A huge reason you don’t want to cook is not having a plan. I get it. It’s a brand-new year, and if you’re anything like most, come Jan. 1, you’ve sworn to eat healthier, save money and keep your stress levels low. But then, you waltz into the kitchen, hungry enough to devour a buffalo, dreaming of a steaming teriyaki chicken bowl or a crisp, satisfying salad. And what do you find?
No chicken, no greens and a fridge that looks like it’s still recovering from 2024.
At that moment, the kitchen becomes your nemesis, and UberEats starts whispering sweet nothings into your ear. But what if meal planning became your secret weapon for turning those lofty January goals into a lifestyle? If you want to eat healthier, save yourself these headaches and face dinnertime with the confidence of a seasoned chef, you’ve got to embrace the power of the plan, man. It’s not about perfection. It’s about making your life easier and your meals tastier, one week at a time.
Meal Planning: A Big Self-Hug
Listen, sugar biscuits, meal planning isn’t just about food and doesn’t have to be a painstaking process. It’s more about giving yourself a big ol’ hug every single day of the week. When work has you running on fumes and whipping up dinner feels like an impossible feat, wouldn’t it be nice to already have a plan in place?
Meal planning can turn your busy workweeks into a well-oiled machine. No more staring into the fridge like it will give the dinner answer to you. With a plan, you’ll already know what’s cookin’. You’ve gotten the groceries and prepped so that when dinnertime rolls around, all you’ll need to do is throw it together. It’s like giving Future You a break. And Future You needs it.
It’s Easier Than You Think
How do you go about designing a meal plan for the week? Start by taking stock of your week: busy nights, work lunches, maybe a little wiggle room for takeout or leftovers. I like to look at my entire month and mark out the nights I know I won’t be able to cook. Those evenings can be used for dining out or heating up leftovers. Yes, you read that right: Please make time to wine and dine yourself!
Next, count the days in that week when you’ll have free time in the kitchen. Think of what you might be in the mood for. If you have a free night to try making Beef Wellington, by all means, knock yourself out! Or comb through your favorite cookbooks or Pinterest recipe boards for more ideas.
After you know how many meals you’ll need to make at home, create your grocery list. Be sure to see if you already have recipe ingredients to prevent double purchasing.
Pro Tip: Keep it realistic and be honest with yourself. No one is asking you to make soufflés on a Tuesday night! Focus on meals that fit your schedule and prep what you can ahead of time. Find at least three nights during the week to roll up your sleeves, crank up your favorite tunes, and transform your kitchen into your happy place. Slow yourself down. Sip a little wine (or tea, no judgment here). Cook a beautiful meal for you or your entire family.
Now, it’s time to shop, m’dear. Armed with your trusty list, tackle the grocery store like a pro. Shoot for the calm hours—preferably in the morning—when the aisles aren’t a derby of bumper carts and cranky shoppers. (At times, I am one of them.)
Another tip: Eat before you go! I mean it. A rumbling stomach turns every aisle into a minefield of impulse buys, and suddenly, you’re walking out with five bags of chips, a tub of cookie dough, and no actual dinner ingredients. Stick to the list, keep your cool and get in and out of the store.
Then pick a day—I’m partial to Sundays—to meal prep. This is your time to whip up a pot of fluffy grains, blend a zippy dressing, or dice veggies for your weekly salad bar. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself when dinner feels more like assembling a puzzle than starting from scratch. It’s not about doing everything, but about making weekday cooking smoother, faster and way less “why did I even bother?” It’s like giving yourself a head start with a side of smug satisfaction. Be smug! You’ve earned it!
Choose Your Cuisines
Super duper pro-tip: If you’d like to plan out your entire month of meals, here is the easiest and quickest way to do it.
Start by picking three to four cuisines you love. Think Mexican, Italian, Asian or good ol’ comfort food. Then, brainstorm four entrees—one for each category. Think tacos, stir-fry, pasta bakes and a cozy chicken pot pie. Now, repeat this process for four salads, vinaigrettes and soups. Before you know it, you’ve got four meals to plug into your weeknight meal plan, one salad idea and a soup to boot for each week. Your meals are planned for the month. It’s that easy!
I’d be remiss not to leave you with a few dinner suggestions. Keep it simple. Pick meals that make your heart (and stomach) happy, and most importantly, have fun with it. After all, cooking should feel more like a creative adventure and less like a chore, because life’s too short for bland dinners and burnt toast!
Taco Bar: Serve family-style with mashed Oaxacan black beans, seasoned meat or tofu, and a spread of your favorite fixings. Pile
on the guac, salsa and maybe even tortilla chips for good measure.
Salad Bar: Who doesn’t love options? Create a salad spread with the freshest veggies you can find, plus two vibrant dressings. Think of it as a salad feast where everyone can top their greens like decorating a cake. Croutons, nuts, cheese—it’s all about customization.
Comfort Food: Try low-fuss meals like mac and cheese, lasagna, enchiladas or a hearty soup that’ll make you question why you ever doubted the power of carbs.
Breakfast for Dinner: Why wait for morning to indulge in the glory of breakfast? Egg scrambles or hash, sweet or savory waffles, pancakes piled high with maple syrup, and hearty sausages (yes, meat-free versions count) are all fair game. Trust me when I say this is the kind of dinner where no one’s questioning your choices.
Themed Nights: Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday, Waffle Wednesday, Fried Anything Friday … Are you picking up what I’m putting down? Themed nights are a fun way to bring some extra
flair to the week.
Potluck Night: You know the drill. Pick a day to embrace all of
those delicious uneaten things hanging out in your fridge like
forgotten treasures. Mix and match, get creative, and give those leftovers a second chance to shine. It’s the culinary equivalent of
hitting the jackpot.
Buddha Bowls: These are my absolute fave! Build a bowl that is
so nourishing and flavorful that it practically hugs you from the inside out. The perfect mix of grains, veggies, proteins and toppings will make you feel like you’ve reached Zen. The combinations are endless. (Search “buddha bowl” at brickandelm.com for my specific tips about these masterpieces.)
