Are you tired of the daily dinner dilemma, struggling to figure out what to cook each night?
Being a busy mom, wife, employee, or even employer makes it hard to plan dinners, and before you know it you don’t have a plan and you’re driving thru the fast food line again.
Streamline your dinner planning and take control of your family’s meals super easy with our easy, simple and printable dinner menu template for Google Docs.
This is how my customizable weekly dinner menu template was born and I’d like to think that I’ve been able to make meal planning a breeze!
The Power of Meal Planning
Meal planning isn’t just about saving time; it’s also a fantastic way to save money.
The best part is that it’s repeatable and when you put a system in place you can literally have a lifetimes worth of weekly meal plans made and at your fingertips with just a little bit of work on the frontend.
Check this out!
With our digital meal plan template, you can plan your weekly dinners in advance, allowing you to buy ingredients in bulk and take advantage of discounts and sales, rinse and repeat.
Once you are done making a meal plan for the week, save that meal plan, make a dopy, make a new plan, repeat, repeat. You now have several meal plans that you can go back to for the times where your mind is drawing a blank on what to make.
It’s a genius system and below is what our fillable weekly meal plan template has to offer.
Taking Meal Planning to the Next Level
Our Google Docs menu template is designed to make meal planning easy and enjoyable.
Here are some of the key features of a meal plan that will transform your dinner routine:
- Customizable Weekly Meal Plans: This template lets you create a meal plan that suits your family’s tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you’re printing it for the fridge, adding it to your planner, or keeping it on your computer, it’s adaptable to your needs.
- Meal Plan Repetition: Once you’ve crafted a meal plan that your family loves, you can easily make a copy and start building a collection of favorite meal plans. Imagine having a year’s worth of dinner ideas at your fingertips!
- Recipe Integration: Hate flipping through cookbooks or scrolling endlessly through Pinterest? Our template allows you to add links to your favorite recipes, making them accessible with a single click.
- User-Friendly Directions: Even if you’re not used to making dinner, starting with one of two dinners a week is fine; starting somewhere and somehow is the most important step..
- Personalization: You can change the background color to match your style and add notes for each day of the week, such as the weather forecast or evening events that might affect your dinner choices.
- 10 Days of Meal Planning: With room for ten days of meal planning, you’ll have a comprehensive view of your week, which is particularly helpful when coordinating family dinners and kids schedules.
- Access Anywhere: Thanks to Google Docs, you can access or edit your meal plans from anywhere—your computer, phone, or tablet. It’s meal planning made mobile.
- Flexible Start Dates and Day Selection: Adjust the start date and select the days of the week that work for you, all with the convenience of dropdown menus.
Save Money, Save Time
Now, let’s address the important question: “Does meal prepping save money?”
The answer is a resounding yes! When you plan your meals in advance, you can:
- Control Portions: Knowing what you’ll eat in advance helps you avoid overbuying at the grocery store and wasting food.
- Shop Smart: Take advantage of sales and discounts by planning your grocery list ahead of time.
- Reduce Impulse Buys: A well-thought-out meal plan keeps you focused on your shopping list, reducing those last-minute splurges and grocery shopping too often.
Starting Your Meal Planning Journey
If you’re new to meal planning and wondering, “How to start meal planning for my family?”—don’t worry. It’s easier than you think.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Assess Your Family’s Preferences: Take note of your family’s favorite dishes, dietary restrictions, and any family members allergies. This will be the foundation of your meal prep and planning.
- Create a Weekly Schedule: Decide which days you want to plan for. Some people prefer planning dinners for the entire week, while others focus on weekdays or weekends.
- Set Realistic Goals: Don’t aim for gourmet meals every night. Start with simple, family-friendly recipes and gradually experiment with new dishes.
- Use Our Template: Download our Google Docs dinner plans template and start customizing your meal plans. Our meal planner templates are designed to simplify the process and save you time.
- Stick to Your Plan: Once you’ve created your meal plan, stick to it as closely as possible. This will help you avoid unnecessary grocery trips and last-minute stress.
Making Family Dinners a Breeze with Our Weekly Menu Planner
Planning dinners ahead of time not only saves money but also reduces daily stress.
It’s a small investment of time that pays off in big ways.
With our menu plans fillable template, you can take your meal planning to the next level and even stick it on the fridge or freezer since these can be used as printable weekly meal planners too!
If you find yourself seeking a practical, efficient way to plan your family’s dinners, our weekly dinner menu template is the solution you’ve been looking for.
Simplify your life, save money, and enjoy stress-free family dinners—all at your fingertips with our digital meal plan template.
Don’t wait any longer—grab our template and start enjoying the benefits of meal planning today.
Your family’s taste buds and your wallet will thank you!
What’s included:
- Instructions for downloading and using your weekly meal planner template
- Instructions for saving your weekly planner, as well as using them in pdf format for printables and saving in a binder
- Instructions for changing the start date, and how to change the start date (choose from Sunday, Monday, or any other day of the week!)