Select your recipes

Before you start looking at recipes, make a list of any refrigerated or frozen ingredients you have on hand, especially if they have a short shelf life. Start looking for recipes once you've decided the ingredients you want to include in your meal plan.

Don't overlook the side dishes! Some of the favorite quick and simple sides include roasted veggies and salads. Choose meals that you can prepare in the time you have. These can be traditional recipes or your own inventions depending on your skill to cook without a recipe. Rely on household favorites that you prepare often, then add a new recipe or modification once or twice a month. Check out the base recipes for ideas on how to change up a basic recipe in a variety of ways. Meal planning may be made easier with multi-functional meals. A black bean corn salad, for example, may be used in a quesadilla one day, mixed with greens the next, and then served as a burrito bowl with nutritious grains and vegetables the third day!