I needed a menu planning form and I couldn’t find one that I liked. So I decided to create this Trim Healthy Mama menu planner and share it with you!
Menu planning is so important for a smoothly-running household. It also happens to be my least favorite homemaking task. Give me laundry and cleaning over menu planning any day! (Not sure why this is, since I enjoy cooking and I LOVE cookbooks!)
But despite my distaste for this task, I know it’s so important. And it became even more important when I started doing Trim Healthy Mama. Without a good menu plan in place, I end up eating food that isn’t on-plan.
Do you ever have difficulty coming up with ideas for the week? Here’s an example THM menu plan (that we’ve actually used) comprised of some of our favorite recipes (most of them are in the THM cookbook).
Sample THM Menu
Monday: Make Ahead Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits (E), Waldorf Cottage Cheese Salad (E), Bangin’ Ranch Drums (S)
Tuesday: Scrambled Eggs (S), Deep S Salad (S), Mama’s Famous Meatloaf (S)
Wednesday: Creamy Grains (E), E Salad and 1/2 Orange Creamsicle Shake (E), Golden Chana Soup (E)
Thursday: Chocolate Muffins (E), Tomato Soup (S), Cornbread Crusted Mexican Pie (S)
Friday: Scrambled Eggs (S), E Salad (E), Perfect Pizza and salad (S)
Saturday: Orange Creamsicle Shake (E), Loaded Fotato Soup (FP), Lazy Lasagna (S)
Sunday: Simple Breakfast Casserole (S), S Salad (S), Kai Si Ming (S)
Snacks for week: Lemon Gummies (FP), Superfood Chocolate Chews (S), Berry Yummy Gummies (FP), ‘Mazing Marshmallows (FP), Chocolate Fat Stripping Frappa (FP), Strawberry Muffin (FP), Jigglegurt (FP), Glycine Glory Pudding (FP), Vanilla Gluccie Pudding (FP), Choco Chip Baby Frap (FP), Berry Secretive Big Boy (FP)
After making my menu plan for the week, I like to post it on the refrigerator so everyone knows what I’ve got planned.
My children have different options for lunch and snacks, but we all eat mostly the same breakfast and dinner meals, with some modifications. For instance, they have toast or other whole grain bread with their scrambled eggs, and they have regular oatmeal on the days when I have Creamy Grains scheduled for myself. For dinner meals they might have potatoes, rice, bread, or other carbs with their meal, while my husband and I have lower-carb options.
Trim Healthy Mama Menu Planner
After looking around online for a menu planner that I liked, I finally decided to make my own. I kept finding one that was close to what I was looking for, but it didn’t fit quite right.
One of the main features I wanted on my menu planning form was that there be a place for regular snacks. I am terrible about eating snacks, so I have to plan them. I forget if they’re not written down! And I don’t always use all the snacks, I just like to have something healthy planned for when I realize all of a sudden that I need a snack.
I also wanted a little box to indicate which fuel source was the focus of each meal.
And I didn’t want a fancy colored one because (even though I love color and pretty things!) I didn’t want to waste ink on my weekly menu planning sheet!
And, finally, I wanted one that started on Monday. And this was the hardest thing to find, as almost all of them start on Sunday. I realize that Sunday is technically the first day of the week, but I always start my new menus on Monday, and I tend to think of Sunday as part of the weekend. But, don’t worry, if you prefer to start your menu plan on Sunday, I made a planning sheet for you, too!
P.S. If you’re not doing THM, feel free to use this planning sheet anyway—it’s not exclusive to THM other than the little boxes in the corner. And you could use those to write in the date or something!
How to Get Your Free Menu Planner Printable
To get your free menu planner printable, enter your email in the form down below the menu to get instant FREE access to this printable menu plan along with my other free homemaking printables!
Kacie Craig says
November 1, 2018 at 5:10 pmHoping this will keep me accountable and help me with my grocery budget all in one!
Joy Kincaid says
November 2, 2018 at 3:00 pmHope it helps!
Liz says
August 23, 2018 at 4:02 pmMeal planning is the only way I am ever able to stick to a diet. Thanks for sharing your great plan on Homestead Blog Hop!
Joy Kincaid says
August 23, 2018 at 11:59 pmIt does make it easier!
Amanda Dufries says
May 28, 2018 at 11:03 amThank you so very much for sharing your THM meal planner, menu and tips! I have been a THM for 4 years now and I could never go back to the old lifestyle. Sometimes it gets complicated trying to come up with new ideas, recipes, and ways to organize. Thanks for making THM easier! 🙂 Visiting you from the Modest Mom Mondays Link up.
Joy Kincaid says
May 30, 2018 at 3:28 pmYou’re welcome! So glad it was helpful! 🙂
Teresa says
January 23, 2018 at 7:06 pmThank you for the free planning menu sheets! I have to plan or I never have what I need! Thank you for sharing at Party in Your PJ’s.
Joy Kincaid says
January 24, 2018 at 1:56 pmI’m the same way, needing to have a plan! Thanks for hosting, Teresa!
Samantha says
October 13, 2017 at 12:05 pmthanks for sharing! looks like a great menu!
Joy Kincaid says
October 13, 2017 at 4:53 pmThank you, Samantha!
Kelly says
September 5, 2017 at 8:39 amGreat fruit and veggie ideas in your menu. Plus, I like how it’s not heavy food after heavy food. We’re more likely to use this and not get caught up in too much food, though we don’t snack as much. Thank you for sharing on the Homestead Blog Hop. I can’t wait to see what you have for us this Wednesday!
Joy Kincaid says
September 5, 2017 at 4:52 pmThanks, Kelly!
Stephanie says
December 20, 2016 at 5:51 pmHey there! I’d really love to share your template on my website. I am wondering if we could connect about that!
Thanks so much!
Joy Kincaid says
December 27, 2016 at 1:33 pmHi Stephanie! You’re always welcome to link back to my site, as long as you link to the actual blog post and send your readers here to read the post and download from here. I just sent you an email so we can connect about it! 🙂
Adrienne says
October 13, 2016 at 7:25 amThank you so much for making this! I’ve been scouring the internet trying to find a menu planning printable with B/L/D and snacks! I do THM and I have the same struggles as you do with snacks so this is a blessing. Thank you again for your hard work!
Joy Kincaid says
October 13, 2016 at 11:15 amYou’re welcome, Adrienne! So glad I could share it with you! 🙂
Laura Lane says
April 11, 2016 at 2:16 amThis is great. I've been on and off THM. Menu planning and a very low grocery budget keep hurting me.
Please drop by and say hello!
ஐღLauraღஐ
Harvest Lane Cottage
…doing what I can with what I've got where I am
on a short shoestring budget!
~~~~~
Joy Kincaid says
April 11, 2016 at 1:43 pmOh, I can totally relate, Laura. I've had the same difficulties lately (especially the very low grocery budget). I'm currently trying to figure out how to do THM on the lowest possible grocery budget (and it's a challenge for sure).
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jessica says
April 7, 2016 at 1:16 pmLove this, thank you! I hadn't been able to find that "perfect" THM meal planning page either–for the same reason as you–I need to be able to add in snacks or I'll just grab whatever is easy (and is usually not on plan, or leads to eating on "on plan but only occasional frankenfood" way too often!)
Thanks for sharing this!
Joy Kincaid says
April 7, 2016 at 7:08 pmOh, I'm so glad to be able to help! I can totally relate to grabbing the easiest thing when I don't plan snacks. I do that regularly. Working on improving there. 🙂
Myers House says
April 6, 2016 at 6:22 pmThanks for sharing this ~ I've needed some motivation to get back on the THM wagon 🙂
Joy Kincaid says
April 6, 2016 at 6:29 pmYou're welcome! Hope it's helpful to you. 🙂