A simple method to help you plan your weekly meals

Today I’m going share with you my simple Weekly Meal Planner. This simple method is not only effective, it is also easy to put together.

Check out the full tutorial below.

To make this meal planner you will need:

A magnetic meal planner (the one I use is no longer available – there are slightly small options available which I will link below.

Magnetic tape Printable menu

or create your own using the dimensions from your planner (click the hyperlink to download)

Printer and card stock paper to print the menu ideas

Laminator

(optional but i highly recommend it as it makes the magnets more durable)

• Empty

Altoids tins

(optional but I highly recommend it to keep the meal magnetics contained and nicely organized

Instructions for making the meal magnets:

1. Print the menu list, laminate* and cut out all the individual menu items.
2. Add a inch strip of the magnetic tape to the back of the laminated* pieces.

*if you are not laminating, just cut the piece add the magnetic tape directly to the back of the card stock .

• • TIPS:

Highlight the menu items for each category (breakfast, school lunch, lunch/dinner, dessert, etc). It makes it easier to spot and choose, especially if the kids are helping.

• Print a few empty magnets to write new items you would like to add or keep a running list and print a new sheet of options when you’ve filled up all the boxes in the printable.
• You may even choose to print a few “LEFTOVERS” or “EATING OUT” options to make it easier to schedule, I usually just leave those spots empty.

How to store the magnets:

Hot glue a disc magnet to the back of a mini Altoids container. These containers are the perfect size for storing individual categories of the menu items.

Or, Hot glue two disc magnets to the back of a regular size Altoids container. This container is large enough to store all of the menu pieces.

How I use the Menu Planner:

• I keep the magnetic meal planner on my refrigerator along with a couple Altoids tins to store my preprinted magnetic menu ideas. I use 2 containers for my dinner and school lunch items. One to store “unused” and the other for “used“

I use 2 containers for my dinner items. This way, I don’t repeat meal items until all of the options have had a chance to be used.

• On Sundays, the kids and I select from the unused box and place it on it’s spot under a chosen day of the week, usually the weekdays. The weekends are reserved for finishing up leftovers, parties or dinning out. Each child gets to select ONE school lunch meal and ONE dinner menu. Check out some of my school lunch ideas here, here, and here.

How we plan our Breakfasts:

Breakfast items are also printed on magnets but are scheduled differently from our lunches and dinners. Because breakfast options are limited, they are rotated more frequently. We have set days (during the weekdays) for waffles or pancakes (only 1 a week), muffins or bagels, an egg meal, oatmeal, and cereal (usually on the days I don’t have to make school lunch in the morning- so I can sleep in, heehee 😁).

Recommendations for Magnetic Meal Planners