BETWEEN COFFEE & CHAOS: Why I Meal Plan Even When I Don’t Feel Like It
Why I Meal Plan Even When I Don’t Feel Like It
Tiffany: “Babe, what do you want for supper tonight?”
Terry: “I don’t care. Make whatever you want.”
Tiffany: “I really don’t care either, so you just choose.”
Terry: “Anything. I don’t know.”
Tiffany: “Fine… how about pork chops?”
Terry: “No. What else?”
Sound familiar?
I absolutely do not miss those conversations.
That’s exactly why I started meal planning.
Not one of those rigid elementary school lunch menus taped to the refrigerator like we’re a house full of eight-year-olds. 🤣
Just a simple weekly rhythm.
Each day has a theme, usually based on the main protein or the kind of meal we’re making. It tells me what to pull out of the freezer the night before, but still leaves plenty of room to cook whatever sounds good that day.
That little change saved my sanity!
Meal planning didn’t make me a better cook. It didn’t magically make my kids stop asking what was for dinner five minutes before supper. What it did do was remove one tiny daily decision from an already full mental load. And as moms know, sometimes one less decision can make all the difference on a chaotic day.
Here, have a glimpse into my kitchen.
Monday: Beef 🥩
Taco salad, cheeseburgers, dirty rice, spaghetti… anything centered around beef.
Tuesday: Chicken 🍗
Our cook-together night.
Terry grills chicken on our old faithful George Foreman while I make all the extras. It’s become one of those little routines that gives us an extra moment together after an ordinary day.
Wednesday: Clean Out 🧹
Leftovers, sandwiches, or breakfast for dinner.
It’s the night the refrigerator gets a fresh start before the next grocery trip.
Thursday: Take Out 🍕
Pizza, Chinese, subs…
whatever sounds good.
Payday is Wednesday, but the deposit usually doesn’t hit until that evening. Terry also bowls on Wednesdays, so Thursday has naturally become our treat night.
Friday: Fun Foods 🎉
Fajitas, stir fry, lasagna, homemade mini pizzas…
The workweek is winding down, and dinner should feel a little like the weekend. I always try to make extra servings just in case a little friend follows one of the kids home from school.
Saturday: Something Extra Satisfying🥩🐟
Steak, pork chops, or even a fish fry.
The kind of meal you actually sit down and enjoy without watching the clock.
Sunday: Crockpot ❤️
Stew, soup, roast, chili, or Manic Mom Crockpot Carnitas.
The Day of Rest deserves an easy supper.
I love starting dinner before church and coming home to a meal that’s ready to serve. I almost always make enough for a couple of extra servings, just in case fellowship follows us home. And if it doesn’t? Those leftovers get tucked into the refrigerator, waiting patiently for Wednesday’s clean-out night.
I like my coffee freezer with 3 extra shots of espresso and no whipped cream.
You might like yours with whipped cream piled high and extra chocolate drizzle.
Neither one of us is wrong.
This meal plan is simply another rhythm we’ve found in the middle of our chaos. It works for our family, but I’d love to hear what works for yours.
🌿☕🍽️🌿
👇 Leave me a comment and tell me your favorite meal-planning trick. You might just inspire next week’s supper around here.👇
Until next time…
Keep building a beautiful life between coffee & chaos,
💛 Tiffany
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