Need an easy way to plan your meals every week? Here’s why I only plan 5 dinners and how it can help you save time and money!
Most people think they need to plan 7 dinners every single week.
I mean, it makes sense. 7 days, 7 dinners.
But what I’ve realized over years of planning and cooking, is that this mindset leads to overwhelm. And as someone with ADHD, it happens a LOT.
What if I told you there’s a simpler way to meal plan every week, and it only involves 5 dinners?
It’s possible! Let’s break it down and I’ll show you how it works for my family.
Why 7 Dinners a Week Can Be Unrealistic
Listen, maybe some of you NEED to cook 7 dinners a week. If you have a large family, that’s understandable.
But for the majority of us, we may be able to work with just 5 dinners.
Here’s what happens when we try to plan 7 full dinners every week:
- Schedules change
- Life doesn’t go exactly as planned
- Your energy levels fluctuate
- You end up with way too many leftovers
Planning only 5 dinners a week gives us the flexibility to pivot when needed. If my family suddenly decides they want all of us to go out to eat one night, I don’t have to worry about that night’s dinner ingredients going to waste.
What Happens on the Other 2 Nights?
I know what you’re thinking: “What, so you just don’t want us to eat the other 2 nights a week?”
Nope! The other 2 nights I call “flex nights”.
Here’s what that can look like:
- Leftovers
- Going out to eat
- Breakfast for dinner (Like pancakes, which I don’t really consider a “dinner” because I always have the ingredients at home)
How 5 Dinners Works for Us
I’ve gotten this down to a science for our family of 3.
Sunday through Thursday are usually the 5 dinners I have planned.
Fridays are always leftover nights, and Saturdays are always pancake nights.
It’s crazy simple, and maybe even a little boring. But this takes away the overwhelm I used to feel, and that’s all that matters to me!
Why This Saves You Time, Money, and Stress
Time
First, there are fewer meals to plan. No more scrolling Pinterest for 10 extra minutes trying to find that perfect dinner.
And if there are fewer meals, that means making your grocery list is much faster!
Money
There’s definitely less food waste. Especially if situations happen that I mentioned before, like you unexpectedly go out to eat or something in your schedule changes.
Planning out your meals also means fewer grocery trips. I know that every time I go to the store, I walk out with something I didn’t plan to. And that costs extra money.
Stress
Planning 5 dinners removes so much pressure. You know your family’s eating habits, and you know about how much you need to buy and make every night.
This also builds flexibility into your life, so you’re not tied down because you HAVE to make that dinner or else the ingredients go bad.
How to Get Started
Here are a few steps to take to get started:
- Choose 5 dinners for the week
- Leave 2 nights open
- Plan one leftover night
- Plan one flex/backup night
And here’s where my other steps come in: Use dinner themes to make planning those 5 dinners even easier!
I’ve gotten it down to where I can plan a week’s worth of meals, plus grocery list, in about 30 minutes. Cooking only 5 dinners cuts that time down pretty quick!
Free Download: 5-Dinner Weekly Planner
Want to see it in action? Download my FREE 5-dinner weekly planner!
It has 5 spaces for dinners, with checkboxes for the type of meal (Quick, Slow Cooker, and Regular). You also have space for the two flex meals.
This is very similar to how I do my meal planning every week. Use it to speed up the process!
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.