Meal planning doesn’t have to be difficult! This simple meal planning system is aimed to solving these common problems with groceries and cooking:
1. Easy: Meal plan AND compile your grocery list in 5 minutes per week
2. Maintain a smaller inventory: Having cupboards stuffed with food is STRESSFUL, learn how to get just what you need and keep less on hand
3. Waste LESS: with these simple ideas, you can virtually eliminate wasted food
4. Stick with it: this system is designed for busy people, if that’s you, keep reading!!
THE BASICS OF THIS MEAL PLANNING SYSTEM
This system is EASY, but you’ll need to spend a few extra minutes on the front end setting everything up. Here is what you’ll need:
1. Grocery Inventory: I’m including links to the spreadsheet that I use, but of course you can make your own!
Free Downloads:
Excel Meal Planning Worksheet
Numbers Meal Planning Worksheet
PDF Meal Planning Worksheet (unfortunately, this is not a version that can be edited)
And for those interested in my filled-in sheet, you can see that here: Dawn’s Grocery Inventory & Meal Plan
…if you have a problem downloading any version, simply leave a comment and I will get back to you right away!!
2. Populate your form: roughly fill in your grocery inventory and a set of meals that you know you can stick to (it doesn’t have to be perfect, you can revise it as you go!!
3. Marker Board: I created sections for “Use Up”, “Leftovers” and our meals for the week (mine was from the Dollar Tree!)
VIDEO MEAL PLANNING INSTRUCTIONS HERE:
OUR MEALS:
…and if you’re curious what I have for meals, you can see it here:
“IP” means that it is a meal that I make in our Instant Pot. I’ve really come to appreciate my Instant Pot, especially in the summer when I don’t want to heat up the whole kitchen! But year round, I love that it creates minimal dishes. I will be sure to create a video on it, along with our favorite instant pot meals, in the future!
Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions (or suggestions!) and best wishes with your meal planning!!!
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Dawn,
I have downloaded the Excel version of your meal plan worksheet 2 times. Each time when I try to open it, I get a message that it can’t be opened because the file is corrupt.
I know Excel well enough that I can replicate this myself, (I wanted yours so I didn’t have to start from scratch), but for someone who doesn’t know Excel, this will be a totally frustration experience. Just wanted to let you know, so you can take a look at it.
Same thing just happened to me.
Thanks for a meal plan that I think I can actually stick with. It is so simple and uses common sense. The white board is GENIUS! I bought 2 of them. I’m going to come up with a way to use it to track inventory in my upright freezer.
Thanks again!
thank you so much for this, Dawn! I’m hoping that it will be easier to use up what we have and stop the food waste!
Super idea! Great way to “put my brain on paper” so that I don’t have to try and remember the same thing week after week. Thanks for sharing!
Morning Dawn. Love you vidoes and sunday chats with your sister. I am struggling to fownload your mealprep in excel. Could you please email it to me. Marisa.david1350@gmail.com.
Such an encouragement and motivator to stumble across this while getting ready for Baby #2 to arrive. We have all been super burnt out on meal planning, cooking, etc. so this has freshened up the way I’m going to think about food! What a blessing! My husband will also love the organization of this list for the times that he goes shopping for me if I’m not feeling well. :)
One suggestion – you can easily adapt this to a google spreadsheet and then you can update from your phone instead of getting onto the computer to update when needed (for fast/favorite meals).
Hi, Dawn! I happened upon your videos…I appreciate your insight to live with less stuff. I tried, yet failed to download the Excel and Number Planning Worksheets. When you find time, could you please email them to me? Thanks for all you are doing!
Hi Dawn! I’m a mom of seven and I watch ALL of your videos! I am on the road to minimalism and I love it.
I just tried to download the numbers file for the Meal Planning Worksheet, but nothing opened up? Not sure what the deal is. Wondering if maybe the link is broken. Thanks!
ACTUALLY!! I just figured it out! It did work! Thanks a lot!
Hello Dawn. I just happened across your video on YouTube and I am so sick at all the food waste that I thought I would give your meal planning idea a try. Seems easy enough. Thank you
I love the simplicity of this. I just thought I’d let you know that your video isn’t embedded in this post where it’s referred to. Thanks for all the great tips.
Hi what are the dimensions of the marker board? Thanks
Hi Dawn.
I follow you on YouTube :)
I was able to download your inventory and meal plan link, but
I am hoping you have an excel link as this is a PDF
Links to the food aren’t working for me either. Please email them to me ? thank you very much.
Hi, Dawn! I guess I don’t know how to open the Numbers version IN the Numbers app on my iPhone. ? Please help! Thank you! ❤️?.
I absolutely hate grocery stores. I get so overwhelmed at all the choices. Your video gives me hope that I can manage shopping and cooking without all the stress it creates for me. Thanks so much.
Just came across your Youtube videos and glancing through some of the website. I’m grateful for the time and effort you’re putting into this! I work 2 days a week, but aim to be full stay at home mom in the future if we can make the numbers work. We have two adorable littles – age 1 and 2.5, and I’m looking forward to all your info on toys, etc. I try to weed out but it doesn’t feel like I make even a dent lol. Meal planning gets stressful and then thrown out the window, which results in spending way too much for groceries every month. We need help and I’m excited to see what tid bits you have :)
I’m beyond late on this, but just stumbled upon your you tube channel… so many things that I struggle with align with mine… you’ve given me hope that I can declutter and this is THE BEST and easiest to follow menu planning system I’ve encountered! I can’t download, so if you can send the download I would be so grateful!
Blessings as you share hope and joy!
Hi Dawn. I love this concept. I was not able to open the numbers meal planning. Can you send that to me. Thank you. Karen
degagnon@cogeco.ca
Could not download. Would you please send me the link to this fabulous and useful Numbers Meal Planning worksheet?
Thanks for sharing this meal planning doc! I’m gonna see if I can tweak it for our needs, the issue I’m mainly facing is that there are a ton of different places we shop as they have a better deal on a specific product than our core supermarket does. These places are also located in different areas so we tend to shop there at different times of the week when we’re passing by. So currently the spreadsheet is filling up fast for me!
Could you please send me the 2 excel files for meal planning?
Thank you!
Love you videos.
I can open the Meal planning excel sheet but not the Numbers Meal Planning worksheet. Can you send that to me. Thanks,
I know I’ late to this party but I love and need your worksheets! But I’m not able to open the link. I just changed to the Keto Lifestyle and menu planning is a must. Your Numbers Menu Planning worksheet is genius and much better than the notes page on my cell! Would you please send me the link?
Great post and video, thank-you! I had trouble with the Excel link, but since I’m a nerd by day, I tinkered with the link and was able to get to it. If you’re looking for the Excel sheet copy and pasting the text below into your browser:
https://www.ithinkwecouldbefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Minimal-Mom-Meal-Planning-Work-Sheet-BLANK.xlsx
Thanks again, Dawn!
Thanks Julia! I couldn’t get the other links to work, but yours does! Much appreciated! And thanks to you too Dawn for sharing your ways!
Love your channel! And I would be so happy if you could email me a sheet to make my own. Thank you!
Hi Dawn!
I was wondering if to go along with the meal plan you use, if you also had the recipes that go along with it? I am interested in trying out a lot of new recipes!
Thank you!
Oh my gosh!! I would love the recipes too!! This is so cool!!! Thank you Dawn!!!! :)
Please send me your template this is perfect
Can you email me the meal planning sheet please? Just found you on YouTube and enjoying learning from you. Thank you!
I couldn’t download the meal planning sheet either. Would you email it to me? Thanks.
Hi Dawn! The Excel Meal Planning sheet and Numbers Meal Planning sheet aren’t downloading. Could you please send them to me? By the way, I love your YouTube channel! You’ve inspired my family and I to become more minimalistic. The change has been extremely positive! Thank you so much!
Love your videos! Will you email me the Numbers Meal Planning Worksheet. Can not get it to download.
Thanks, Lisa
Just sent!
Hi Dawn
I’m not sure why so many months later your worksheet linked files still don’t work, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me out. I love your tips and have spent some time trying to get the downloaded files to open for me. I tried all the formats with no success. Hoping to get hubby on board with this ingeniously simple system too. Wish I’d thought of it! Great work! Thanks
I am unable to download any of the files for meal planning or anything. Can anyone please send it to me? My email is akuykendall1971@gmail.com
Just sent!!
Just sent!
Hello! I think we could be friends! My husband and I have been reducing our load for the last several years and yet my pantry and brain have continued to be stressed over food. I finally looked at him exasperated and said, “There HAS to be a way to apply minimalism to our food the same way we have to our lives without eating the same thing every day. We don’t wear the same outfit.” His response, “google it”. So I did. After a few disappointments I stumbled across your video and was so excited! You are me. And you shop like we do. And you have a workable system. I was literally bouncing up and down on the couch while you explained your system.
I just wanted to say “thank you” for taking the time. We are just now coming our of our survival years with our oldest being 5 and our youngest turning 3 this summer. I want to establish this pace so that they can see the joy in cooking and eating and not the stressed look on mom’s face when they remind me that they are hungry. again.
This is SO cool to hear!!! THANK YOU for sharing and all my best to you and your family!!!
It took me just over two months but I have a workable spreadsheet in place! I tend to go overboard when first doing something and then scale it back but overboard this time turned out to be a blessing. I made a complete inventory of anything and everything we purchase within a year. In the past two months my husband’s job relocated us and this list was invaluable as I was able to highlight the things I would need to purchase once we moved to restock basic inventory, etc. Now that we’ve settled though I have simplified it more to how you had it laid out, including meals listed. I’m always challenging myself with budget goals, especially with groceries where I have the most control, and I’ve already found this to be beneficial with the budget. Our current apartment also has a pantry that is 15″ wide. That’s it. And not that many cabinets. So having a limited “stock” has been incredible.
So thank you again. …Have you considered doing a podcast?
Like Diane, who posted on 2/16/19, I am unable to download “Numbers Meal Planning Worksheet”
I would enjoy a copy.
By the way, this is my first video that I have watched of yours….needless to say I’M IN LOVE with your videos! Very thorough AND realistic! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge!!! :)
I just emailed the sheets, so sorry for the delay and THANK YOU for the kind words, I greatly appreciate it!!!
Numbers Meal Planning Worksheet will not download. Thank you
Just sent, SO sorry for the delay!!
I LOVE this! Where were you about 15-20 years ago? I am now an empty nester, but this is better than any system I came up with when my children were younger. I had a grocery list entered into Excel, but it was much more complicated. Even being an empty nester (but still working), I can adapt this to my needs. THANK YOU!
Please email the grocery list. The link isn’t working for me. Thanks.
Just sent, so sorry for the delay!
hello! do you have this in google sheets?
I don’t! But should! I just emailed them to you!
Unable to download any of the documents. Could you please email them to me at the email below? Thanks!!
Just sent!
HI, I just found your channel and I’m loving it. Thank you! I was able to download the excel sheet, but was curious how you use the Walmart and other stores section. For example, I had TP in my other category, but I sometimes get it at Walmart. Would you just list things you get at Walmart or Dollar Store sometimes, then highlight it each week where you plan to buy? I hope that makes sense. Thanks again!
Good question! If we NEED it and I’m not going to Walmart I’ll just hand write it into a section for Aldi :)
Hello! Would you please email me the sheet as well! Thank you!
Just sent, so sorry for the delay!
I cannot get the list to download either, could you please send to me. I have an Apple device
Just sent, so sorry for the delay!
I just found your channel.I loved this video.I can`t get the links to download.Could you please e-mail them to me? Thank you so much. ognibene9@yahoo.com
Just sent, so sorry for the delay!
I love the beginning of the video that brought me here where you talk about how every item in our home is inventory that we must manage. This is something I’ve realized in the past couple of years and I wish my husband and children could understand this the way I know it. Not that they are fighting my goals to simplify, but I know they aren’t experiencing it from the same mentality. Please email me the excel version? Courtneykaase@gmail.com Thank you!
SO sorry for the delay! Just sent it!
Dawn, Do you have recipes for your meals? Also, I noticed you have CK Parm on there twice, is that 2 different meals? What do you consider quick? Something you still have to make or something you can grab out of the freezer? How do you determine the sides that you make with your dishes?
I really love this system. Right now, its only my husband and I, with a baby on the way, but notices that we wasted so much food or come back from the grocery and notices we already had some stuff that I just bought. I am trying to do anything I can do declutter and make space for baby.
I love your YouTube videos! Thanks so much for sharing so many tips. I’ve benefitted from them so much. I noticed that some of your recipes in the “longer” column for meals could be made in a pressure cooker, like stew. Just a suggestion if you wanted to move them into the weeknight category. :)
Thanks again!
I also could not get the meal plan sheet to open. Would you please e-mail me the sheet? Thanks so much. I love your channel and get so many great ideas from it.
bopappa@windstream.net
Hi!
Can you email me the numbers download.
Thank you!
Looking forward to using your meal planner!
Maureenie
Could you please e-mail me the list. I just found this and I love your channel and your videos. TY
Please email me the files for meal planning. Thank you so much..
Good morning Dawn,
I was trying to download the following file “Numbers Meal Planning Worksheet” in this article and it won’t let me upload. It says that there is a problem with the file. Is there any way you could email this to me, please?
My email address is naomi_alvarado@yahoo.com.
Thank you and have a blessed day.
Best regards,
Naomi Alvarado
Thank you SO MUCH for the free downloads without even asking for email addresses and signing us up for a list! <3
Your channel is terrific! Now to explore your website. This 65-year-old gramma has loads of experience with all sorts of cooking, cleaning, housekeeping, etc however since menopause and retirement, my ADD has gotten noticeably more troublesome. I suspect a lot of us who need help with home organization either have ADD or just didn't acquire the organizational skills when we were younger. Sometimes we have the skills to handle our own personal lives but when we add in multiple kids and a spouse and a home and a job … it can be a bit much! Thank you for helping us bridge that gap.
One question … what is Alice Springs Chicken??? Maybe I missed it somewhere but that sounds intriguing.
Hi Dawn, I love your channel! I can’t seem to get the downloads. Can you please email them to me?
Thanks, Kim
I love your meal plan, but could not open either download. So excited to add to my 2019 life. Could you send link by email that I can click on & print. Thanks you for your ideas & guidance.
Send meal planner template to
dmhallford@icloud.com
I would love to use your inventory/meal plan sheets. Can u please send the link yo print or download?
Hi! Can you please email me all the files? I can’t get any of them to download!
I would love your meal planning sheet!
Please email all meal planning charts. Wasn’t able to download the links ?
Loving all your suggestions!
Can you please email the excel version?
Hi I would love to try your system for meal planning but I can’t seem to find the link to download. Can you please email it to me?
Could you please email the sheets please?
Hello Dawn,
I’m a 34 year old mom to a beautiful toddler and a pastor’s wife and I was browsing YouTube for frugal living and living on a budget and came across your channel.. I binged watch and got most of them… so much info.. Thank you so much I can’t wait to get start it on this journey… I couldn’t download the numbers meal planning one could you please be so kind and email them to me? Thank you so much and God Bless…
Hi,
Could you email me the sheets?
Thank you
Hi Dawn,
I found you through YouTube and traced you back here.
I’m excited by your plan and ideas for how to make things simpler.
My DH will not eat what I eat ( lean protein and low fat, low carbs) and I really don’t care to eat his less healthy
choices.,
So I am currently preparing meals in quantity to be eaten as leftovers or frozen for later. Luckily he is ok with it.
My other challenge is that I spend several days/week with my elderly Mom in her home about 100 miles away.
Her dietary issues and preferences are different than either of ours. I think the board on the fridge will help all of us. If you have suggestions, I’m all ears! Thanks.
I think the system could help me keep track of the
Hi could you email me the sheets?
Hi! Loving your YT channel! I think your system is one that will FINALLY work for me. Yay! I’m unable to download an editable version. Any chance you could email it to me? Thank you!
Hi Dawn!
I just found your youtube channel and have become such a fan! Still such a work in progress, but we are getting there one room at a time. Thank you so much for all the work you put into making these videos. They are such a blessing!
Would love it if you emailed me the edit-able Numbers version of the grocery inventory spreadsheet?
Thanks again so much and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Tami
I cant get the sheet to download. can you send it to me please? thank you!
HI Dawn! Love this video! I have not been able to find a system I can stick to that is quick and easy, but I feel like this might be the ticket! A few question though…. he food items listed, are those foods you keep on hand at all times for just breakfast, snacks, lunches, deserts? Or does that include things for dinners as well? I’m finding as I make mine that things I only use for dinner meals are popping into the list, but looking at yours, I am having a hard time being able to tell. Do you keep your quick meals on hand at all times too? If you do, would those items be listed in the food categories? Or do you plan on certain days being quick meals? Sorry for the questions! Love this plan!
Hello Dawn,
I came across your videos on YouTube and was fascinated! You touched on so many topics that I’m dealing with.
This menu plan in particular looks genius! Can you please send me the links for them? I tried opening the ones provided, but they wouldn’t work for me. I tried downloading them several times with no luck.
Thank you for all you do!
God bless~
I end up wasting a lot of food. I think your management documentation is a great idea. I had trouble as well downloading the numbers file. Would you be so kind to e-mail it to me? Thank you so much!
Yes, just sent it!!
I also need the “Numbers” file. Could not download. Will you please send me a copy also?
I had trouble downloading the numbers file… would please send? Thank you!
Love your blog and your Youtube channel also! I was able to find some of these recipes in your post 10 Quick & Easy Week Night Dinners You Haven’t Tried Yet. Those are wonderful! Any chance you could provide recipes for the other meals on your planner? Also, what you prepare for side dishes to go along with them? Thanks for all of the great info!
I’m just curious what are your regular go-to breakfasts?
Good question! I talk about them in this video: https://youtu.be/NVkzbXhDzVY but mostly it is egg-muffins (pioneer woman recipe–I added the link in the video description), breakfast tacos and scrambled eggs that we cook in the microwave, or breakfast sandwiches (we like the sandwich rounds from Aldi and then we cook an egg in a bowl in the microwave, it comes out the perfect size for the sandwich rounds and then we add any combination of cheese, ham lunch meat, sausage patties, bacon– that I had cooked over the weekend, and mayo). After they have had something with protein then they can have cereal if they are still hungry :)
What is the numbers file? it doesn’t seem to have a correct extension on it. I can’t open it. Is it suppose to be an excel file? thanks! You’ve inspired me. My sheet is much bigger than yours but it was a great start.
I would love the excel version of your already filled out list as well. Aldi for the win!
If you had the recipes that would be even more magical. :) thank you.. new fan! Joni
Hi there,
I absolutely love your message and channel! Making my life easier is what i’m all about.
Could you please email the links @ luzy18@gmail.com
Thank you,
~Luz
Hi! Sorry for sounding so rude and blunt!!!! Please email me your grocery list. I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL.
Please could you email the food lists. I can’t download it.
Many thanks. I have only just discovered your channel.
Just sent!
Hi Dawn! Thanks for this, I just discovered your YouTube and I subscribed and loved! WHat does ck mean in your list of meals?
Good question! That stands for chicken :)
Hi Dawn !
I found your video on YouTube, some amazing content that you frequently share.
I just put a magnetic board on my fridge today an idea that I got from your website. I just added 2 more columns under use up and leftovers, that say to freeze and stock up with things I need to put on the freezer later on or my more.
Btw I tried to download the file on my phone but I couldn’t open it.
Would you mind sending it to email?
I’d highly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi Dawn! I can’t download this file either on my PC – would you be able to email it to me?
I love idea and can’t wait to use it with my family!
Hello! Thank you so much for these downloads! I really appreciate it :) I am having a problem with downloading the number meal planning worksheet. Everything else is fine. Can you email it to me? Thanks!
Dawn I couldn’t download the grocery list. Please email it to me. Thanks lady
Can I have metoo the file for the grocery inventory with all the items you have added? Thank you!
Would you mind posting a download for the grocery inventory with all the items you have added? I know your list will be different than mine, but I think it would be a helpful starting point. Plus, from your video, I’m guessing you shop at Aldi. Since I also shop there, I think a lot of my food items would be in the same aisles as the food items on your list. Thanks for sharing your meal planning system. It looks like it could really simplify meal planning for me and my family!
Good morning Katie! I emailed it, please let me know if you don’t see it!! :)
Exactly what I was thinking!!
I was able to down load the form but can not change anything. I did down load the excel document.
Good morning Erik! I’m going to work on these file downloads some more, but in the meantime, I did email the excel version to you, will you let me know if it works? Thank you! Dawn
I wasnt able to download any of the meal planning sheets am I doing something wrong?
I was able to Downlad the file- but it wouldn’t open on my phone..
Good morning! I’m sorry, that is frustrating! If you reply to this comment and fill in the email address field (it stays private and is not published) I will gladly email the files to you and we may have better luck :)
Could you email them to me? lisa.davidson541@yahoo.com.
Thanks, Lisa
Good morning Martha! I emailed them to you, will you let me know if they work or not? Thank you! Dawn