If there’s one ritual that keeps my life from falling apart each week… it’s this. My simple weekly meal planning routine is the only way I can accomplish what I do and stay sane — especially during busy seasons like summer.
As a busy mom of two, business owner, and someone who honestly loves to cook but doesn’t always love planning dinner, I’ve found one simple routine that keeps our meals (and my sanity) on track.
And I do it every single Friday. Like clockwork.
Why I Have a Weekly Meal Planning Routine
Fridays are my reset. After a busy week, I carve out a few quiet minutes to plan the week ahead — before the weekend fun begins and definitely before I get asked “What’s for dinner?” five times on Sunday night.
You may be saying: Why not do this on Sunday?
Because Sunday is already full: laundry, life admin, family time, and that creeping feeling of Monday looming. I’ve done Sunday planning before and it always felt rushed.
By doing it Friday, I give myself the gift of a mentally free weekend. Something YOU DESERVE. I can actually enjoy Saturday morning coffee without a running grocery list in my brain. And by Sunday night? I’m not in panic mode.
It’s a small shift… but it’s made a huge difference.
My Weekly Meal Planning Routine: Step by Step
Here’s exactly what I do — it takes me about 20 minutes, start to finish:
1. Log into Fraîche Table
This is the first (and best) step you can take to simplify your meals. Fraîche Table (my digital meal planning platform) is filled with delicious, simple, family-friendly recipes that are planned for you — and it’s what I personally use every single week. Come cook with me!
2. Pick Meals for the Week
I usually pick 3–4 dinners based on our schedule. If we have busier nights, I’ll choose meals that are super fast or can be prepped ahead. I’ll toss in a couple make-ahead breakfasts (to be prepped Sunday) for smooth mornings.
✨ Pro tip: I let my boys pick one recipe each! It gets them excited and takes a little pressure off me.
3. Add extra Snacks
I always add in a snack or two for the kids, like the Healthier Snickers Bars (obsessed) or Apple Cinnamon Muffins.
4. Generate the Grocery List Automatically
This part is magic. Fraîche Table auto-generates a grocery list based on the meals I choose. I can remove anything I already have on hand, and add in staples and basics as well. No more forgetting half the ingredients I needed or wasting gas and time on extra trips to the store.
5. Order Groceries Online for Sunday Pickup
This is my secret sauce. I place a grocery order for pickup or delivery on Sunday, so I can actually enjoy the weekend and start the week ahead without stepping foot in a store. Find me poolside instead.
What’s on My Meal Plan This Week
Next week’s lineup has me drooling already — can you blame me? Starting our mornings slow with make-ahead Everything Bagel Casserole and Double Chocolate Banana Muffins (yes, they’re as good as they sound). To stay cool, I’ve got Peachy Keen Smoothies on rotation and Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad prepped and ready.
Fast, fresh, and totally family-approved…just the way I like it. 👉 Join Fraîche Table or Login HERE!
The Bottom Line?
This little Friday ritual has made a massive impact on my life. No, I’m not just saying that. It’s why I even created Fraîche Table in the first place. It helps me feel prepared, saves me so much time (and stress), and makes dinner feel like something I can handle.
If you’re looking for a new routine that makes life easier, give this one a try. You might love it as much as I do.
👉 Try Fraîche Table free for 10 days!
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