Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to take another baby step to improve your meal planning habit…or of course, begin one if you don’t have one already.  See below to determine what “level” of meal planning you are currently working at, and challenge yourself to move up.

Impact Ratings: ?

Level of Commitment: Baby Steps (It’s a choose-your-own-adventure this week!)

Level One:  I don’t meal plan
Your mission:  Plan a meal for ONE DAY this week.

Level Two:  I meal plan every so often
Your mission:  Plan 5 days in a row and see how it goes.

Level Three:  I am a meal planner!
Your mission:  Plan an interconnected meal plan this week.

OR

Plan breakfasts this week, too.

Level Four:  I do it all already
Your mission:  Try a new recipe this week.

OR

Make a list of five “budget-watcher” meals.

To see the explanation, tips and how-to for each step, see the original Monday Mission here. This includes basic how-to menu plan, what is “connected meal planning,” and the theory of “Cook Once, Serve Twice” or C.O.S.T.

For a bunch of great meal planning resources, including printables, online planners, and other people’s ideas about how-to, plus my sample two-week menu plan, click here.

KissyKat asked about two great topics in last week’s mental mission post:

1. working moms
2. cooking double and freezing extras

I’ll be including a post the next two Wednesdays with some thoughts on both topics.  I’m looking forward to some reader advice and ideas as well!

If you missed the last Monday Mission, click here.

Don’t stress out about the meal planning – read the last Mary and Martha Moment: Balancing Time, Family and Food, or check out a menu planning weekly helper like GNOWFGLINS. You’ll get recipes, shopping lists, and even “what to do when” guides.

I am a guest lecturer and partner with GNOWFGLINS eCourses, so I will earn commission from any sales made starting here. Of course, the courses are also an awesome way to learn to cook real food, so I’d gab about them anyway.