Meal Matrix

Our family has moved several times across multiple states over the last seven years and I’ve been blessed to meet mothers of all walks of life with great advice to give.

I thought maybe it would be helpful to share a few of the tips I’ve learned along the way. 

The first and probably most helpful tool I’ve learned to use is a meal matrix. There are many ways to organize one  but I’ll share ours so you can see an example so you can start your own!

As a general rule for myself, I try to do as much as possible off my phone so I can be as present as possible to my children. With that being said, all of my meal planning is done from paper copies of recipes that I keep in binders. I plan the ingredients we will need by circling items from a laminated list I keep on the fridge with all of our typical ingredients and products. 

Our meal matrix keeps meal planning super simple. I use the matrix to plan breakfast and dinner. Lunch is usually leftovers or sandwiches, Mac n cheese, snack trays (see below), or chicken nuggets. 

Here is a general breakdown of our meal matrix. I like to vary our breakfasts, but it would be much simpler if you like to stick to the same breakfast daily!

Breakfast Matrix:

Monday- oatmeal bar 

Tuesday- Greek yogurt bowls

Wednesday- waffles and eggs

Thursday- bagels and fruit

Friday- overnight oats

Saturday- pancakes and sausage

Sunday- bagel sandwiches or omelets

Dinner matrix:

Monday-snack/sandwich dinner

Tuesday- Mexican dish (usually tacos and guacamole)

Wednesday- pasta with broccoli (add in meatballs/sausage)

Thursday- quick and easy meal (skillet, sheet pan dish)

Friday- pizza and salad

Saturday- soup /chili or stirfry

Sunday- crock pot dish or roast with potatoes 

This meal matrix gets mixed up in the summer with the addition of grilling. I don’t always stick to the matrix, but I like to have it there for weeks when I’m feeling stuck on what to make!

I also keep a meal matrix for snack foods. It includes options like popcorn, smoothies, and peanut butter with apples.

I hope this is helpful! I keep a chart on my fridge with the matrix which my kids love to check to see what’s for breakfast and dinner!