The Plan to Eat Podcast

Sometimes, the meal plan doesn't make it to the end of the week, but in this episode, we're getting into the reasons why and what you can do about it so your whole week doesn't go off the rails. We walk through six of the most common reasons meal plans fail, from not planning at all to planning so rigidly that there's no room to breathe when life gets in the way. We talk about...

This week, we're talking about one of our favorite parts of summer, getting together with people over food. In this episode, we're getting into all things potlucks and group gatherings, from the nostalgia of food to the practical side of actually hosting a group meal.  We talk through what makes a potluck successful, what dishes hold up well (and which ones you might want to reconsider),...

This week, we're talking about the full lifecycle of food in our homes, from the moment it's planned all the way to the moment it's eaten (or thrown away).  We talk through the most common breakdown points in the planning, cooking, and shopping, and why every ingredient needs a clear purpose. We also cover how to shop your fridge and pantry before you head to the store, how to build...

In this episode, we’re talking about the pros and cons of weekend meal prep vs. weeknight cooking. We’re breaking down the different ways people make dinner work for their schedules, energy levels, and preferences. We talk about food fatigue, leftovers, decision fatigue, unpredictable schedules, and why there’s no “right” way to meal plan. Whether you love prepping meals on Sunday, prefer cooking...

This week, we’re breaking down how to actually get dinner on the table in 30 minutes. We talk about quick recipes, but also systems we use that make weeknight cooking faster and less stressful. We discuss what slows dinner down, common mistakes, and how to simplify your approach. From using convenience ingredients to prepping ahead and building a go-to list of fast meals, this episode will help yo...

This week, we’re diving into why meal planning is so easy to procrastinate, even when we know it makes life easier. From busy schedules and mental load to perfectionism, habits, and not knowing where to start, we break down the real reasons meal planning gets pushed off.  We also share practical ways to get unstuck, including starting small, lowering expectations, using templates, and building a s...

This week, Hannah Van Ark joins the show again to talk about family meal planning and creating systems that make feeding your family easier. After becoming a mom, Hannah realized that most families don’t need more nutrition knowledge; they need practical systems that reduce stress and get balanced meals on the table.  We discuss flexible meal planning, how to serve one family meal without being a...

This week, we’re talking about why meal planning can feel more exhausting than other household chores. Tasks like vacuuming or folding laundry can usually wait, but feeding yourself or your family happens every single day, multiple times a day! From deciding what to cook, grocery shopping, managing preferences, and actually making the meal, the mental load adds up quickly. We explore the invisible...

When life is busy, mental bandwidth to decide what's for dinner disappears. It's easy to get stuck in a rut and feel completely uninspired to meal plan. Even strong planners have periods where ideas dry up, and planning feels like a chore.  In this episode, we're combating a lack of creativity and recipe ideas with so many great tips to help you create this week's meal plan. Fr...

This week, we're tackling food waste! Leftovers pile up, ingredients get pushed to the back of the fridge, and before long, our precious kitchen inventory goes to waste! Riley and Roni discuss practical strategies for reducing food waste and using up what you already have at home. We will teach you our favorite meal planning strategies to actually use the food you're buying and stop wast...

From answering your dinner dilemmas in 2025, we learned that many families juggle multiple dietary needs: picky kids, allergies, macros, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, low-sodium, etc. And creating meals that satisfy everyone feels exhausting! This week, we're spending the entire episode tackling the problem of managing multiple diets and dietary needs in one house. Our goal is to help you a...

This week, we're helping you handle crazy schedules and a lack of time to plan and cook. Evenings get packed with kids’ activities, meetings, and errands. Schedules can change at the last minute, making it hard to cook consistently, prep ahead, or stick to a plan. If you find you're often getting takeout, skipping meals, or wasting groceries, this episode is for you! Let's dive into...

Many people want to plan and cook but feel too tired, overwhelmed, or depressed by the end of the day to follow through. And even well-made plans fall apart when energy runs out. In this episode, we're discussing how to combat low energy and motivation, so you can still feed your family! We talk about how to actually cultivate motivation, why systems help reduce your lack of energy, and give...

We're kicking off the New Year with some questions about meal planning and the podcast! We asked AI to ask us questions about meal planning from our experience of hosting the Plan to Eat Podcast.  Over the past 120+ episodes, we've reviewed books, had dozens of world-class guests, and shared so many tips and tricks about meal planning. In this first episode of 2026, we're reflecting...

Surprise! This week, we're giving you a bonus episode to finish up the final handful of dinner dilemmas. In this episode, we tackle dilemmas about juggling multiple eating preferences in one household, budgeting constraints, and preparing unique side dishes.  Thank you for making us your trusted friends in meal planning and sending your questions, frustrations, and dilemmas!  Happy New Year!...

We are finishing 2025 with lots of recipe inspiration! As we transition into Winter and a New Year, we are encouraging you to add some new recipes to your meal plans. Break out of those ruts and start 2026 with some fresh ideas for your planning.  Thanks for listening in 2025 and Happy New Year! Sign up for a free trial + get 20% off your first annual subscription: plantoeat.com/PTEPOD Contact us:...

The holidays are coming, and your kitchen is about to get a whole lot more crowded. Let's make space now before the chaos begins! Between holiday meal prep, leftovers, cookie exchanges, and the inevitable influx of food, your kitchen can feel overwhelming. In this episode, we're walking you through some kitchen declutter tips that will save you stress, money, and precious counter space....

Think you don't need a meal plan? Or winging it is easier? We're busting the biggest meal planning myths today, and you might be surprised at what you've been believing. In this episode, we're tackling the misconceptions that keep people from experiencing the true benefits of meal planning. From "it's only for organized people" to "my handwritten list is wor...

This week, we're diving into dinner dilemmas that hit close to home because even meal planning pros get stuck in ruts! Ever meal plan for "fantasy you" only to realize real you has karate, dance class, and zero energy? We've all been there. In this episode, we're tackling picky eaters and food sensitivities, breaking free from the same-five-recipes cycle, and making meal p...

This is the final episode in our Meal Plan Like a Pro Series, and today we're helping you go beyond the basics with advanced meal planning techniques. When you are an advanced meal planner, you're able to adapt and make changes on the fly without getting flustered. You become a meal planning strategist. In this episode, we discuss three strategies that advanced planners can use to get th...

We're going back to the basics! In this episode, we're helping overwhelmed listeners get started meal planning and feel successful quickly. Our three themes for today's episode are Foundation, Adjustment, and Personalization. Build the foundation of creating a meal planning habit, learn and adjust future plans, and start to personalize your planning to your life and personality.  We...

This week, in our Meal Plan Like a Pro series, we're helping you build a repeatable system you can rely on. The best part about having a meal planning system is that it takes the decisions out of planning!  In this episode, we discuss creating meal planning templates for easy drag-and-drop planning, "capsule" meal planning (and what it means), and how to plan around what you already...

Welcome back to Meal Planning Like a Pro! Today, we are covering a few more "advanced" meal planning strategies to help you streamline grocery shopping and reduce decision fatigue. In this episode, we talk a lot about meal planning for a longer stretch of time and then only grocery shopping once to save time and energy. We also cover coordinating your recipes to save money and adapting y...

Welcome to our new Meal Plan Like a Pro Series! Whether you’re brand new to meal planning or a seasoned pro, we’re going to help you become a better planner and take a deep dive into meal planning in the next several episodes. Today, the topic is sticking to your plan! In our recent listener survey, staying consistent with planning came up as one of the biggest challenges, so we're here to he...

In this episode, we share a mix of surprising facts and practical grocery tips from the final chapters of Grocery Shopping Secrets .  We dive into the seafood section! Learn how to pick the freshest fish and the difference between wild-caught and farm-raised salmon. We also explore the deli counter, which isn't just about deli meat! Carol Ann provides a great breakdown of how to create your o...