Never Meal Planned? How to Get Started

Meal planning can feel like one more “should” on a long to-do list—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you’re brand new to it or just haven’t meal planned in a while, this is your gentle nudge to give it a try… in a way that works for you.

In the video below, I walk you through how to start meal planning with one simple question:

Do you want to use a paper system or a digital system?

That’s it. That’s your first step.
From there, you can build a system that saves time, lowers stress, and helps you stay on track with your goals.

The Case for a Paper Meal Planning System

If you love writing things down or you’d rather avoid screens while cooking (hello, distractions!), a paper system might be your best friend.

Here’s how it works:

Find a recipe you want to try – You can use the internet (ahem, like recipes on this site!)—and if you’re a Premier Access Member, you’ve got hundreds of bariatric and GLP-1 friendly recipes at your fingertips inside our library. (Find out more here!)

Print it out – Yep, good old paper. Keep it simple.

Cook the meal and evaluate. Would you make it again?

If not, recycle the paper.

If yes, put it in a sheet protector and add it to a binder.

Build your recipe binder.

Over time, your binder becomes your go-to for meal planning. You won’t even need to scroll unless you’re ready for some new ideas—you’ll just flip through your collection of tried-and-true favorites.

Pro tip: I like to pull the recipes I’m using for the week to the front of the binder so they’re ready to grab at dinnertime—no phone or tablet required.

The Case for a Digital Meal Planning System

Prefer to keep things clutter-free and tech-savvy? A digital system might be the way to go.

This method is all about organizing your favorite recipes online, and if you’re using our menu builder tool inside the membership, it gets even better.

Here’s what you can do:

Save recipes from my website into your personal menu

Generate your weekly shopping list with just a click

Add ingredients to your grocery cart (Instacart + Aldi = dream combo, anyone?)

Pull up your menu when it’s time to cook

Save that menu and use it again in the future

It’s simple, streamlined, and can fit right into a busy schedule. 

You Don’t Have to Meal Plan Perfectly—You Just Have to Start

If meal planning has always felt intimidating or time-consuming, let me say this: You don’t have to do it perfectly. Just pick your starting point.

Paper or digital. That’s your first step.

Once you’ve made that choice, you can start experimenting and finding your rhythm. And remember—each meal you try, each recipe you save, each menu you plan… it adds up. Meal planning gets easier the more you do it.

Want Support and Tools to Make Meal Planning Even Easier?

If you’re ready to simplify your meals, stay on track with your goals, and feel less overwhelmed in the kitchen, join my Premier Access Membership.

Inside, you’ll get:

500+ bariatric and GLP-1 friendly recipes

The full meal planning and menu builder toolkit

Grocery list generator

Community support and coaching

And so much more!