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Meal Planning With Pinterest

Meal Planning is one of the highlights of my week. Yes, I realize that that might just qualify me for the Loony Bin. I know you guys already think I’m off my rocker, so I might as well give you some more fodder, right? I really, REALLY love meal planning. Everything about it just tickles me pink: the organization, the time it saves me, the paper I can spread around, the stuff I can mark off daily. Oooooooh, I’m just giddy! Highlighter anyone?

I’ve already written a good bit about meal planning…it was one of the first subjects I ever tackled 3+ years ago here at SMC and I always covered it in my Frugal Living Workshops (last one available online to watch for free). I’ve given you a few options for meal planning, I’ve told you how to plan based on sales and in season items, I’ve told you about the way I meal plan with Plan to Eat, and I’ve even shared a video walk through about how to use PTE for your meals.

We are actually working toward a feature at Humorous Homemaking where I can share my weekly meals with you all, links and recipes included. Until that’s ready, I thought we could talk about meal planning again through today’s post – because I like to talk about meal planning. And if you don’t, sorry Charlie…go fiddle around on Pinterest instead.

meal planning with pinterest

I know a lot of you already follow me on Pinterest – and if you don’t, you should consider it. I hate to toot my own horn, but my boards are pretty stinkin’ awesome…because I work on them daily. Does that make me a Pinterest addict? Well, probably. But I like to tell myself that it’s better than being addicted to something like Candy Crush Saga (I don’t even know what that is) or Days of Our Lives…or drugs.

I get emails from you guys all the time about my pins – I see you’re making the meals I pin when I ask on Facebook what you’re having for dinner. It tickles me pink you’re using that resource! 🙂 🙂 🙂 <– tickled pink face

BUT, you want to know how I’m using my pins and keeping track of them? Good question – I’m going to clear that up today and give you a walk through on how I use Pinterest for meal planning. It’s really quite simple – because at this point in life, I NEED simple…I get to take care of the restless natives all day, and they don’t go for complex.

meal planning with pinterest

How I Meal Plan With Pinterest:

  • I find recipes that look delicious and I pin them.

These come from lots of different places: Pinterest itself, blogs I read, recipes people send me, blog hops, Facebook, my recipes (narcissistic?), Plan to Eat recipes. Even with my addiction to paper, I still pin things. But I DO print them later. 😉 When I pin recipes, I usually make notes in the comments – especially Trim Healthy Mama notes.

I look through my pins and my past meal plans and decide what we want to eat for the week based on what’s hanging around the house and about to mold and what we’ll be doing as far as plans go. I plug what I want into Plan to Eat.

  • Once something goes into my Plan to Eat file, I delete it from Pinterest.

I realize that might drive some of you bananas, but that’s how I keep track of things. I don’t want to leave recipes in Pinterest if I’ve already made them. So, out of the Pinterest file and into my Plan to Eat file. You can follow me on Plan to Eat to see my recipes there (my username is Humorous Homemaking). So, if a recipe is on Pinterest, I haven’t made it yet…if it’s in Plan to Eat, I did. Clear as mud?

meal planning with pinterest

  • If I make a recipe and we hate it, I delete it from Plan to Eat. If it’s yummy, it stays there for future reference.

If it was grody, the recipe just sadly went the way of the dinosaur. If we won’t eat it and Dottie (the dog) runs away, it’s likely not a repeat. Think: Shrimp Pot Pie – epic failure.

  • When I print my PTE menu, I also print the recipes that go with it.

See! I told you!!! PAPER! Woooohooooo!!! I love paper. 🙂 If, after trying it, the recipe is a keeper and something we LOVE, that printed paper goes into a nice, beautiful page protector and I put it in my Favorite Recipes binder. If we liked it, but it didn’t knock our socks off, it just stays in PTE for later.

  • Aside from Pinterest, I also use my Favorite Recipes binder, my Trim Healthy Mama book, and my cookbook stash to plan meals…but Pinterest is the most effective.

meal planning with pinterest

So, how’s that for easy? Pinterest is really so great for planning meals. You can search for what you’re looking for and read reviews in the comments. “Do not make this…it tastes like molded cardboard.” Or even better: “Make this right now while your husband is at work so you don’t have to share and tell your 4 year old she won’t like it because it’s ‘hot’.”

If you haven’t made the leap into Pinterest, I highly recommend it. It’s a fabulous FREE resource and you can do so much with it…like organization. I love organization. It’s my fave…could someone please relay that message to my 4 year old? She doesn’t love it as much as me. Thank you.

Follow me on Pinterest – everybody’s doing it…better than jumping off a bridge.

About Stacy

Stacy is a Homemaking and Business Mom Mentor, the author of two cookbooks, creator of multiple e-courses, seasoned life coach, and comedian extraordinaire. Her first priority is her husband and her children - family first. She presses on each day because her calling is to teach, train, and mentor other ladies to have their dreams. She believes if it’s not easy, you won’t do it – because she’s lived it. She’ll bring YOU the awesome so that you can get your home back into control and watch your business soar. For tips and easy strategies, you can follow her on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the content above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comment Policy: I love reading your thoughts and input on what you read here. I'm sure we'll disagree sometimes and that's okay! In those cases, do what's right for you and yours. As with any form of communication, only post comments that move the discussion in a positive direction.

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Comments

  1. Sinea says

    What a great, great idea! I am pinning it in my blogging tips board.
    BTW, it is one of the featured posts on this week’s Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop…in fact, you have TWO that were so highly viewed that we’re spotlighting them. 🙂

    Reply

  2. Cherry says

    Thanks for sharing your process of menu planning! I am on Pinterest, and also use PTE, so it was interesting and encouraging to read how you incorporate the two. May need to try out an idea or two that you suggested. Thanks! (Visiting from Fellowship Fridays)

    Reply

    • Stacy says

      When you’re on the main page you click on the “Friends” tab at the top. Then you have the option on the left to “Add Friends.” Click on that and you can just type my name into the box and invite. Humorous Homemaking.

      Reply

  4. Pat Baker says

    So third time hopefully is a charm. Wrote this post yesterday and just a little bit ago. My question is could it possibly be possible for us to get another percentage off of the PTE? I missed it earlier this month and sure would love to sign up for it but, $$ is quite tight. Thanks…

    Reply

    • Stacy says

      I have an ongoing relationship with PTE, but they’re not offering a coupon code right now. 🙁 Sorry. It expired on the 9th. You might want to wait a bit? Last year they offered a fantastic Christmas deal!

      Reply

  6. Sara Dillingham says

    Thanks for telling me about PtE! I was using an excel spreadsheet and that was NOT a great way to do it, clicking on and off the internet from Pinterest :-)!! I joined yesterday, I don’t think I’ve figured out the ‘friend’ thing on there, because I can’t find SMC, but if you see dillinghamfamily, please friend me!! Love your blog!

    Reply

  9. Annie says

    Bless you, woman. Holy smokes. I am so grateful for the insight and links. I am SO overwhelmed by the thought of menu planning, I really stink at it, and need to get in a groove that will let me succeed at this. Maybe this is the answer!

    Reply

  10. Angelica Carmona says

    I LOVE MEAL PLANNING TOO!! It is my favorite day of the week!! I use Pinterest a lot too, and just like you, when I love something that I have ‘pinned’ I print it out and delete it on my ‘cooking’ board on Pinterest. I tried PTE for a couple of months and took it off because I wasn’t really utilizing it that much, but I want to get back on board with it. I loved it. Especially since it prints off my shopping list for me!!

    Reply

    • Stacy says

      Yes, it was linked up at Trim Healthy Tuesday one week: http://countingalljoy.blogspot.com/2013/06/apple-berry-nut-crunch-trim-healthy.html

      Reply

  12. Meg says

    I am anxious to see your weekly meal plans. Since starting THM I have thought many times ‘I wish Stacy would post her meal plans’. Glad you can read my mind!

    Reply