Meal Planning for a Busy Week

On busy weekdays, the question of what to cook often appears at the worst moment, when everyone is tired and hungry. A short weekly plan removes that daily decision and usually saves money too.

Pick a Planning Day

Choose one day a week to plan meals and shop. Many people use the weekend, when there is a little more time. Fifteen minutes with a notebook or phone is enough.

Plan Fewer Meals Than Days

Rather than planning seven different dinners, plan four or five and allow for leftovers, an evening out or a simple fallback meal. A plan with some flexibility is easier to follow.

Reuse Ingredients

Choose meals that share ingredients, so nothing goes to waste. For example:

·         Roasted vegetables for dinner, then added to a lunch salad

·         A larger batch of rice for two different meals

·         One bunch of fresh herbs used across several dishes

Cook in Batches

Cooking a large pot of soup, sauce or stew at the weekend provides ready meals for busy evenings. Many dishes keep well in the fridge for a few days or can be frozen in portions.

Write One Shopping List

Group your list by section of the shop, such as vegetables, dairy and dry goods. Shopping from a list is faster and makes impulse buys less likely.

Keep a List of Favourites

Note meals your household enjoys and that are quick to make. Over time this becomes a ready menu to choose from, which makes planning even faster.

Final Thought

Meal planning does not need special apps or complicated spreadsheets. A short list of meals and one shopping trip can make weekday evenings noticeably calmer.