If you already meal plan then you know how powerful it is to help you provide good, healthy food for your family.

Get out your cookbook notes and choose one recipe that you would like to make for your family.

See what you already have in the house and make a grocery list.

Then outline a make ahead task list.

THE MAGIC KEY TO SMOOTH MEAL PLANNING…

List things that you can or need to do the night before – what you need to defrost/prepare etc.

Then make a list of time and task that you need to do that day.

I find this one of the best things about meal planning, it really keeps me on track so that I don’t find out that I’ve forgotten one important thing.

And it also helps me to brainstorm small ways to make the meal better, maybe take a minute in the morning to pop ingredients for a loaf of bread into the machine etc.

Put these notes in a sheet protector along with the recipe so that you can use it over and over. Be sure to keep any further notes as well – any changes you’d like to make in the recipe – anything at all that you would like to know for next time.