to eat better on a budget.

#1 – Plan Cooking around Your Schedule

The photo tells about vegetables and a man's hand holding the pan and spatula mixing the foods in a pot indicating to plan cooking around your schedule for a meal plan. — Image Credit: RazoomGames from Getty Images Pro.

Planning meals around your schedule makes cooking less stressful. Knowing when you’ll be home to cook helps you avoid last-minute takeout. This keeps your budget in check.

I only cook in the evenings when I know I have time and not shuttling kids around. On other nights, I look for a freezer meal or easy Instant Pot dinner.

#2 – Shop Your Own Pantry

The image shows the beans, nuts, pastas, and a girl carrying a bowl of apples while picking for a snack to make indicating to shop your own pantry to use ingredients you have and save money. — Image Credit: Valerii Honcharuk.

Start meal planning by checking what’s already in your pantry. Using ingredients you have on hand saves money and prevents food from going to waste. It’s a win for your wallet.

#3 – Meal Plan for at Least a Week

The image tells about the fruits, vegetables, pen, and paper with a text that refers to a meal plan for at least a week to stay organized and avoid daily grocery runs. — Image Credit: Pixelshot.

Planning meals for at least a week helps you stay organized and avoid daily grocery runs. It makes it easier to stick to your budget and eat healthier meals at home. This is key!

Also, I tell my family to write meals on the bottom that they would like to see soon.

To learn more: Become a Pro at How to Meal Plan for a Month

#4 – Plan Meals around Sales and Discounts

The picture shows the displays of vegetables in a store and a girl picking up one indicating to plan meals around sales and discounts to cut costs and help to save up more money. — Image Credit: Obradovic from Getty Images Signature.

Planning meals around grocery store sales and discounts is a smart way to cut costs. Typically, this will help you to focus on seasonal produce. This strategy helps you save money on ingredients while still enjoying a variety of meals.

Learn More: What is the Best Cheap Food to Buy When Broke?

#5 – Plan for Meatless Meals to Save More Money

The photo of beans, vegetables, nuts, and peanut butter, and tags with text which means to plan for meatless to save more money. — Image Credit: Happylark.

Including meatless meals in your meal plan is a great way to lower grocery costs. Beans, lentils, and quinoa are my go-to when stretching my grocery budget. These meals can be just as filling and nutritious while saving you money each week.

To learn more: 20 Simple Ways on How to Save Money on Groceries

#6 – Use a Shopping List

The photo of vegetables in a paper bag and a girl holding a notebook and a pen to use a shopping list to keep focused and avoid impulse buys. — 5d5xImage Credit: SeventyFour from Getty Images.

A shopping list is your best friend when it comes to meal planning. It keeps you focused and helps you avoid buying things you don’t need, saving you money on each grocery trip. Check out the link below to get my must-haves on my shopping list.

To learn more: The 60 BEST Budget Grocery List Items for Cheap Eating

#7 – Cook in Bulk

The photo of cooked chicken, spinach, and pomegranate salad in a large bowl indicates cooking in bulk that can be eaten throughout the week and save time. — Image Credit: Kaboompics.com from Pexels.

Cooking in bulk lets you save time and money by making larger portions that can be eaten throughout the week. It’s a simple way to ensure you always have meals ready to go.

Typically, I will double a recipe and freeze the other half. Once again, cutting my cooking time in half.

#8 – Carve out Meal Prep Time

The photo of vegetables, fruits, and a girl's hand slicing them and carving out meal prep time each week to make cooking easier and less stressful. — Image Credit Ljubaphoto from Getty Images Signature.

Setting aside time for meal prep each week makes cooking easier and less stressful. Preparing ingredients in advance helps you get meals on the table faster, saving you time and money. You may choose Sunday afternoon to meal prep for the week.

To learn more: Meal Planning 101 (plus save money each week)

#9 – Incorporate Seasonal Produce

The photo of displayed fruits and vegetables in a market indicates to incorporate of seasonal produce to buy it at a cheaper price and to save money. — Image Credit: Ewastudio from Getty Images.

Seasonal produce is often cheaper and fresher. Planning meals around what’s in season allows you to save money and enjoy better-tasting fruits and vegetables.

To learn more: 53 Items Not to Buy at the Grocery Store

#10 – Simplify Your Meals

The image of a plate filled with healthy vegetables and eggs refers to simplifying your meals with fewer ingredients to save money and time. — Image Credit: Blackdovfx from Getty Images.

Keeping your meals simple with fewer ingredients saves time and money. Plus simple meals can still be delicious and make meal planning easier for busy days.

#11 – Utilize Leftovers

The image of the girl's hand holding a fork and plate transferring the foods in a food container indicates to utilize leftovers for future meals and helps stretch your food budget. — Image Credit: Digitalskillet from Getty Images Signature.

Using leftovers for future meals helps stretch your food budget. It’s a practical way to reduce waste and ensure you get the most out of your grocery shopping.

The common practice is to make a dump stew with veggies that are not at their peak along with leftover chicken.

#12 – Double Meals and Freeze the Extra

The photo of packed vegetables inside a refrigerator means to freeze the extra meal to allow to have ready-made meals on hand. — Image Credit: Ahanov Michael.

Doubling recipes and freezing the extra portions is a time-saving strategy. It allows you to have ready-made meals on hand, which can be a lifesaver on busy nights.

This is a must for a busy family. Maybe even host a meal prep night with your friends.

#13 – Set Aside 10 Minutes a Week to Plan Meals

The picture of oranges, a banana, and berries at the table and a girl's hand holding a paper board while writing on it to set aside 10 minutes a week to plan meals to stay organized and track with your budget. — Image Credit: Pixelshot.

Spending just 10 minutes a week to plan your meals can make a big difference. This small time investment helps you stay organized and on track with your budget.

You can time this when making your grocery pickup order. Typically, I pickup groceries on the same day to help me remember.

#14 – Save New Recipes to Try

The image shows fruits, vegetables, and a girl's hand using a tablet device with a display indicating to save new recipes to try and add to a variety of your meal plan. — Image Credit: RossHelen.

Keeping a list of new recipes to try adds variety to your meal plan. It keeps meals interesting while helping you stick to cooking at home instead of eating out. You can use a recipe app or Pinterest or anyway to track them.

To learn more: 100+ Frugal Meals for When You’re Broke or on a Budget

#15 – Keep Your Favorites on Rotation

The photo of different varieties of meals in the container, plastic spoons and forks, and juices in the bottles indicate to keep your favorite on rotation on your meal plan. — Image Credit: Anna Shkuratova from Getty Images.

Rotating your favorite recipes makes meal planning faster and more enjoyable. It ensures you always have meals you love while sticking to your budget. Taco Tuesdays, Pizza Fridays seem to be a common theme!

Learn more about meal planning

Meal planning is a practical way to save money and eat well. With a little organization, you can make cooking at home easier and more affordable.

To learn more: Download Your Simply Put Meal Planner + Editable Spreadsheets

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