When it comes to meal planning, it’s easy to think it has to be complicated. That you need color-coded charts, detailed prep days, or perfectly labeled freezer containers. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to be any of that. The best meal planning is the kind that actually happens, and that usually means keeping it simple.
Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. Five minutes here, two minutes there can add up to a calmer, smoother week around the dinner table.
So today I’m sharing five small things you can do in under five minutes that will make next week’s dinners easier. None of these require special tools or a big chunk of time. They’re just little habits that, when done consistently, can change the rhythm of your week.
1️⃣ Take Out Some Meat to Thaw
This might sound simple (because it is!), but it’s one of the biggest game changers.
There’s nothing more frustrating than realizing it’s 4:00 PM and everything is still frozen solid. Taking a few seconds to move a couple of packages of chicken, ground beef, or pork chops from the freezer to the fridge can completely change the tone of your evening.
Even if you don’t know exactly what you’ll make yet, thawing a protein gives you flexibility. You can turn chicken into stir-fry, fajitas, a casserole, or soup — whatever fits the day. And if plans change, you still have a few days before it needs to be cooked.
It’s such a small step, but it’s the one thing that consistently helps dinner come together with less stress.
Tip: Do this at the same time every week — for example, when you’re cleaning up Sunday breakfast or putting away the last grocery items. Make it part of your rhythm.
2️⃣ Chop an Onion (or Two) and Pop It in the Fridge
If I could give every busy mom one gift, it would be pre-chopped onions.
So many recipes start with “sauté an onion,” and somehow that’s the part that slows everything down. When you’ve already got diced onion in the fridge, meals start faster and feel easier.
While you’re making lunch or tidying up the kitchen, grab a cutting board and dice one or two onions. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge (or freezer, if you want to make them last longer).
That little bowl of ready-to-use onions will save you time and mental energy all week long. You can toss them into soups, casseroles, sauces, or even scrambled eggs without a second thought.
Bonus: If you have extra time, mince some garlic or chop a few carrots or celery sticks, too. These small bits of prep might not feel like much in the moment, but they make a big difference when it’s 5:00 and everyone’s hungry.
3️⃣ Jot Down 3 Easy Dinners
You don’t need a full meal plan to feel organized — sometimes all you need is a short list.
Grab a sticky note or open your notes app and write down three dinners that you know your family enjoys and that come together easily. Think “taco night,” “sheet pan chicken and veggies,” or “spaghetti with garlic bread.”
These don’t have to be fancy or even new ideas. They’re just your “safety net” meals — the ones you can fall back on when the day gets away from you or you’re too tired to think.
Keeping this list somewhere visible (like on the fridge or in your planner) means you don’t have to start from scratch every night. Decision fatigue is real — and this little list keeps it from taking over dinner time.
4️⃣ Toss Tomorrow’s Supper in a Marinade or the Slow Cooker Insert
If you have five minutes today, you can make tomorrow infinitely easier.
A quick marinade or slow cooker prep takes hardly any time but pays off in a big way. Combine your protein, a splash of oil, a little vinegar or lemon juice, and a few favourite seasonings in a bag or bowl then refrigerate overnight.
When tomorrow rolls around, your meat is flavorful and ready to cook. Or, if you’re using the slow cooker, you can place everything right in the insert, pop it in the fridge, and set it to cook the next morning.
Dinner basically makes itself, and that’s the dream, isn’t it?
Try this:
- Chicken breasts with olive oil, garlic, lemon, and oregano
- Pork chops with soy sauce, honey, and ginger
- Beef with BBQ sauce and a splash of broth for pulled sandwiches
5️⃣ Start Your Grocery Delivery or Pickup Order
If you’ve ever gone to order groceries only to find your preferred pickup slot is gone — you know the struggle.
Taking just a few minutes early in the weekend to start your grocery order guarantees you’ll get the time slot that actually works for your family. You don’t even need to finish the order right away — just start it. Add a few essentials (milk, bread, eggs), pick your slot, and then add the rest throughout the day as you remember things.
This tiny habit not only saves you time in the store but also keeps your meal planning on track. You’ll start the week knowing you have what you need, instead of scrambling for last-minute substitutions.
Tip: Keep a running grocery list on your phone or fridge so you can quickly transfer items into your online order when it’s time.
The Power of Small Things
None of these steps take long, in fact, you could probably do all five in under 20 minutes total. But together, they set the tone for a calmer, more intentional week.
Meal planning doesn’t have to be a big event or a perfectly organized system. Sometimes it’s just about those tiny moments of preparation that add up to a smoother evening, less stress, and a family that’s gathered around the table instead of waiting on a drive-thru.
So this week, pick one or two of these small things and give them a try. Then, when you sit down to supper and everything feels a little easier, you’ll know — it worked.
Because sometimes, the best kind of meal planning isn’t complicated at all. It’s simply intentional.
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