This site contains Amazon Affiliate Links
Embedded Files
Pick a Theme for Each Day: Easy Meal Planning for Busy Families
Meal planning can feel like a never-ending puzzle, especially when you're juggling a million things at once. One of the simplest strategies that’s saved me countless hours and dinnertime stress?
Daily meal themes.
Having a theme for each day helps streamline your grocery shopping, gives the kids something to look forward to, and takes the guesswork out of “What’s for dinner?” Here’s what a typical week looks like in our house:
Meatless Monday
Meatless Monday
A great way to start the week with something plant-powered and budget-friendly. We love dishes like:
Taco Tuesday
Taco Tuesday
Who doesn’t love tacos? You can switch it up with different fillings each week:
One-Pot Wednesday
One-Pot Wednesday
Midweek needs simplicity. One-pot meals save dishes and time:
Breakfast for Dinner Thursday
Breakfast for Dinner Thursday
Nostalgia night! Make something that reminds you of childhood, with a plant-based twist:
Air Fried Friday
Air Fried Friday
You’ve made it to the end of the week—woohoo! Time to use up leftovers or dig into that freezer stash:
Using daily themes makes planning easier, keeps dinners fun, and even gets the kids excited about helping out in the kitchen. Try it for a week and see how much smoother your evenings feel!
Have a favorite themed night or family tradition? I’d love to hear it.
Check out my Cook Books!
Cookbooks are an incredible resource as you learn and grow in the kitchen. I’ve written two that you can check out and use on your journey! You can also borrow cookbooks for free from your local library, or find affordable copies at Goodwill, thrift stores, yard sales, and even online. Many are available at no cost on Kindle and Audible, too. Whether you're a beginner or looking to try something new, cookbooks offer guidance, inspiration, and in the kitchen.
Skip the hassle of running to multiple grocery stores in search of hard-to-find plant-based ingredients—Try Amazon Fresh instead! I was thrilled to find Better Than Bouillon there for a third of the price compared to Walmart. Now, my pantry is fully stocked for all my soup-making needs. If you’re looking to stock up too, Check out Amazon Fresh.
Join the Cooking is Messy Facebook group!
Whether you're new to cooking or a kitchen pro, this is the place to embrace the chaos! Flour flies, dishes stack up, and not every dish is picture-perfect—and that’s totally okay. Share your recipes, wins, fails, and everything in between. Need help or meal ideas? Just ask! We're here to learn, laugh, and cook—mess and all.
Let’s stir it up, one deliciously messy meal at a time!
Visit my Amazon shop where you can find my favorite Craft Supplies, Cookware, Kitchen Appliances, Plant Based Ingredients, Gardening Gear, Gift Ideas and more.
About The Creator
About The Creator
Hi, I’m Mary Ellen, the creator of the YouTube channel "Life is Messy but I'm Learning as I Grow." I’m thrilled you’re here, joining me on this journey of discovery and creativity! As a mother of two, married to my high school sweetheart, and with a career background in childcare, my life is wonderfully busy and, yes, a little messy—but that's part of the fun.
On this site, I share my favorite things: plant-based cooking, crafting and DIY projects, family-friendly travel tips, gardening advice, and the occasional antics of my two adorable cats. I'm always eager to learn something new and love sharing my discoveries with anyone who will listen—so I’m glad you’re here to listen!
Whether you're looking for inspiration, practical tips, or just a place to connect, I hope you'll find something here that sparks joy and encourages you to learn and grow along
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse