I think we can all agree that dinner time is often the most stressful part of the day. This happens for a number of reasons: because we didn’t plan for what to eat, we didn’t do the grocery shopping, we already used all our energy for the day, somehow the kids get an intense surge of energy at the same time, the kitchen is always a mess, we carry a lot of expectations about what dinner should be, we convince ourselves that our spouse will leave us if we aren’t good at cooking even though s/he has expressed multiple times that it’s not that big of a deal (or is that just me?), we are trying so hard to find the most healthy & frugal option that we forget creating a calm environment might be more beneficial, or because your kitchen cabinets are crammed full of things you don’t even use and makes cooking feel impossible… the list continues.
I find that simply having a plan and knowing you have the right stuff on hand can eliminate a lot of the stress here. It can free up your mental capacity so you can get to the root of all those other issues you have in the kitchen.
Whatever the issue, I got you! Here’s the thing you need to know FIRST: just start. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t need to be Martha Stewart level cooking, it doesn’t even have to be on these sweet free printables I made for you. You just have to start. Keep scrolling to see lots of related content that’s going to help you with all things meal planning, mental health, motherhood and more! (be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back to it!)
Click here to read my most popular blog post & learn my 5 favorite meal planning methods.
Ready for the truth? One time I almost chose to end my life because I was too stressed to choose what to cook for dinner. Of course there were many, many layers to this stress, there was an untreated mental disorder and a whole lot of unhelpful beliefs in the equation. But nonetheless, that decision of what to cook along with actually having to cook that meal with 3 screaming toddlers in tow, it pushed me over the edge.
I am so passionate about meal planning and preparation because having those decisions already made, cutting that stress out of your day, could just be the thing that gives you the mental space you need to think clearly and it could just save your life one day. Worst case scenario, it makes your life just a little bit easier.
That experience also taught me that I needed to be fiercely protective of my mental health and my spiritual peace. I committed myself to overcoming the negative thoughts that kept my self esteem low, I started embracing ease and ditching guilt about it, and I got real good at encouraging others along the way.
I created an entirely new life for myself in the process and I want for you to experience this absolute abundance and joy that I now have. And yes, it started with meal planning… It led to allowing my recipes and meals to be simple. It ended up with me rewiring the way my brain responds to chaos and triggers.
Here’s the secret to avoiding overwhelm: just focus on ONE THING AT A TIME.
91: Super Simple Summer Meal Planning for When You Don't Want to Stick to a Plan – Meant to Bloom: personal growth for hot mess moms
More about eliminating stress in the kitchen:
Meal Plan with Ease and Confidence (because sometimes deciding what’ s for dinner sucks)
This episode was recorded live on IGTV (Instagram). Here’s what was mentioned: Why does deciding what’s for dinner suck so bad? “Don’t worry about making the right decision, make the decision right.” Susie Moore Let’s overcome the belief that there is a wrong decision to be made. You make great choices. Get confident in the…
Everything You Need to Know About Meal Planning: the simplest approach to 5 different planning options
Originally posted as How to Create a Rotating Meal Plan March 15, 2019 | Revised and reposted August 30, 2022 Hey beautiful friend, I’m so glad you’re joining me here in this digital space. I’m Brittni Clarkson and I’m all about making daily mom-life as simple as possible. I’m not going to give you a…
The Easy Way to Meal Plan.
Planning our family meals ahead of time has changed my life and my grocery trips. I don’t bother planning breakfasts or lunches because it’s so much easier not to. I make sure I always have the basics on hand though. For breakfast: cereal, oatmeal, bagels, bacon and eggs. For lunches: bread, meat, cheese, mayo, chips,…
36: How to Meal Plan When You Hate Making Decisions – an honest talk on real life in my kitchen
If one of the biggest stressors in your life right now is that dinner time dilemma, then this is for you. Dinner time can be so much easier than you’re letting it be and it all starts with a foolproof meal plan. I used to let the dinner time dilemma send me into a spiral…
23: Simplifying Healthy Eating for the Whole Family with Danica Mills
What nutritionist Danica Mills is here to share with us today might just ease that meal time stress you’re feeling. You see, “healthy” foods are relative. It’s less about what the world says (that’s always changing!) and more about getting reconnected with your body and mindfully asking: what does this food make me feel like?
91: Super Simple Summer Meal Planning for When You Don’t Want to Stick to a Plan
In this episode we’re chatting about:
Let it be easy, let it be simple
How to be planned but spontaneous
The formula for a simple, healthy-ish meal
Want to get all the details and newest content from me? Be sure to subscribe to the Meant to Bloom Podcast on your favorite listening app and I’ll share my latest tips and insights with you every week! Bonus: I often have some amazing guest speakers on the show and we even share exclusive discounts to our incredible programs in some of the episodes!
They keep telling us to “Enjoy it while they’re young..” But our days are filled with chaos, and stress, and cooking, and endless laundry piles…. Where’s the time to enjoy it? Yeah, that’s what I always thought too. There’s so much I HAVE to do, when do I find time for peace and joy and happiness, I barely have time to sleep… Mama, it’s time for a shift.
You can be a HAPPY MOM – if I can, you can, trust me.
You’re going to love these podcast episodes
97: Burnt Out on Meal Planning? Here’s How to Make Meal Planning Fun Again
Feeling burnt out on meal planning? SAME! – until I started thinking about it differently. It’s easy to get sick and tired of planning out what your family is going to eat every meal of the day when you’re viewing it as filling the needs of feeding the masses. So how do you get excited…
91: Super Simple Summer Meal Planning for When You Don’t Want to Stick to a Plan
In this episode we’re chatting about:
Let it be easy, let it be simple
How to be planned but spontaneous
The formula for a simple, healthy-ish meal
36: How to Meal Plan When You Hate Making Decisions – an honest talk on real life in my kitchen
If one of the biggest stressors in your life right now is that dinner time dilemma, then this is for you. Dinner time can be so much easier than you’re letting it be and it all starts with a foolproof meal plan. I used to let the dinner time dilemma send me into a spiral…
Read more about meal planning and kitchen simplicity:
Meal Plan with Ease and Confidence (because sometimes deciding what’ s for dinner sucks)
This episode was recorded live on IGTV (Instagram). Here’s what was mentioned: Why does deciding what’s for dinner suck so bad? “Don’t worry about making the right decision, make the decision right.” Susie Moore Let’s overcome the belief that there is a wrong decision to be made. You make great choices. Get confident in the…
Everything You Need to Know About Meal Planning: the simplest approach to 5 different planning options
Originally posted as How to Create a Rotating Meal Plan March 15, 2019 | Revised and reposted August 30, 2022 Hey beautiful friend, I’m so glad you’re joining me here in this digital space. I’m Brittni Clarkson and I’m all about making daily mom-life as simple as possible. I’m not going to give you a…
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25 Great Meals to Add to Your Meal Plan Before we begin…. Snag this free download to get started meal planning! I’ve recently discovered the amazing simplicity of a rotating meal plan. If you don’t know what that is, let me tell you, it’s life changing! You choose 3-5 meals per week and schedule them…
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The Easy Way to Meal Plan.
Planning our family meals ahead of time has changed my life and my grocery trips. I don’t bother planning breakfasts or lunches because it’s so much easier not to. I make sure I always have the basics on hand though. For breakfast: cereal, oatmeal, bagels, bacon and eggs. For lunches: bread, meat, cheese, mayo, chips,…
Themed Dinner Nights for the Busy Mama (who’s honestly got better things to do).
Mama, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now and planning what to add to that plate for dinner tonight is stressing. you. out. It doesn’t have to be so complicated and anxiety inducing. Meal planning is simple if you let it be, especially if you use a themed night template to…
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Hi, I’m Brittni, a mom who’s determined to share my light, wisdom, and joyfulness with every mom. My desire is that every woman knows she is worthy of ease and joy and finds the encouragement and motivation to pursue her best life possible.
I live in rural Oregon with my husband and 3 sons. I never dreamed of being a boy-mom, but now I can’t imagine life not surrounded by toy dinosaurs, race cars, and fart noises.
Still not sure where to start?
