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If you’ve ever felt like life was moving faster than you could keep up, you’re not alone.
Recently, my world has been a whirlwind — emergency surgery, travel for work, real estate side jobs — and in the middle of it all, trying to show up for my family and myself. 💛
During those crazy weeks, one thing quietly saved my sanity: meal planning.
Not fancy, Pinterest-perfect meal prep — just simple, doable planning that gave me a little more breathing room when everything else felt overwhelming.
Meal Planning Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
In my head, “meal planning” used to mean color-coded charts and hours in the kitchen.
Now? It means scribbling 3–4 dinner ideas on a sticky note, making sure we have groceries for them, and calling it good enough.
Sometimes we repeat the same meals two or three times a month (hello, taco night and rotisserie chicken!).
Sometimes we just plan for super basic things like sandwiches, salads, or frozen pizza — and that’s still meal planning.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s to make one part of the day feel a little lighter.
Small Prep = Big Peace
I realized that even tiny bits of prep made a huge difference.
If I could chop veggies while I was making breakfast, or throw some chicken in the crockpot during lunch, I felt so much calmer when dinnertime came around.
Some weeks, my “meal prep” was literally just buying pre-cut veggies and pre-cooked chicken from the store — and honestly, that’s a win too.
Small steps are still steps.
It’s About Progress, Not Perfection
There were weeks (especially after my surgery) when I didn’t stick to my plan at all — and that’s okay.
Meal planning isn’t about being “perfect” every day; it’s about having something to fall back on when life feels overwhelming.
Even a loose plan gave me peace of mind, saved us from overspending on takeout, and helped me feel like I was taking care of my family and myself.
If you’re feeling like you’re drowning in busy schedules and endless to-do lists, I just want to encourage you:
Start small. Write down three meal ideas. Grocery shop with a tiny plan in mind.
It won’t fix everything, but it will give you one less thing to stress about — and some days, that’s exactly what we need.
You deserve to feel supported, even in the busy seasons. 🌿
What’s your favorite go-to easy meal when life gets busy? Do you have a favorite meal planner notebook? You can find my favorite here.
I’d love to hear — comment below or message me on Instagram @MomAimingForBalance!
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