Let's Meal Plan for the Month: Simplifying Family Dinners with Monthly Menus

I've got some exciting news to share – I'm diving into monthly meal planning! Now, if you've been following along, you know I’m not new to meal planning for my family of 6 (check out my previous tips here), but this time, I'm taking it up a notch. I was inspired to do this by Mattie James. I’m apart of her online community, And More, and we recently had a virtual meet up to give everyone a chance to meal for the plan. And let me tell you, I'm already feeling the benefits!

The idea of monthly meal planning (instead of weekly planning) was actually initially suggested to me by my good girlfriend Ericka at my baby shower for the twins. Although I didn't follow through at the time, I'm excited to say that we now have a dinner meal plan in play for the entire month of March. Plus, I've even decided to try out a meal delivery service for my work-from-home lunches – stay tuned for more on that soon!

With "order" being my word for the year, implementing routines for success is a big part of that. Planning out meals once instead of multiple times a month is a routine that is sure to decrease stress around what’s for dinner and fewer last-minute dashes to the drive-thru or delivery via DoorDash.

To help you get started on your own meal planning journey, feel free to steal our March dinner menu below. Here's a peek into what will cooking in our kitchen:

Week 1:

- Lasagne Soup

- Taco Tuesday

- Salmon with Kale Fried Rice and Broccoli

Week 2:

- Short Rib Bolognese with Caesar Salad

- Taco Tuesday

- Bacon and Maple Glazed Chicken Thighs with Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts

Week 3:

- Million Dollar Spaghetti

- Taco Tuesday

- Pan-Seared Filet Mignon with Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus

Week 4:

- Make Your Own Pizza

- Taco Tuesday

- Baked Chicken Wings with Mac and Cheese and Collard Greens

As you can see, I plan to cook 3 times a week and have enough for next-day leftovers, with one or two nights designated for ordering out – like our typical Pizza Night Fridays. Some meals, like Taco Tuesday, will be a recurring favorite, and I'll adjust and tweak the plan as needed. After all, flexibility is key!

If you'd like me to share future posts with some of these recipes, let me know in the comments below. I'm always happy to hear from you and share more hacks for simplifying family meals.

Here's to stress-free dinners and delicious meals shared with loved ones!

Keep glowing,

Shalyce