3 Reasons Why Your Meal Plan is Failing

It's 5pm, and you're still trying to figure out what to have for dinner. Your meat is all frozen, the pantry is a little bare, and it looks like your best bet is swinging into the drive-through or ordering pizza again.

You've heard all of the experts tell you that you need to create a weekly meal plan to avoid these hangups. But you can't seem to get yours to work.

Perhaps you've tried meal planning in the past, but you never could find the time to sit down and actually do it.

Maybe you gave it a go before, but you were never able to really stick to the meal plan you created.

Whatever the case, when it comes to meal planning, these are three of the most common reasons I've seen for why meal plans fail.

It's the Wrong Type for You

There are many different types of meal plans, and sometimes it's just a matter of finding which type of meal plan will work best for you.

If something isn't working out, try a different meal planning method! For instance, if you struggle with coming up with ideas and need a little structure, maybe you'd like Themed Meal Planning.

I've used a handful of meal planning methods over the years, and different types work better for different life seasons and for different personality types. I think it's wise to switch gears whenever necessary.

It Isn't Realistic

Many people have grandiose plans for their meals. They scour the internet for fun new recipes to try, without considering the fact that many recipes require more time than we actually have, or more ingredients than we have in stock.

Take a look at your calendar for any events or circumstances that will dictate the type of meal you should make.

Perhaps a slow cooker or Instant Pot meal would be useful on days when your time for cooking is limited due to soccer games or PTO meetings.

Maybe you will have some extra time on one particular day of the week and you can cook a double batch of something so you'll have leftovers for another night of the week.

At any rate, consider what meals are actually realistic for your family's schedule and preferences.

You Don't Have a Master List

I think everyone should have a master list of some meals that their family enjoys, in different categories.

First up is family favorites. These are the tried-and-true meals your family loves to eat.

Next, you should have a list of last minute meals that you can make very quickly with ingredients you typically have on hand.

These don't need to be fancy, but these are the meals that will save you on the nights when you forgot to thaw out meat or didn't get to stop at the grocery store.

Ideally, you should also have a list of slow cooker or Instant Pot meals for those nights when you won't have much time to spend in the kitchen.

Last, you should have a list of big meals that yield leftovers. On the nights when you do have a little extra time, make a big batch of something that will provide leftovers for another night's meal.

By avoiding these three causes of meal planning failure, you can set yourself up for meal planning success and finally reap the benefits you've longed for!