Get organized with this collection of free customizable meal planning templates! Choose from a downloadable PDF or an editable Canva template to simplify your weekly meal prep and grocery planning. Perfect for busy families, meal preppers, and anyone looking to stay on top of their meals!
Today, as a follow-up to my popular Grocery List Printables, I thought I'd bring you a matching set of free meal planning printables!
🖨 How to Print Your Meal Planners
There are two sets of buttons under each post. One is to download the pdf and the other is to open the template in Canva (a free graphic editing website) to change around fonts, colors, etc.
When you click the pdf button, you'll open a pdf document in a new tab. You can either press the printer icon to send to your printer or the downward-facing arrow to download the pdf to your device.
When you open the Canva template, simply click "Use template for new design;" from there, Canva will create a new file with a copy of the printable in you account. You can change around anything you'd like for your own personal use!
These pages are formatted to print on standard 8.5x11" printer paper. An at-home printer works just fine - this is the home inkjet printer I use! You might want to print the pages on cardstock to make them extra durable.
📃 How to Use the Templates
Once your meal planner printables are downloaded, they're super simple to use!
I like to sit down once a week with a meal planning template. First, think of items you already have in your fridge & freezer that need to be used; try to plan a couple of recipes around those. It's also a great idea to have a couple of staple meals to fall back on. For example, I love using my Cheesy Chicken & Rice as my staple meal because I typically have the ingredients on hand and it's super quick & easy.
Once you have 4-5 meals, start planning out which nights you'll need to cook. I prefer to cook for a couple of nights, then have one leftover day to use up the food that's already prepared. Your mileage my vary, but this rotations works great for our family.
Don’t forget to mark takeout nights or evenings when you won’t be home directly on the meal planner!
👩💻Download: Blank Simple Weekly Meal Planner
🖥 Download: Grid 3-Meal Weekly Template
💻 Download: Meal Planner with Full Grocery List & Notes
💾 Save All of the Printables at Once!
💡 My Favorite Meal Planning Tips
- Start small. If you are just starting meal planning, don't jump in all at once! Start with just 2-3 meals on your meal planning guide. As you get the hang of it, you can start to add more.
- Be flexible. It's rare that my family perfectly follows our meal plan. If you don't get to make a meal on your planned night, that's ok! Simply delay it until the next night or, if you're able to save ingredients in the fridge/freezer, delay it until the next week.
- Go with a theme. I like to take nights like "Taco Tuesday" into account when I'm meal planning. Some people also like to have a designated meal for each night of the week, like Spaghetti Mondays or Pizza Fridays.
- Try something new. I like to mix in at least one new recipe a week. It keeps dinnertime interesting and lets your family try new flavors!
🛒 A Digital Meal Planning Spreadsheet
Are you more of a digital person? I've got you covered there, too!
If meal planning feels like a chore, my Meal Planning Spreadsheets are about to become your new best friend! These easy-to-use, customizable spreadsheets help you organize your meals, streamline your grocery list, and save time every week. Whether you're feeding a crowd or just keeping track of family dinners, this tool makes meal planning simple and stress-free!
Find out more about my Digital Meal Planning Spreadsheets in the shop!
I'd love to see these printables in action! 📝 If you use them, drop a comment below. Or, you can tag me on social media (@lambertslately) with your great meal plans!
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 16 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
