I Developed a Meal and Snack Plan for My Family, and It's Working Wonders

As summer came to an end, I geared up for the school year. Managing four kids means I can’t afford to be too laid-back, despite my wishes. I anticipated that this school year would bring its own set of challenges, perhaps even more than the last. That’s when I had a lightbulb moment: what if I created a structured meal and snack schedule for my family?

Now that we’ve settled into the school year, I’m thrilled to share that our meal schedule is functioning like a charm. No longer are we scrambling daily to decide what to feed the kids; everyone knows what to expect. The result? Fewer complaints, which is a win for parents everywhere. If you’re interested in creating a similar schedule that could make your kitchen a happier place, here’s how you can do it.

Compile a Food Dislike List

Yes, you heard that right! Create a list of foods that your family absolutely refuses to eat, being as specific as possible. You may want to ask each family member for their input. For instance, one of my kids detests pears and broccoli, another can’t stand pineapple, and one believes chickpeas are the worst invention ever. (This is just a snippet of our longer list!) Be sure to include any food allergies or sensitivities, as well as brands or flavors that don’t sit well with your family.

Brainstorm a Food “Like” List

Once you have the complaints, it’s time to think positively! Make a list of foods, meals, and snacks that your family enjoys. Organize this list by categories like breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. If you’re like us, you might even want to add a dessert category. For meals that allow for customization—like taco night—keep it generic so everyone can create their own plate with preferred ingredients. Remember to steer clear of the foods on your dislike list! This list doesn’t need to be exhaustive; it’s simply a starting point for organizing your meal schedule.

Design a Schedule

Creating a meal schedule requires some effort, but it’s time well invested. Review your lists of disliked and liked foods, and start plotting out meals and snacks that your family would enjoy. I aimed for about ten meals, including tacos, Asian-inspired rice bowls, pasta, easy frozen nights, grilled meals for weekends, and breakfast-for-dinner. Coming up with ten meals that everyone agrees on was a challenge! After finalizing my ten meals and seven snacks, I mapped out when each would be served.

Consider Doubling Up

When you prepare a meal, try doubling the recipe to have leftovers for the next day’s lunch whenever possible. Sometimes, I even quadruple a recipe and freeze half, particularly for soups and chili. Since my kids can’t always take leftovers to school, I make a batch of pasta salad for the week, packed with veggies and protein, drizzled with olive oil, paired with fruit. So far, so good!

Be Kind to Yourself

It’s perfectly okay if your meal plans aren’t Pinterest-worthy or traditional. Sometimes simplicity is key, and creativity should be celebrated. If you manage to compile enough meals and snacks, give yourself a little pat on the back—and perhaps a glass of wine. If a meal or snack doesn’t turn out as planned, feel free to remove it from the list and try something else.

Involve the Complainers

Regardless of how fantastic your meal schedule is, you can expect some complaints. I encourage my kids to come up with new recipe ideas, assist with grocery shopping, and help with kitchen cleanup. They also have designated nights for kitchen chores, teaching them teamwork and problem-solving rather than just grumbling about what’s on their plates. If you have a partner, decide who will handle grocery shopping and meal prep; in our home, my husband does the shopping while we split cooking duties based on availability.

Minimize Waste and Save Money

One of the significant benefits of having a meal schedule is the reduction in food waste. Consequently, we’re also saving money! It took some trial and error to determine how much of each ingredient to buy to avoid excess leftovers, but we’ve developed an effective schedule that allows us to save some extra cash for occasional dining out or splurging on special treats like our favorite pricey ice cream.

Stay Open to Change

As fall approaches, I plan to swap out some regular meals for slow cooker options, soups, and chili. Meal schedules become even simpler with these dishes since they make excellent leftovers and freeze well. After a long day, nothing beats coming home to a pot of vegetable soup already simmering. If a meal or snack stops working for your family, feel free to change it up and try something different. Weekends can be a great opportunity to experiment with new recipes together.

I’m genuinely delighted with how smoothly our family meals and snacks are organized now. There’s significantly less of the kids peeking into the fridge or pantry and complaining about “nothing to eat.” We’re saving money, reducing food waste, and, most importantly, relieving ourselves of a previous point of stress—pun intended.

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Summary

Creating a structured meal and snack schedule has transformed my family’s dining experience, reducing stress and complaints while saving money and minimizing food waste. By compiling lists of likes and dislikes, designing an organized meal plan, and encouraging family involvement, we’ve turned our kitchen into a happier space.

I Developed a Meal and Snack Plan for My Family, and It’s Working Wonders