Meal Planning Without Going Nuts
—Tales of a Fit-ish Mama Who Loves Nachos and Muscles
So… I like food. A LOT.
Burgers. Pizza. Tacos. Enchiladas. NACHOS.
Salads too. Taco salads. Nacho salads. Basically, if it ends in “salad” and includes cheese or salsa, I’m in.
But here’s the deal: I also like feeling good in my body. I work out. I care about nourishing myself and my family.
What I don’t love? Diet culture. Food guilt. Or cutting out every joyful meal because someone on the internet said carbs are evil.
If you’re like me—trying to eat well, feed your people, and enjoy food—maybe this approach to meal planning will help. Or at least make you feel like less of a chaotic kitchen gremlin.
🧠 Step 1: Ask the People (and Yourself)
Each week, I start simple:
I ask my husband, my kids, and myself (hi, Self) what we feel like eating.
Then I take those ideas and sketch out 4–5 solid dinner plans. Something like:
📝 Fettuccine Alfredo
🌮 Chicken Tacos
🥩 Steak & Potatoes
🍳 Taco Meat Mix (great for bowls or salads)
🐟 Salmon + Veg
I make sure I grab any ingredients we don’t usually have (like fettuccine or fresh parm), and then let the rest of the week flow from there.
🎲 Step 2: Mix & Match Like a Dinner Ninja
After the first few planned meals are done, I switch to what I call the “Meal Grid”:
I pick one from each:
🥩 Animal Protein: Steak, Chicken, Salmon, Ground Beef, Tuna, Chicken Thighs
🥦 Veggies: Green Beans, Broccoli, Asparagus, Salad
🍚 Starches: Rice, Potatoes, Quinoa, Macaroni (because #kids and #comfortfood)
It becomes a little creative puzzle:
Had potatoes last night? Cool, we’ll do rice tonight.
Out of broccoli? Green beans it is.
Tired? That’s a breakfast-for-dinner night.
Sometimes we skip the starch altogether—especially if we had a heavier meal earlier in the day or the night before. Not out of guilt, just balance. If yesterday was pasta-palooza, tonight might be salmon and roasted broccoli with a side of “let’s keep it light.”
🥚 Breakfast & Lunch Vibes
We keep breakfast super routine, because… mornings.
Usually: eggs + something
Omelets
Eggs and pancakes
Eggs and fruit
Eggs and yogurt
Eggs and whatever we can throw on a plate and call it good
I also try to sneak in a little extra protein where I can.
We grab higher-protein yogurt (like Greek or Icelandic-style) and high-protein tortillas when we can find them—they're great for breakfast burritos, wraps, or quick lunch roll-ups. Those little swaps help us hit our goals without adding another chore to the day.
Lunch is leftovers or smoothies most days. I always keep smoothie staples on hand so we can whip one up on the go.
🥑 Don’t Forget the Fats (a.k.a. The Unsung Heroes)
We’ve talked protein. We’ve talked veggies. We’ve talked carbs (and yes, we’ve talked nachos).
But let’s not leave fats out of the party—they’re essential for hormone balance, energy, and, let’s be honest, making food taste really good.
Here’s how I naturally weave them in:
Butter: Always in the pan when I'm cooking eggs or veggies.
Avocado oil: My go-to for high-heat cooking—think roasted potatoes or seared meats.
Olive oil: Drizzled over salads, greens, or anything that looks like it could use a glow-up.
Nut butters: A smoothie staple or a quick spoonful when I need a snack with staying power.
Avocados: If they’re ripe, we’re eating them. On eggs, in tacos, straight from the peel with salt and pepper.
Fats help keep us full, support hormones (hi, cycle phases), and make food satisfying without feeling like we need second dinner.
🍕 What About Pizza, Nachos & All the Fun Stuff?
Let’s be real—we don’t eat pizza or nachos every night (though the dream lives on). But on the weekends, when we’re hanging out, relaxing, and feeling a little more carefree? Yeah, we’ll absolutely do a “fun meal” like pizza night or loaded nachos.
But here’s the trick:
It’s all about balance.
If I know we’re having a carb-heavy dinner (hello, melty cheese and chips), I’m intentional earlier in the day:
I make sure breakfast and lunch were lighter and packed with protein
I’ll throw in a big salad or some extra veggies
I’ll mentally track what I’ve eaten so far to make room for the heavier meal
I’m not obsessively logging every bite into MyFitnessPal anymore, but I used it long enough to know what a portion feels like. That way, when I do indulge, I’m still aware of how much I’m eating—and I don’t accidentally steamroll my gains with one plate of cheesy joy.
So yeah, I’m all for pizza. But I also like muscles.
And you can have both—as long as you plan with intention (and maybe don’t go back for that third slice unless you really mean it 😉).
Final Thoughts from Your Fit-ish Food-Lover
I don’t have a Pinterest-perfect board of color-coded freezer meals or 27 crockpot hacks.
But I do have a system that helps us eat well, feel good, and still say yes to nachos.
If you’re juggling kids, health goals, and the desire to enjoy your food—give this loose, mix-and-match method a try.
You don’t need to do it perfectly. Just find your rhythm, keep your staples stocked, and make sure there’s always salsa in the fridge.
👉 Want a printable version of the Meal Grid? Or a weekly blank meal planner template you can scribble on? I’ve got you covered.
Grab your free download [here].