Meal planner template: a printable weekly meal plan sheet
One sheet for the week: breakfast, lunch and dinner for each day, what to use first, what is already in the kitchen and the shopping list. Print it, fill it in by hand and put it on the fridge.
To print it: use your browser’s Print command (Ctrl+P, or ⌘P on a Mac). Only the sheet below prints, on one page; landscape gives the boxes more room.
Weekly meal plan
Week of
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | |||
| Tuesday | |||
| Wednesday | |||
| Thursday | |||
| Friday | |||
| Saturday | |||
| Sunday |
Use first this week
Already in the kitchen
Shopping list
How to use the template
- Start with what needs using. Anything that will not keep much longer goes in “Use first this week”.
- Note what you already have. A quick look in the fridge, freezer and pantry goes in “Already in the kitchen”.
- Pick the dinners. Choose recipes that use the first box, then fill the rest of the week. Plan one leftovers night.
- Write the shopping list. For each meal, list only what you do not already have.
- Shop once. Take the sheet, or a photo of it, to the store.
A filled-in example week
Seven dinners from recipes on this site, with a leftovers night built in.
| Day | Dinner | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Cowboy chili | Ground beef and pantry spices; cook the full pot, half is Thursday’s dinner |
| Tuesday | Cauliflower stew with minced meat | Cauliflower, carrots and a little ground meat |
| Wednesday | Red lentil and bulgur köfte with roasted pepper and green lentil salad | Red and green lentils, bulgur, peppers |
| Thursday | Leftover cowboy chili | Monday’s second half |
| Friday | Tray börek and a green salad | Yufka, white cheese, eggs and milk |
| Saturday | Beyti kebab | Ground meat, yufka and tomatoes |
| Sunday | Beef and potato stew | Beef, potatoes and an onion |
How PantryWeave helps
Prefer the app to paper? It does the same job.
You pick, the week is built
In PantryWeave you pick the recipes, and the week, the stock check and the grocery list are built for you.
Use first
Freshness checks with a Use first shelf show which ingredients need eating soon, the same job as the first box on this sheet.
Frequently asked questions
What should a meal planner template include?
The days of the week with room for each meal you plan, a box for food that needs using first, a note of what is already in the kitchen and a shopping list. This sheet has all four on one page.
How do I use a weekly meal plan template?
Check the kitchen first, write down what needs using, choose dinners around it, then list only what you still need to buy.
Can I plan only dinners?
Yes. Leave breakfast and lunch blank; many households plan only dinners and keep the rest simple.
Related guides
Plan the week without the paperwork
Download PantryWeave: pick the recipes, and the week and the grocery list are built for you.
Free to start · iPhone