Some weeks, dinner ideas come to mind easily. Other weeks, not so much. I’ve developed some useful techniques that are great for those weeks when inspiration is lacking!

Keep Records

First, keep a running list of your favorite recipes! (If you can’t tell, I LOVE lists. When in doubt, make a list.) When you make something you love, in the moment it seems obvious that you will want to make it again. But in the world of Pinterest and endless scrolling on the internet, good things easily get buried under a pile of “when I have more time” ideas. So, keep a separate list of tried and true recipes, whether that is in its own Pinterest board, in a note file on your phone, or even a good old-fashioned written list stuck on the fridge. You’ll thank yourself later.

Secondly, whenever a meal comes to mind that sounds yummy, but for whatever reason you aren’t going to make it right away, write it down! I keep this list (yes, another list!) on a dry erase board in my “command center” in the kitchen. This is the place where I usually have food inspiration, so it’s easy to jot it down while I’m there.

Ingredient Search

The ingredient search function at Allrecipes is another fantastic tool. Maybe you find yourself with some ingredients you rarely cook with. Or, maybe you find yourself with the same ol’ ingredients you always have, and are looking for some fresh inspiration! You can search for recipes that specifically use your ingredients, and it also gives the option to exclude ingredients, if there are certain things you don’t want in your recipe.

One word of caution: the recipes on Allrecipes can be hit or miss, as any person can upload anything to that website. The ratings and reviews can help you decide if it’s worth trying or not. But often, I will use the ingredient search to drum up some dinner ideas, and then look to my favorite blogs to see if they have anything similar in their archives.

The Winning Formula

Having a “meal formula” gives me a framework and starting point when planning dinners. My typical formula is:

Meat + Carb + Veggie

The “carb” category is quite broad. That can mean rice, beans, pasta, potatoes, bread, etc.

I’m certainly no nutritionist, but I feel that this ensures we have protein, nutrients from veggies, as well as bulk and fiber to fill us up. 

This formula is also helpful when brainstorming dinner ideas, because you can plug in a category based on what you have on hand (an important step when meal planning), and then fill in the rest of the meal accordingly.

The formula is just a framework to help me as I’m planning. Almost any meal can fit within this formula. For example:

• Balsamic pork roast (pork + potatoes + peas)
• Red beans and rice (sausage + beans/rice + bell peppers)
• One pot pasta (chicken + pasta + tomatoes/spinach)

I know this formula will not work for everyone; it could easily be modified to meet your family’s needs!

Types of Meal Plans

Having a meal planning routine also provides a framework to aid in dinner selection. Generally, I plan three to four  dinners for a week, and have leftovers from those dinners the other nights. This works well for our current stage of life, as it is difficult to do a lot of cooking with three little kids! I sometimes assign the meals to specific days. However, I often determine which meal to cook on which day as the week goes on, and I have a better idea of when I will have more (or less) time to cook.

However, there are a variety of ways to meal plan to fit your family’s lifestyle and preferences.  For example, some people prefer to cook dinner every night and have leftovers for lunch the next day.

Another option is to do a “themed” meal plan, in which each day is assigned a category, such as:

• Monday – Italian
• Tuesday – Tacos
• Wednesday – Mix it Up
• Thursday – American/Comfort Food
• Friday – Fun Day (breakfast for dinner, pizza, etc.)
• Saturday – Leftovers
• Sunday – Soup and Sandwiches

With this option, you have an outline that can make meal selection easier each week.

With the right tools (and lists!) in hand, coming up with dinner ideas is a snap!

What is your favorite place to find food inspiration?