Simplify Your Summer with a DIY Weekly Menu Planner

I am such a last minute Lucy when it comes to dinner, especially in the summer.  It seems that I am constantly pantry diving or freezer surfing when the kids start raiding the snack drawer just before dinner.

I decided I needed to get a little more organized each week for a number of reasons so I created this DIY Weekly Menu Planner. I thought it would reduce my stress to actually have a meal plan.  I am also hopeful that it will save us a lot of money on our monthly grocery bill. Additionally, I hope this will help my family to stop wasting so much food.  I often forget what fresh produce I have in the refrigerator and it ends up going bad.  Ugh!  Makes me sick.  I get so mad at myself every week so I am hoping this helps rectify that!

When I decided that I wanted to start meal planning, I knew I wanted something cute that I could easily write on and leave in my kitchen.  I had an 8×10 photo frame on hand.  I thought that would be a good size for writing the daily menu.  I didn’t like the wood color finish so I painted it using chalkpaint.   I typically use Annie Sloan or CeCe Caldwell brands. I created the Weekly Planner Image using Illustrator.  And I am sharing the free printable for your own personal use!  I wanted to make it super easy for you so you didn’t have to worry about creating your own image.

You will just need a frame that fits an 8×10 photo.  Download the free printable here:  ArtSoulLiving-MealPlannerPrintable. You just have to click on the link, save the image and print it!  I wanted to put it on cute paper so I cut a 12×12 piece of scrapbook paper down to 8 ½ x 11 so I could feed it through my printer.  Simply print and then put it in your frame with glass.

Use a whiteboard marker to write your menu for the week.  Start fresh each week by wiping it clean with a paper towel.  Stick a fork in it and you are done.  I told you it would be an easy project.

Let me know if you try it and if you find it helpful! Happy Meal Planning!