Best Practices for Meal Planning with Kids

Meal planning can be a fun and educational activity for families with kids. In this guide, we’ll explore best practices that make meal planning enjoyable and effective, ensuring that everyone contributes and learns along the way.
By Taylor
  • Make a Weekly Menu: Set aside time each week to sit down with your kids and create a menu. Use a whiteboard or a colorful poster to write down the meals for each day. Let them choose one meal each week, promoting their sense of ownership.
  • Theme Nights: Create themed dinner nights that kids can help brainstorm. For example, ‘Taco Tuesday’ or ‘Pizza Friday’ can spark interest and excitement.

2. Use Meal Planning Apps

Technology can make meal planning easier and more engaging. Here are a few apps that can help:

  • Paprika: This app allows you to save recipes and create shopping lists. Kids can help search for their favorite recipes and save them, turning the meal planning into a fun treasure hunt.
  • Yummly: With a large library of recipes and meal suggestions, kids can filter recipes based on their preferences, helping them learn about various cuisines.

3. Create a Family Recipe Book

Encourage kids to get creative by compiling a family recipe book. Here’s how:

  • Gather Recipes Together: Have a family night where everyone contributes a favorite recipe. Kids can draw pictures or write a sentence about why they love each dish.
  • Cook and Taste: Each week, pick a recipe from the book to prepare together. This not only teaches cooking skills but also reinforces family bonding.

4. Develop a Shopping List Together

Creating a shopping list can be an educational experience:

  • Teach Budgeting: Give your kids a budget and let them help decide which ingredients to buy for the week’s meals. Use flyers from local stores to compare prices and make choices.
  • Engage in a Scavenger Hunt: Turn grocery shopping into a game. Give your kids a list and let them find items in the store, checking them off as they go. This helps them learn about different foods and where they come from.

5. Meal Prep as a Family Activity

Meal prepping can save time and teach kids valuable skills:

  • Assign Tasks: During meal prep, assign age-appropriate tasks to each child. Younger kids can wash vegetables, while older kids can help chop or measure ingredients.
  • Create a Prep Schedule: Set aside a specific day and time each week for meal prep. This routine helps kids understand the importance of planning and can make the whole process smoother.

Conclusion

Meal planning with kids can be a rewarding experience that fosters creativity, teamwork, and essential life skills. By incorporating these best practices, you’ll not only simplify your meal planning but also create lasting memories in the kitchen with your family.