Easy Meal Planning for Two: Save Time & Cut Waste

Planning your meals has so many benefits. It can help develop healthier eating habits, keep you within your grocery budget, and minimize food waste. If you are weekly meal planning for two, it might seem challenging, but it is possible!

Cooking for two can be an adjustment whether you are cooking with a partner, a friend or family member. One way to help is by meal planning. It helps to streamline your grocery trips, and eliminate food waste and last-minute takeout decisions. Here are some of my top tips to help with meal planning for two.

Organize your recipes

Meal planning for two is easy when your recipes are well-organized. Whether you prefer digital tools or old-fashioned paper, there are so many ways to keep your favorite meals organized.

First, take a few minutes to sit down and discuss the dishes that you both enjoy and come up with a list of your favorite recipes. Once you have your favorites organized, it’s time to review any new recipes that you want to try to make. When making your weekly plan, incorporate the new recipes into your weekly meals, but make sure you have the time to experiment with them. If you find a recipe you enjoy, don’t forget to add it to your list of favorites.

Once you have your recipes organized, you can store them digitally or in a recipe binder. Here are some suggestions.

Digitally organize your recipes

Having all of your recipes in a digital format can help to streamline meal planning. You can quickly search and find what you need.

I like to use a simple spreadsheet with links to my favorite recipes. I can access the spreadsheet from my phone which makes it convenient when I’m shopping or planning on the go.

Apps such as Mealime, Paprika and Yummily allow you to save recipes and plan meals and on some of them you can even write a grocery list or ask for meal suggestions. Give them a try and see which one works best for you.

Physical recipe storage

If you would rather use paper, you can organize your recipes in a binder with the recipes grouped by categories, indexed boxes or recipe journals which allow you to write down personal notes, or tweaks.

Whichever method you choose, having an organized collection of recipes makes meal planning for two is the first step to simple meal planning for two.

Scale your recipes

Recipes are often created for more than two people, but don’t let that discourage you. Scaling down the recipes is simple! In most cases, all that you have to do is adjust the ingredient quantities, and a calculator is a great way to do this.

Also, many recipe websites allow for scaling a recipe right in th recipe card which is a convenient and simple way to scale down (or up) a recipe.

Organize and inventory your pantry

Meal planning for two can be simple if you start with a well-organized pantry. Knowing what you have on hand will help to minimize food waste and make meal preparation more convenient.

Make an inventory list

To start, declutter and remove any expired items. Then, take inventory of your pantry and categorize items according to their type, such as grains, canned goods, spices, and condiments.​

Consider using a spreadsheet or a handwritten chart that you can update to keep your pantry inventory which will make it easy to check before you head to the store. Take note of what needs to be restocked and add it to your list.

Pantry organization tips

An organized pantry can make meal planning a breeze. Here are some tips that you can use to keep your pantry organized.

Group by food type – Arrange items based by the type of food category. For example, store baking supplies together, and whole grains and pasta in another section.

Use clear containers – When transferring items like rice, pasta and flour into containers, use clear containers with labels which will allow you to see at a glance what you are running low on.

First in, first out (FIFO) – Place newer items behind older ones so that you use the older items first. This will help to prevent food from expiring before you get to use it.

Keep your inventory list handy – Keep your inventory list close by your pantry so that you can easily update it when items need to be replaced, this will make it easy to update your grocery shopping list when it’s time to prepare that.

How to write a weekly meal plan

Once your recipes and pantry are organized, you can start to plan your meals for the week. Here are some tips for making a successful meal plan:

• Check your schedule and select the number of meals you need for the days of the week in the upcoming week. Consider breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Refer to your pantry inventory and look for recipes that use what you already have in your pantry.
• Mix your favorite recipes with new delicious meals and dishes that can be repurposed as leftovers.
• Remember to factor in your available cooking time and pre-planned events, opt for a simple recipe on a busy night.
• Once you’ve made your selections, create a shopping list based on the required ingredients for each meal.
• Flexibility is key. Allow room for changes and adjustments as needed; if you don’t feel like cooking, it’s okay to order takeout occasionally!
• Use a notebook, meal planner sheet or spreadsheet to record your meal plan.

Shop Smart

When planning meals for two, shopping smart is important to stretch your grocery budget while making sure you have all of the food that you need. Start with a detailed grocery list of what you will need for the week. This list will help you stay focused and will avoid buying things that are not on your list.

Check store sales and coupons before heading out. Try to stick to your list, but also be flexible if you are on a budget; if a brand other than your favorite has a sale, buy that one instead. Shop around the store’s perimeter for fresh produce, meats, and dairy then work your way into the aisles for pantry staples.

Get creative with leftovers

When planning meals for a smaller household, it’s helpful to keep leftovers in mind. If you don’t want to have the same dish twice, consider ways to transform it into a new and delicious meal. For example leftover chicken can be used in salads, soups, and so much more.

Leftover whole grains can easily be added to salad or soup.

With some organization and creativity, you can enjoy the benefits of meal preparation, reduced food waste and healthy eating that both of you will be happy with.