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Are you getting ready to go back to school? Worrying about how meal planning is going to fit into your busy lives?

I know firsthand, when life gets busy, meal planning is usually the first to get thrown out the window.

Making a plan now will save you when back to school time comes and life gets crazy.

11 Tips to Succeed at Back to School Meal Planning

Use these tips to set up a successful meal planning routine now, that will carry you into back to school time.

1. Create a menu board

   Find a menu board style that works for your family. In my opinion, the best option is a board in your kitchen that everyone can see. Try this DIY menu board that doesn’t require any tools. 

2. Make a list of your family’s favorite meals

   Grab this free family favorite’s printable and make a list of your favorite meals. When it’s time to plan your menu, you can look at your list for ideas instead of planning the same meals each week.

3. Learn to plan around events and activities

   Think ahead and write down any events and activities your family has that you need to plan meals around. If you know ahead of time that Thursday will be insanely busy, plan a crock pot meal or just plan to eat out that night.

4. Try theme nights

   Plan a certain theme each night of the week so you can plan your meals quicker. If you know Monday is Italian night, you can choose from just a few of your family’s favorite Italian meals from your list.

   This post goes into much more detail about theme night meal planning.

5. Assign each family member a night to choose a meal

   Take the burden of planning all the meals and spread it amongst your family. That way no one can complain about what’s for dinner, since they have a night to choose a meal, too.

6. Plan ahead for eating out

   I know you want to save money, but sometimes eating out is so convenient (and no dishes). Plan a night to eat out and work that into your budget, as well.

7. Try freezer cooking

   Give freezer cooking a try and make several meals at once. Then, when dinner time comes around, you can just thaw, heat, and serve a delicious meal. This post is great for beginner freezer cooking tips.

8. Prepare a snack bin

   When you buy snacks, go ahead and divide them into portions and create a snack bin. You can get a plastic bin from Dollar Tree and let everyone grab their own snacks.

9. Don’t forget about breakfast

   For me, I’m more tempted to stop and get donuts or breakfast on the way to work if I didn’t plan ahead. So, I make freezer breakfast meals and put them in a Dollar Tree bin in the freezer. Then, I can just grab a breakfast burrito or sandwich, heat it up, and go.

10. Try crockpot meals

    Crockpot meals may be the best thing ever! I seriously love how easy it is to throw something in the crockpot, let it do the work, and come home to a delicious smelling dinner that’s all ready to devour. You could even plan a crockpot day in your meal planning. Here are 23 crockpot meal ideas.

11. Have backup “pantry meals” on hand

    Sometimes you forget to thaw your meat, or for one reason or another, the meal you had planned falls through. When that happens you can do 3 things: 1) starve 2) go out to eat/order pizza 3) prepare a super easy “pantry meal”. (I suggest #3.) A pantry meal is a meal you can prepare with simple items you already have on hand. This is a list of 10 pantry meal ideas.

Use these tips to succeed at back to school meal planning. You’ll be less stressed by planning ahead and you’ll save a ton of time and money! And your sanity! 🙂

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