Once a Planner, Always a Planner: The Food Blog Journey Begins

Welcome to the “I don’t have time/talent/energy to write a food blog” blog. With that said, here it goes!

From Classroom Organization to Kitchen Chaos

Many years ago, before I had kids, I was an elementary school teacher. My days revolved around organizing my classroom and planning for the 20 or so little people who walked through my door each morning. Clear goals, good intentions, and purposeful planning weren’t just conveniences—they were necessities. Being caught off-guard with 20 sets of eyes staring at you is not something any teacher wants!

I loved filling my calendar with goals for each day, matched with lessons to achieve them. Every morning, I posted the daily schedule on the board, planning down to the last detail. But since unexpected events—like fire drills, last-minute assemblies, or new students—were always part of the job, I learned to write everything in pencil. Life’s plans, after all, shouldn’t be written in permanent ink.

Pregnancy, Meal Prep Services, and a New Way of Planning

Fast forward five years, and I found myself pregnant with my first child. Like many expecting moms, I began thinking about the busy days ahead. Cooking with one hand while holding a cranky baby in the other became a real possibility. To prepare, I decided to try a meal preparation service called Dream Dinners.

The concept was simple and brilliant: they provided recipes, pre-measured ingredients, and easy-to-follow instructions, all neatly packed into freezer-ready containers. I came home with 4-5 meals that I could pop out of the freezer and cook like a pro when time was tight.

For a few months, this service was a lifesaver. But eventually, I realized it wasn’t the most budget-friendly option (diapers are expensive!) and the meals weren’t as healthy as I hoped, with premade sauces often loaded with sodium. What the service did provide, however, was a structured meal plan. Frozen lemon chicken on Monday, pasta bake on Tuesday, and so on—just like the lesson plans I used in my classroom. With a new baby and a part-time teaching job, any chance to make life easier, more organized, and less chaotic was a win.

The Birth of the Meal Planning Calendar

Inspired by the structure of Dream Dinners, I printed off a basic blank calendar and wrote out our dinner plans for the entire week. Even after I stopped using the meal prep service, the calendar became a mainstay in my kitchen. And just like in my teaching days, I always used a sharp pencil because you never know how plans might change.

As our family grew to include two more children, meal planning became even more essential. I experimented with different strategies, from planning dinners for 2-3 days to planning for two weeks at a time. Over time, I found that planning out a week’s worth of meals, usually on a Sunday, worked best for us.

Adapting Meal Plans to Life’s Unexpected Moments

Meal planning became my weekly routine, and I have to believe it made us saner, healthier, and more organized. Whether my husband was traveling, we had late afternoon pediatrician appointments, or the kids were particularly cranky, meal planning helped me navigate those busy weeks with ease. Sometimes, that meant planning for leftovers, prepping meals during nap time, or simply penciling in a pizza delivery for sanity’s sake.

A Decade of Meal Planning: My Scrapbook of Life

As crazy as it sounds, I have over ten years’ worth of meal calendars saved in a file folder, sitting right next to my favorite cookbooks. For years, a simple calendar printed off the Internet worked just fine. But one day, I decided to have a little fun with clip art and started printing out seasonal calendars that added a bit of cheer to my kitchen. An October calendar with a big pumpkin on it put me in the mood for butternut squash soup and fall salads with persimmons, goat cheese, and candied pecans.

Anyone who visits my home has seen my posted schedules, chore charts, and, of course, my meal-planning calendar. It often gets a giggle when friends ask, “Is that a calendar for food? Did you plan all that? Do you only plan dinners? How far ahead do you plan? How many times a week do you go to the grocery store?” I laugh along with them and point out how many times I’ve penciled in leftovers, pizza delivery, or a reservation.

How Meal Planning Reflects Life’s Changes

The truth is, those meal calendars hold more than just dinner plans—they reflect our lives. New babies, new homes, new jobs, birthdays, celebrations, illnesses, and vacations are all documented in those pages. It’s a sort of scrapbook of our lives, with each meal telling a little story. New baby in the house? Lots of freezer meals and dinners delivered by loving friends and family. Celebrations and new jobs? Tasty dinners and desserts that took a little more time to prepare. Packing for a move? Outdoor grilling, paper plates, and pizza delivery. Trying to lose a few pounds before vacation? Low-carb meals are the go-to.

Looking Back for Inspiration

Beyond the memories, those meal calendars serve as a resource when planning new meals. If I’m tired, busy, or just not feeling creative, I look back at previous years’ calendars for inspiration. Throw in a night or two of leftovers, plan for pizza delivery or a date night, and I’m done!

Sharing the Love of Meal Planning

This blog is lovingly created for my friends and family who have asked for a copy of my meal calendar template, have been curious about my dinner rotation, or wanted a recipe for something I’ve made. I’m beyond flattered and humbled by the interest, and I hope that together we can enjoy sharing tried-and-true recipes, meal planning tips, and everything related to Food, Family, and Friends.

Cheers,

Christina

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