Create A Meal Plan For A Family Of Four

Creating a meal plan for a family of 4 can save time, reduce food waste, and take the guesswork out of “what’s for dinner”. With some organization and basic meal prepping, you can make weekly family dinners an easy task. Follow these steps to establish a smooth routine of planning and preparing home-cooked meals for your family.

Do An Inventory Of Your Pantry And Fridge

Check what ingredients you already have on hand so you can build meals around them. Make a list of any basics you need to restock like rice, beans, olive oil, and spices. Buy any perishables like produce, meat, eggs, or dairy for the week.

Discuss Family Meal Preferences

Talk to your family members about what types of meals they prefer for home-cooked dinners. Get input on family favorites, types of cuisine, or any dietary needs or restrictions. Look for common ground and compromises so you can make a plan with meals everyone will enjoy.

Choose A Mix Of Meals For The Week

Select 5 to 7 dinners to make for your meal plan, with a mix that includes:

• Familiar favorites like tacos, pasta, or stir fry that are easy to make in large amounts.
• Casual meals like soup and grilled cheese, omelets, or pizza that are lighter and budget-friendly.
• Slow cooker or freezer meals on busier nights. Prepare double batches when you have time to freeze for later.
• Something new or adventurous like an ethnic cuisine or special dish to add variety. Get inspiration from food blogs, cooking shows, or your family’s requests.

Map Out Your Weekly Meal Plan

Decide which meals you’ll make on each day of the week. Make a chart or calendar to schedule them, taking work or school schedules into account. Group similar types of meals together, like having all slow cooker meals at the beginning of the week. Leave one or two nights unplanned as a buffer.

With your inventory, preferences, and mix of meals in mind, specify portions needed for your family size and note all ingredients required for the week on your shopping list. Buy everything at once, then you’re ready to start cooking!

Prepare Components Ahead Of Time

Chop vegetables, cook rice or beans, marinate meats – do whatever you can ahead to minimize effort on busy weeknights. Double recipes, when possible, to have leftovers, or pack and freeze portions to reheat later. Utilizing your freezer and doing batch cooking on the weekends will make your family meals program run much more smoothly.

Reevaluate And Revise As Needed

Check-in with your family each week to see how the meal plan is working and make changes as needed for the following week. Be flexible – use unplanned nights for leftovers, eating out, or switching up the schedule. With regular practice, planning and preparing home-cooked family meals will become second nature.

Shop For The Necessary Ingredients

Go shopping with your meal plan and grocery list in hand to purchase everything you need for the weeks’ worth of family dinners. Buy extra staples if there are good deals to save for meals the following week.

Get Organized Before Cooking

Once home from shopping, put groceries away and get your mise en place set up by washing and chopping veggies, marinating meats, etc. Having everything prepped ahead of time will make cooking efficient and less stressful.

Cook Ahead When Possible

Use any downtime on the weekends or evenings to cook double batches of entrees or side dishes to freeze for your meal plan. Soups, stews, casseroles, and baked goods are all perfect options for cooking ahead and freezing.

Keep It Simple

When your schedules are extra busy, keep meals simple. Sandwiches, scrambled eggs, or a basic salad with chicken or fish are easy options. Don’t be afraid to use pre-washed salad greens and other pre-cut veggies to save time when needed.

Make It Fun!

Play some music while cooking and engage your kids in the meal prep when they’re not too hungry or tired. Let each family member choose and help make a favorite meal for an upcoming dinner. Trying new recipes or cuisines together is also a great way to bond over your home-cooked family meals.