The Seasonal Meal Planning System: How To Plan a Repeating Seasonal Menu

The Seasonal Meal Planning System: Your Key to Stress-Free Meal Prep

Organizing Your Meal Planning with the Seasonal Meal Planning System

If you're ready to embrace the structure and fun of meal planning, I'm excited to share how to get started with creating a seasonal meal plan that works for you and your family. 🌿

If you're anything like I was when I started my homemaking journey, you know how stressful meal planning can be. Figuring out what to make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day can feel like a burden. You might even wonder if making homemade meals can be enjoyable.

Well, I promise it absolutely can be! All it takes is some organization and a method to boost your meal planning skills. Let’s jump in!

Meal Planning Four Times a Year with Seasonal Meal Planning

I developed The Seasonal Meal Planning System for my family in 2019. After years of struggling to organize mealtimes, I realized I needed a change. My family was spending too much on fast food and restaurant meals. I loved the idea of homemade cooking; however, the planning and prepping felt overwhelming! 🍝

This is why using my Seasonal Meal Planning System has been a tremendous relief. I only have to meal plan four times a year by creating a one-week, repeating seasonal meal plan. With this method, I always know what’s planned for each meal. Plus, I have my groceries ready to go, and I can simply enjoy the cooking process.

The core of the Seasonal Meal Planning System is that you write a menu, grocery list, and meal prep list for one week. Instead of making a new meal plan every week, you repeat the same plan every week for three months of the season: spring, summer, fall, and winter.

The best part is that this system allows for customization, giving you the flexibility to add variety to your menu. By crafting a new seasonal meal plan at the start of each season, you ensure that meal management is straightforward.

Keep It Simple

When starting out, it's essential to keep things simple! 👍 If you're new to meal planning, let me share some beginner tips. They will help you craft a seasonal meal plan you can begin using immediately.

Most Important Beginner Meal Planning Tips!

The most valuable tip I can give you for your first seasonal meal plan is to base it on how you currently eat.

As a beginner homemaker, I made the mistake of writing meal plans that included only time-consuming, homemade meals. I thought that meal planning meant everything had to be healthy and from scratch. 🍞 That led to unnecessary pressure and eventually, I avoided my meal plan altogether.

As a result, groceries would spoil, and many recipes went unattempted. The reality was that my husband and I were used to weekly takeout from Taco Bell or pizza from Dominos, along with granola bars for breakfast. My meal plans didn’t reflect our lifestyle or cooking skill level.

When starting with meal planning, help yourself transition into the kinds of meals you want to eat. Take small steps!

For instance, if you typically eat out once a week but wish to cook more at home, designate a "Takeout Night" in your plan. This way, you aren’t eliminating eating out entirely but are still designing a menu that encourages more homemade meals.

If spaghetti and meatballs are a weekly staple, or if frozen chicken nuggets are common for lunches, include these in your meal plan! While they might not be your ideal meals, familiar and easy options are excellent when just getting started.

This approach will help you feel confident and comfortable with your meal plan, rather than overwhelmed or intimidated.

How to Write a One-Week, Repeating, Seasonal Meal Plan

Here are some simple steps to get going.

✨ If you would like ready-to-use Seasonal Meal Planning templates, step-by-step instructions, customization strategies, over 250 meal ideas, seasonal themes, produce guides, and more meal planning tips – I’ve compiled everything for you in The Guide to Seasonal Meal Planning, available for you here. ⬇️

https://www.thehomemakerlifestyle.com/seasonal-meal-planning

Steps to Create a Seasonal Meal Plan

1. Write Down the Days of the Week & Grocery List 📋

Start by grabbing a lined paper or open a Google Doc. Type out the days of the week. You will plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day so you know what to expect.

For example:

Sunday

Breakfast -

Lunch -

Dinner -

Make sure to leave space between each meal to jot down your meal ideas. Then, create another document for your grocery list. These ready-to-edit Google Doc templates are included in The Guide to Seasonal Meal Planning.

2. Choose Your Breakfast Meals 🍳

Now comes the fun part! Choose breakfast ideas that fit your family's preferences. Do you prefer quick and easy options, or do you enjoy hearty breakfasts for slower mornings?

Breakfast is a great meal for including seasonal fruit! You can pair it with toast and scrambled eggs, use it as a topping for waffles, or blend them into a smoothie.

As you decide on breakfast options, fill them into your breakfast slots on your menu.

✨ After filling in breakfast choices, remember to add the required ingredients to your grocery list as you plan your menu.

3. Choose Your Dinner Meals 🍲

Plan your dinner choices before lunch, as dinner is usually the main meal of the day. Consider your typical weekly schedule while planning these meals.

If you attend an event on Wednesday nights, think about quicker options like crockpot meals or easier to prepare dishes.

To make your meals more seasonal, focus on what fits the season. I enjoy salads in spring, burgers in summer, soups in fall, and casseroles in winter.

✨ After making your dinner selections, fill in your menu and add all the necessary ingredients to your grocery list.

4. Choose Your Lunch Meals 🥪

Your lunch planning will depend on your family's lifestyle. Consider whether you need packed lunches, easy-prep meals, or kid-friendly options.

Snack plates, cold lunches, sandwiches, and leftovers are great choices for lunch slots.

✨ After selecting lunches, add these meals to your menu, then write down all required ingredients for the grocery list.

5. Schedule Grocery Shopping Day 🛒

For your meal plan to be effective, select a specific day each week for grocery shopping. This way, you'll always have the necessary items on hand when it's time to cook.

Once you choose your grocery shopping day, set a calendar reminder and an alarm on your phone to avoid missing it!

I love using online grocery orders for convenience. For example, if Tuesday is my grocery shopping day, I print my grocery list on Tuesday morning. Then, I check my fridge, pantry, and freezer to cross off what I already have.

➡️ It's such a time saver to shop online and schedule pickup at the store. This method allows me to check ingredients, compare prices, and examine brands—saving time versus navigating the supermarket aisles.

You're Ready to Go!

Once you've finalized your seasonal meal plan, hang it somewhere in your kitchen where you can easily see it every day. Now, you’re all set to use your meal plan! 🎉

More Ideas for Writing a Seasonal Menu

I’d love to assist in meal planning by showcasing unique ways to customize and design your seasonal meal plan. With over 250 meal ideas, seasonal produce guides, themes for inspiration, and various meal slot types, seasonal meal planning simplifies mealtime. 🌿

Grab The Guide to Seasonal Meal Planning to embark on this journey!

✨ Download the Guide Here: https://www.thehomemakerlifestyle.com/seasonal-meal-planning