Sorry! Time management and planning always save far more time than it takes to do them.

Think about it this way: If you have time to fatigue yourself trying to figure out a single meal at the last minute, then you have time to plan two, three or even four meals in the same amount of time. (Read more about “decision fatigue” here.)

The wonderfully liberating magic of meal planning lies in this realization: Planning doesn’t take more time, it just takes rearranging how and when you spend time making meal decisions. You can be efficient and plan several meals at once in a space of calm, or you can frazzle and fatigue yourself going through the same hassle every meal time.

How Easy Can Planning Be? A No-Recipe Meal Plan

As completely sensible as it is, I think we still resist planning, mistakenly believing that it will take a loooong time and that we must come up with meal ideas that are fancy, exciting and/or complicated.

But take a look at the following four-day plan for a young couple with a toddler. It took just 10 minutes to create, but it will save them double or triple that amount of time, not to mention a lot of stress. See any ideas that sound good? Please do borrow!

Day 1: Roasted Chicken

• Baked Spaghetti Squash
• Sauteed Baby Green Beans (from frozen)

Day 2: Thai Peanut Stir Fry

In coconut oil, stir fry a red onion, 2-3 yellow squash cut in quarter rounds, and a large green pepper, sliced. Add leftover roasted chicken at the end. Season with San-J Peanut Sauce. Serve with brown rice.

Day 3: Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Sauté an onion and turkey burger. Turn into a large, oiled casserole dish. Stir in a jar of favorite marinara sauce. Fold in pre-washed spinach and leftover baked squash until combined thoroughly. Top with cheese and bake at 350 (F) about 45 minutes until bubbly and cooked through.

Day 4: Hamburger Day

• Roasted or Baked Potatoes
• Steamed or Roasted Broccoli with soy sauce, lime and sesame seeds.

Bonus Lunch: Tuna Salad

Combine shredded carrots, thinly sliced red cabbage, diced apple and leftover brown rice with a can of tuna. Dress with Italian-style dressing or a mixture of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and diced dill pickle.

More Bonuses:

• The couple was able to plan ways to use up odds and ends in the fridge, saving money and preventing food waste.
• With a plan it was easy to make a shopping list so they got everything for several days in one single trip to the store.

Indeed, a meal planning routine may seem boring, but it’s also brilliant!

Speaking of Boring but Brilliant–that’s the title of my 5-week Meal Planning Course:

Check It Out:  A Great Way to Get in a Brilliant Routine