How I Meal Plan for Two Weeks Without Losing My Mind

A few years ago, dinner time used to stress me out. Every evening, I’d hear the dreaded question: “Mom, what’s for dinner?” or “Mom, are you almost done?”  And if I didn’t have an answer, I’d scramble to throw something together— or feel bad because I decided to make a meal that takes too long to put together.  But then, I found a system that works for my family. It’s not perfect, but it makes meal planning feel manageable, flexible, and even a little fun.

If you’ve ever struggled with figuring out what to cook while juggling a busy schedule, here’s how I meal plan for two weeks at a time.

Start with What You Have & What Your Family Eats

Before I plan anything, I take a quick look in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. What do we already have? What needs to be used up before it goes bad? I also consider what my family actually enjoys eating—because planning meals no one wants is just setting myself up for failure.

Our Simple Meal Template

To make life easier, we follow a loose meal structure that helps set expectations without being too rigid. This has been a game-changer!

• Monday & Wednesday – Rice-based meals
• Tuesday & Thursday – Non-rice meals (pasta, tacos, soups, etc.)
• Friday – Leftover Magic (a mix-and-match night where we get creative!)
• Saturday – Anything goes (a special dish, foofoo, dishes that take longer to cook,or something fun)
• Sunday – Mom’s Special Sunday Dinner

This plan isn’t set in stone, but it helps streamline decision-making and gives everyone something to look forward to.

Batch Cooking & Meal Prep Hacks

On weekends or my day off, I do some bulk cooking to make weeknight meals easier:

• Prep in Advance – I cook a big batch of greens or sauces (e.g., beef stew, groundnut soup, or sautéed greens) that can be paired with rice throughout the week.
• Half-Prepare Non-Rice Meals – If I know we’re having spaghetti, I brown the ground meat ahead of time. Taco meat for Taco Tuesday? Done. If we’re making fried or baked chicken, I clean and season it in advance.
• Make Extra for Leftovers – I try to cook a little more than we need so Friday’s “Leftover Magic” night is fun instead of disappointing. Sometimes, my kids even call dibs on leftovers midweek!

Quick & Flexible Weeknight Cooking

The goal is to keep weeknight dinners simple and stress-free:

• Fast Meals (20-30 minutes max) – I save longer recipes for the weekend.
• Use What’s Available – If we have leftover rice, that’s a win! If we need to cook fresh rice, whoever gets home first handles it.
• Be Flexible – If life happens (work gets busy, plans change), I swap meals around. That’s why I write my meal plan in pencil!

Getting the Family Involved

To make meal planning even smoother, I let my kids give input when I put the list together (usually on the Saturday I batch cook). They love picking a meal or making small requests, which makes them more excited about dinnertime.

Also, having the meal plan posted on the fridge eliminates the constant “What’s for dinner?” question. And if I need to make a last-minute change, I just update the list and announce it—because no one likes unexpected changes to Taco Tuesday!

Buying in Bulk & Keeping It Interesting

Buying in bulk helps me stretch ingredients in creative ways. For example, I might cook chicken three different ways in two weeks—grilled, fried, and baked. Or I’ll serve fish fillets fried one week and baked the next. Changing the sides or plating makes familiar meals feel new.

Dinner for me is about the love, creativity, and excitement that goes into it.

FumiPB

Why Meal Planning Works for Me

Having a meal plan saves me time, money, and stress. It removes the daily guesswork and helps me avoid last-minute fast food runs. Plus, it ensures that at least once a week, everyone has a meal they truly love.

This time saved allows me to spend time with God, spend time with family , craft, write and other fun stuff.

Life is too precious to live in the kitchen .

If you struggle with meal planning, what’s your biggest challenge? Do you prefer planning for one or two weeks at a time? Let’s chat in the comments!