Yes, four weeks.  I know, you're thinking "how does she do that".  But honestly I find it to be easier than having to figure it out every week.  I figure it out once, and I'm good for a month.  And if I don't feel like doing it again, I can just use the exact same one.  It's been a month since we've had these meals, so they will all seem fresh again.  Seriously I think you could probably use the same four week meal plan all year long, and maybe just make a few seasonal adjustments (like, I'd take out the soup in the summer and maybe do a salad bar instead, and I'd probably swap the roast chicken for grilled chicken). 

I've been meal planning off and on for a long time.  As I've gone along, I've tried a lot of different methods and templates and I have really been refining my process as I go.  I've got it down pretty well now, to a system that I think is very quick and easy and actually makes meal planning doable for anyone, so I wanted to share with you a little about why and how I do it. 

We are still in the thick of kids' soccer season. Only two weeks left! Yes, I'm counting down.  But with soccer practices three days a week after school, dinners need to be things that I can either make ahead and reheat, or have simmering in the slow cooker - either way it needs to be ready to put on the table when we get home late.  It's the only way to avoid having takeout 3 nights a week. Having a meal plan is critical during weeks like this.  I need to know ahead of time what I'm cooking, because I have a limited amount of time to get it put together and ready before I have to run out again.