There’s nothing worse than going all the way to the market when you really don’t feel like it, or spending way too much time in the store with cranky kids after working all day, only to get home and immediately realize that you:

1. forgot to get the very thing or things you left out of the house for, and
2. picked up a bunch of stuff you didn’t even need

Especially when you have to turn right around and go back out because you really do need the thing or things you forgot at the market.

Makes you want to scream right?

In today’s episode, I will share my 4 simple steps to getting in and out of the market with exactly what you need.

You will learn how to:

• navigate the grocery store with ease
• stick to the purpose of your shopping trip
• actually leave the store with the purchases you went in to get in the first place

Meal planning doesn't mean you have to plan out a new meal (and cook it) for every single meal, of every single day of the month for your family. Who has time for that? 

I'm The Meal Planning Mama, and I sure know I sure don't...nor would I want to. Not only is that extremely time consuming, but that's a bit overwhelming to:

1. plan, and
2. execute

I'm all about the less is more kind of approach.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn the 4 easy ways to cook once or twice a week, or even a month for your family, and simply not have to worry about it anymore. 

I've even included my family favorites.

What's Your Cooking Personality Style? Take the quiz.

Eating provides our minds and bodies with the proper nutrients, fuel and energy it needs to sustain life function and operate. Yet, so many of us push this part of our day aside for things that do the exact opposite to ourselves 👀. Make it make sense!

Meal planning is hard enough for one when it lacks focus and purpose, let alone for an entire family. Your meal plans need a foundation, just like any other type of plan.

In today's episode you'll learn:

• why your family mealtimes are important
• what the foundation of your meal plan is 
• that schedules are key when meal planning
• and 3 simple steps to making your mealtimes a priority

"Chantel, everybody can't cook like you!"

If I had a dollar 🤑...you already know the rest!

We've all heard of nature vs nurture conversation when it comes to humans, right? But what about skills vs approach when it comes to cooking?  

Well, guess what, I'm talking about it!!!

In this short and sweet episode, I discuss different cooking skill levels, what you think you need in order to successfully meal plan and cook for your family, and your cooking mindset (yes, this is a real thing). 

I thought it was important to talk about in this episode because meeting yourself where you are and and knowing exactly how to begin, are the main ways to meal plan and cook for your family with ease. As a mom of 3, I know that when it comes to meal planning as a mom, there are so many factors and moving parts to consider. And no matter what your situation may be, time is always of the essence.

In today's episode you'll learn:

• various mealtime approaches
• how to improve your cooking skills
• which holds more weight, your skill or your approach, when you plan and cook your family meals

Listen to this episode, then take the What's Your Cooking Personality Style? quiz here: https://chantelmckiesmith.com/quiz.

Disclaimer: this is not/will not be a Pinterest bashing episode. Pinterest is a great and useful app, and I have been using it for years.

If you really stopped to think about it, when using Pinterest, we tend to pin stuff to our boards more than we refer back to them. And a lot of the moms I meet are pinning way more recipes than they are actually cooking, while still being unable to decide on what to make for their family meals from week to week. That's because while Pinterest is a great meal planning resource, pinning recipes on Pinterest is not a meal planning strategy. 

In this episode, you will learn my quick and easy method to planning meals for your family in 10 mins or less, and how to get those pinned recipes made!

Do these kids ever stop eating??? I'm sure every mom has been asking this since the beginning of time. And the answer, unfortunately, is no...just kidding, sort of lol. Le sigh. Look, I know that motherhood is one of the greatest joys in a mom’s life, but it comes with so many physically and emotionally draining challenges, and that can include meal planning, food shopping, cooking, and sometimes eating. And I don't want that for you.

In this episode, I share 7 things every mom needs to know about meal planning, as well as a few things I want you to unlearn. I will talk about:

• what needs to be done before you plan out your family meals
• how to easily grocery shop for the food you need
• different ways to cook less during the week
• myths directly related to meal planning and cooking as a mom
• getting regular help in the kitchen 
• making mealtimes more manageable for you and your family and more

Welcome to The Meal Planning Mama Podcast! 

Come on into my kitchen where we get into candid conversations about deciding what to cook and eat, mom life, self-care, and all the littles bits sprinkled in between...both the expected and the unexpected.

I'm Chantel McKie-Smith, The Meal Planning Mama, and I am obsessed with all things meal planning, prepping, delegating in the kitchen, and helping you cruise through the cooking process from start - deciding what you are going to make, to finish - storage and clean up. I teach you the tried and true methods, techniques, and secrets to meal planning as a mom in a simplified and manageable way.

Grab a cup of coffee, cup of tea, or your favorite hot or cold beverage, and join me each week. 

This is The Meal Planning Mama Podcast.