How to Meal Plan the Easy Way – The Ultimate Guide to Seasonal Meal Planning

Have you ever considered that meal planning is a means to discipleship? If not, keep reading. Even if seasonal meal planning isn’t your thing, you’ll find some fresh encouragement in this post.

Meal planning is such a sanity saver for me, but finding the right meal planning system has not come easily.

• Weekly meal planning occurs far too often.
• Two-week menu planning is better, but it still occurs more quickly than I prefer.
• Monthly meal planning is great, but even that is still too often for me when life gets busy.

A couple of years ago, I was fed up and desperate for a meal planning solution.

I was committed to feeding my family healthy, real food, but unless I made a plan for it, I resorted to take-out when the evening exhaustion set in.

Not only was our health taking a hit, but our budget wasn’t too fond of the constant “eat out” entries my husband was putting in for us each week.

Therefore, I went back to the drawing board, and attacked my problem like I do all my problems.

At the beginning.

By asking why…

Why Does Menu Planning Matter?

Whenever I find something not working, I always ask myself why it matters in the first place.

Sometimes I discover that what I’m trying to actually do isn’t something I need to be worrying about at all.

Related Content: What to Do When It All Seems Overwhelming

Therefore, when I kept trying and failing to feed my family consistently, I asked myself, “Why does menu planning matter?”

Truthfully, there are a host of reasons why meal planning matters:

1. It lowers stress levels. Having a menu plan drastically lowers my stress levels because I’ve already answered the question, “What’s for dinner?” long before 5 o’clock rolls around.
2. It’s better for our health. We always eat better when I make a meal plan. I can tailor our meal plans to our dietary needs, and unique family make-up while decreasing the amount of processed foods that are nothing more than empty calories.
3. It’s better for our budget. We eat out less, spend less at the grocery store, waste less, and so much more when I make a meal plan.

Related Content: A Grace-Filled Look at Real Food Series

But even more than those three reasons?

I meal plan in order to make family time a priority.

Gathering around the table is important to us.

But if I’m not making a plan for togetherness around the table, or if I’m stressed out entirely by the time I get to the table, then I’m missing out on a really amazing opportunity: connecting with my family.

I meal plan so that I can:

• Prepare delicious meals for my family,
• Promote family togetherness,
• Build traditions, and
• Create an atmosphere of rest, purpose, and belonging for my entire family.

For it is at the table that we share conversation.

It is at the table where important questions are asked and answered.

It is at the table where we feast on food and the living Word of God.

It is at the table that we share the burdens and joys of the day.

It is at the table that we fellowship.

And it is this same table where we invite others to join us in the life-giving joys of breaking bread together.

Meal planning increases the opportunity to give life to my family and anyone else who joins us around the table.

To give life is nothing more than to serve, nourish, disciple, and love those within my sphere of influence.

Food is the glue that holds us together.

Food reminds us of our humanity and our need for sustenance that comes from outside of us.

We are not self-sufficient beings.

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” -John 6:35

We need Jesus and we need each other.

Therefore, meal planning is a means to discipleship.

Meal planning is not an end in itself.

Meal planning creates space for me to think, to plan, to consider how I can give life day-in and day-out around my table.

And knowing my WHY makes all the difference.

Overcoming My Meal Planning Battles

But knowing my WHY didn’t solve all my meal planning struggles.

It just gave me a reason to keep trying again and again.

The thing is, I don’t like busy work, and I don’t like “have-tos.”

I much prefer spontaneity to a detailed plan, and the best days are the days when my kids don’t ask, “What’s next?” They just live with me in the moment.

But alas, we can’t all have our ideal worlds, and though my outlook on life comes with its strengths (we laugh a lot around here), it also means I’m less than adept at staying on task and remembering to do routine activities like meal planning.

I have to discipline myself to do these things, and by God’s grace I think I’m growing.

At least I’ve tricked more than a few people into thinking I’m “organized.”

Nope, I’m not.

I just love Jesus and take Him at His word that I’m to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

And I know I’m not going to do that grouching at my refrigerator wondering why everything is expired and we have nothing to eat.

If I’m going to make disciples and do what He said to do, then I have to be intentional.

I may not be good at it naturally, but thankfully I’m becoming who He made me to be.

And He’s changing me from the inside out, giving me strength and power to overcome my weaknesses and live in His strength for the good of my family and for His glory.

So that was a mouthful…

But the moral of the story is that I believe I’m overcoming my meal planning battles by acknowledging my weaknesses and choosing His strength.

What that looks like practically…

What is Seasonal Meal Planning?

I meal plan only four times a year.

Yep, just four times.

Even I can manage to do that!

I call it seasonal menu planning.

God has already built in natural times of change when He ordered the seasons of the year.

Related Content: The Art of Seasonal Living

Therefore, when seasons begin to change, it’s my cue to create a new meal plan for my family.

I mean, y’all, we get to partner with Him in helping the kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.

How cool is that?

There are so many ways we get to do that, but food just happens to be a big part of it.

So, I plan out a menu for every day of the week for four weeks.

Then, I use this plan on repeat for three months in a row while relying on His grace each week to follow through, keeping my why before me, and trusting His will is better than my will.

How to Create a Seasonal Meal Plan

Below is a step-by-step tutorial on how to create your own seasonal menu plan. There are a couple of ways you can learn the art of seasonal meal planning.

1. Watch the video on How I Do Seasonal Meal Planning

2. Read the Instructions Below

1. Establish a theme for each day.

I use a basic theme for each day to help me vary our diet. Here’s what I use for my daily themes.

• Monday – Beef
• Tuesday – 20 Minute Meal
• Wednesday – Chicken
• Thursday – Seafood
• Friday – Family Meal
• Saturday – Grill Something
• Sunday – Salad/Soup

The meals I put on the menu will vary based on what’s in season at the time and what we desire seasonally.

For example, I generally don’t make heavy Chicken Pot Pies or other cozy comfort foods in the Spring and Summer. I save those for Fall and Winter.

On Sundays in the Fall and Winter, I stick with easy soups, but in the Spring and Summer I usually opt for a good dinner salad.

However, I keep the same themes for each day for every season. It just makes planning simpler for me.

I keep this list of themes tucked into the back of my Made to Give Life Seasonal Planner for safe-keeping between seasons.

2. Determine where you will keep your Seasonal Menu Plans.

I currently keep mine in my Made to Give Life Seasonal Goal Planner, so it’s easy to plan my menu from week to week.

My Seasonal Goal Planner actually prompts me to create my seasonal meal plan and provides the printable for me to do so right within its pages. (swoon)

However, you could also keep your seasonal meal plan tacked onto your refrigerator, write it in your Bullet Journal® or store it anywhere you can reference it for weekly meal planning.

3. Brainstorm a list of meals.

You likely have a general rhythm to your week.

For example, you likely know which night a child has sports practice, piano practice late in the day, or even which days you’ll likely be running low on energy.

Or at least lowER on energy.

Some things I think about:

• How much time will I have to make dinner based on the day’s plans?
• Is there a night we usually have people over?
• Do you have a regular date night planned?
• Are there a special occasions over the next few months?
• Are there nights that regularly have extra curricular activities?

What this looks like practically:

• On busy errand days, I like to plan crockpot meals (even better if it’s a freezer meal) so I don’t have to come home and cook dinner when I’m tired of being on my feet.
• On days when we’re home all day, I like to plan special meals that my son can help me cook.
• On nights we plan to have people over, I can choose a simple go-to meal for hospitality.

With these things in mind, make a list of meals you think would be good for this season of your life.

4. Assign a meal to each day of the week.

Now you need to grab your free printable (or use the one in your Made to Give Life Seasonal Goal Planner) and fill it in.

We don’t prefer to eat the same exact thing every single week. However, we don’t mind repeating some meals every other week.

You will need to assign a meal to each day of the week for one month.

Some examples of repeat meals:

• Tacos
• Homemade Pizza (especially this Homemade Frozen Pizza)
• Spaghetti
• BBQ

Once you’ve finished writing out your dinner plans, you can make a list of breakfast, lunch, and snack ideas.

Below are examples of a Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Seasonal Meal Plan.

Sample Spring Meal Plan

Dinner

Week 1:

• Monday: Tacos w/ rice and beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday: Lemon Chicken Bake with salad and potatoes
• Thursday: Salmon Patties, mac-n-cheese, and baked apples
• Friday: Homemade Pizza
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Loaded Cobb Salad

Week 2:

• Monday: Meatballs and gravy with potatoes and green beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Nachos
• Wednesday: Panko-Baked Chicken Tenders, green beans, and baked apples
• Thursday: Quesadillas, rice and salad
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Chicken Caesar Salad (or Wrap)

Week 3:

• Monday: Tacos w/ rice and beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday: Instant Pot Pesto Chicken Risotta
• Thursday: Shrimp Pasta with salad
• Friday: BBQ Nachos
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Steak and Feta Salad with apples or strawberries

Week 4:

• Monday: Meatballs and gravy with potatoes and green beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Potatoes
• Wednesday: Ridiculously Easy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts with Roasted Vegetables
• Thursday: Quesadillas, rice and salad
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Chicken Caesar Salad (or Wrap)

Sample Summer Meal Plan

Dinner

Week 1:

• Monday: Taco Salad
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday: Lemon Chicken Bake with salad and potatoes
• Thursday: Salmon Patties, mac-n-cheese, and baked apples
• Friday: 30 Minute BBQ Chicken
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Loaded Cobb Salad

Week 2:

• Monday: Hamburgers
• Tuesday: BBQ Nachos
• Wednesday: Panko-Baked Chicken Tenders, green beans, and baked apples
• Thursday: Quesadillas, rice and salad
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Chicken Caesar Salad (or Wrap)

Week 3:

• Monday: Tacos Salad
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday:
• Thursday: Shrimp Pasta with salad
• Friday: BBQ Nachos
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Steak and Feta Salad with apples or strawberries

Week 4:

• Monday: Hamburgers
• Tuesday: BBQ Potatoes
• Wednesday: Ridiculously Easy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts with Roasted Vegetables
• Thursday: Quesadillas, rice and salad
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Chicken Caesar Salad (or Wrap)

Sample Fall Meal Plan

Dinner

Week 1:

• Monday: Tacos w/ rice and beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday: Beef Stroganoff
• Thursday: Salmon Patties, mac-n-cheese, and baked apples
• Friday: Homemade Pizza
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Southwest Chicken Crockpot Soup

Week 2:

• Monday: Meatballs and gravy with potatoes and green beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Nachos
• Wednesday: Panko-Baked Chicken Tenders, green beans, and baked apples
• Thursday: Quesadillas, rice and salad
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Hearty Fall Vegetable Soup

Week 3:

• Monday: Tacos w/ rice and beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday: Instant Pot Pesto Chicken Risotta
• Thursday: Shrimp Pasta with salad
• Friday: BBQ Nachos
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Southwest Chicken Crockpot Soup

Week 4:

• Monday: Meatballs and gravy with potatoes and green beans
• Tuesday: BBQ Potatoes
• Wednesday: Ridiculously Easy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts with Roasted Vegetables
• Thursday: Quesadillas, rice and salad
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Grill Something
• Sunday: Hearty Fall Vegetable Soup

Sample Winter Meal Plan

Dinner

Week 1:

• Monday: Meatloaf Family Dinner Night
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday: Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie
• Thursday: Lasagna with salad
• Friday: Homemade Pizza
• Saturday:
• Sunday: Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Week 2:

• Monday: Roast, potatoes, and carrots
• Tuesday: BBQ Nachos
• Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas
• Thursday: Red Beans & Rice
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Sloppy Joes
• Sunday: Potato Corn Chowder

Week 3:

• Monday: Meatloaf Family Dinner Night
• Tuesday: BBQ Sandwiches
• Wednesday: Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie
• Thursday: Shrimp Pasta with salad
• Friday: BBQ Nachos
• Saturday: Lasagna with salad
• Sunday: Chicken Salsa Soup

Week 4:

• Monday: Roast, potatoes, and carrots
• Tuesday: BBQ Potatoes
• Wednesday: Ridiculously Easy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts with Roasted Vegetables
• Thursday: Red Beans & Rice
• Friday: Spaghetti with salad and bread
• Saturday: Sloppy Joes
• Sunday: Instant Pot Chili

Additional Easy, Real Food Meal Ideas

40 Real Food Meals You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less

7-Day Real Food Menu Plan {20 Minutes or Less Version}

30+ Real Food Dinner Ideas to Feed Your Hungry Family

Cozy, Healthy Comfort Foods They’ll Love!

30+ Real Food Lunch Ideas {no more same old, same old!}

40+ Real Food Breakfast Ideas You Should Try

40 Smoothie Recipes You Have to Try

50+ Frozen Treats for a Healthy Summer

How to Plan Weekly Meals with Your Seasonal Menu Plan

Once you have four weeks worth of meals planned, you can now sit down each week and make note of what you will eat and what you need to grab from the grocery store.

I usually do this during my weekly planning time.

Occasionally, I use the meals as they are written in my seasonal meal planner.

But more often than not, I move the meals around, skip some of them, and make something completely different from time-to-time.

I’m currently addicted to my friend, Lisa’s Instant Pot Meals, so those usually rotate in when I need something easy and delicious.

However, the framework for the month is now there and it takes only 5-10 minutes each week to finalize the menu plan for the week instead of 1-2 hours a week planning something from scratch.

I’ve used this system for a couple of years now, and I have to say that I love it.

I love the big planning session at the outset of a new season, and then reaping the benefits week after week for a few months.

It’s the whole “work smarter not harder” thing, and I like it.

I like it a lot. 🙂

Free Seasonal Meal Planning Printable

If you want to download the printable seasonal meal planning pages, click here.