The Meal Theme Trick That Ends “What’s For Dinner?”

Do you struggle with figuring out what to cook every week? Use meal themes to take the stress out of meal planning!

Do you ever sit staring at a blank screen, wondering what to plan for dinners?

This used to happen to me every single week. I’d get ready to meal plan, and then get overwhelmed because my mind would go blank.

Honestly, there are just too many recipe options out there. And decision fatigue is real, especially with my ADHD brain.

It took too long to plan every single meal, and I’d be ready to give up halfway through.

But the thing that changed everything for me was using meal themes for all of my dinners!

What are Meal Themes?

A “meal theme” is a fancy word for a category of meals.

For example: Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taco salads, and empanadas all fall under the Mexican theme.

So you start with a meal theme and, from there, choose what recipe to make from that theme.

I use themes for every one of my dinners, and it’s totally simplified my meal planning process!

Why Themes Make Meal Planning Faster

My meal planning has been condensed to 30 minutes because:

• It helps narrow down choices and reduces decision fatigue- no more starting from a blank slate
• It simplifies my grocery list- no complicated recipes, so laundry list of ingredients
• It creates a repeatable system to where I barely have to think about it

How I Pick My Themes Each Week

I have a large list of themes to choose from, so I choose whatever sounds good that week.

The process becomes simpler when you remember:

• Two of my days are already planned out (Leftover night, and pancake night)
• I have the themes laid out in front of me to easily choose

I also consider my schedule for the next week (In Step 2: Checking Your Calendar First). Some meal themes can take more time than others: For example, my grill is buried in the garage and the time and effort isn’t worth it on busy nights.

Meal Theme Ideas

• Mexican
• Pasta
• Asian
• Pizza
• Soup
• Sandwiches
• Casserole
• Salad
• Wraps
• Breakfast
• Slow cooker
• Comfort food
• Sheet pan
• Rice bowls
• Grill
• Mediterranean
• Instant Pot
• One pot
• Leftovers
• No-cook night (snack plates, sandwiches, etc.)

Theme to Dinner Examples

• Mexican: Tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas
• Pasta: Spaghetti, baked ziti, fettuccine Alfredo
• Soup: Chili, chicken noodle soup, potato soup
• Breakfast: Pancakes, breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to follow the same themes every week?

Definitely not! It all comes down to your personal preference.

I usually do Mexican and Pasta every week because we love them. But you can rotate out as many as you want every week.

How many meal themes should I use per week?

I say start with 4-5. And you may realize that the typical dinners you cook already fall under a theme.

I plan 5 dinners a week, with Leftovers and Breakfast (Pancakes) being the other two nights. So technically I plan all 7 nights with a theme, but it doesn’t feel stressful.

What if I still don’t know what to cook?

Don’t focus so much on recipes! Think of it in terms of ingredients.

For example: With a Mexican theme, you can simply toss rice, beans, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream in a bowl and call that a meal.

Download the Meal Theme List

Need a list of meal themes that you can hang on your fridge? Download the free list below to help you in your meal planning!