The Secret Key to Meal Planning

Let's face it– no matter who you are, we all need to eat!  Meal planning just isn't optional for anyone!  Some people manage this task better than others, but it's always ideal if meal planning is quick and easy.  You're just more likely to stick to it!  Keep reading or watch the video here to find out the key to making meal planning happen in your home!

The number one thing that that will make your meal planning faster and easier: getting your recipes SUPER organized!  But there really is one specific way to do that to help the most:

Use a Digital System

I myself have a few paper recipes (mostly family recipes), but the core of your system really should be digital!  I know some of us struggle with technology, but digital recipe organization really doesn't have to be that complicated.  It is pretty user friendly, even if technology isn't your best friend.

Why is it so important for it to be digital?

• It's ideal to be able to take it with you.  You can have your recipes at the grocery store, and you can use your wait time in that doctor's office or checkout line to meal plan.
• There are tons of recipes online.  I find so many browsing on Pinterest or reading a cooking blog.  It's much easier to just save those digitally than it is to print out the recipe (especially if I'm not even at home when I see it!).
• It's much easier to categorize.  This part really is the key to the the whole system!

Categorize with Multiple Categories

One huge advantage to digital over paper is that you can easily categorize or tag a recipe with multiple categories.  With paper, are you going to print out a recipe 4-5 times so you can stick it in different places?!?

A real life example of this would be finding a new chicken recipe online.  It's cooked in the slow cooker, it's healthy, and it's something new I want to try.  Here are the categories I would use:

• Chicken
• Healthy
• Slow Cooker
• To Try

So when I'm meal planning, I look at my calendar and realize Wednesday is really busy.  There is some chicken in the freezer that I need to use up.  I've been focusing on eating healthier lately, but we've eaten the same slow cooker chicken recipe for three weeks straight now, and I'm bored of that one.

I will search for those categories, and it may narrow down hundreds of recipes to just a couple.  It's so much easier to choose from a smaller list that I know ticks all my boxes!

I could google for a new recipe, but that can take time.  It's much easier (and more fun!) to just find recipes along the way and file them away so they're ready when I need them.

Other Helpful Things

It's ideal to be able to make notes about the recipe:

• Did you substitute an ingredient?
• How did your family like it?
• Did it take longer to make than you thought?
• Do you want to change something next time?

It's also nice to be able to add the date you made it.  How often are you eating the same things, LOL?!?  If your recipe is connected to your meal planning, you always know the date you had it.

Where can you find this all in one place?

Glad you asked, LOL!  I needed a tool to help me do all this myself, so we created one!  I call it the Ultimate Recipe Organizer.

It does all the things I talked about above, and my meal planning process is soooo much more streamlined.  I'm loving it, and I know you will, too!  Not only does it help you with planning, but we've pre-loaded the tool with our team's favorite recipes, so you don't even have to start from scratch!

Click the link here to take a look at our new Ultimate Recipe Organizer!

Organization that actually sticks for busy, happy lives