Menu Planning with the Family

Monday, August 18, 2025

Meal planning can feel like just another item on a never-ending To Do list. But what if it became something your kids actually looked forward to?

Involving children in creating a weekly menu not only sparks creativity and ownership, but also encourages healthy food habits and eases some of the stress around dinnertime decisions. Plus, it's a great opportunity to bond and have fun!

Here are some tips on how you can create a weekly meal plan with your kids, decorate a menu together, and get them involved in the kitchen—turning what could be a chore into a cherished family activity.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Set aside a little time on the weekend (Sunday mornings are great!) to plan the week ahead. Gather a few supplies:

Blank paper or a printable menu template
Markers, crayons, stickers, anything you have on-hand to decorate!
A ready list of family favorite meals -- and a look at the Current Menu on Garnish & Gather!
A place picked out to display the menu once ready

Create a cozy planning zone with snacks and music. Make it feel like an art project, not a task!

Step 2: Choose Meals

Give your kids a voice in planning lunches and dinners. This gives them a sense of ownership and helps reduce picky eating.

You can provide options you're comfortable with and let them vote, or designate theme nights such as "Taco Tuesday" or "Waffle Wednesday (Breakfast for Dinner)".

Also see what they would like to help cook -- choosing is half the fun, and if they know they'll be part of the process, that might shape their decision!

You can also include a “Try Something New” night to explore new ingredients or cuisines as a family.

Step 3: Design and Decorate!

Once the meals are chosen, write them out on your paper.

Here’s where the creativity kicks in: Let the kids draw lines, shapes, pictures of the meals. They can use different colors for each day of the week and create borders with their coloring tools or with scrap paper.

Hang the menu somewhere visible: the fridge, a kitchen corkboard, or inside a cabinet door. Having it in plain sight builds excitement—and keeps everyone on the same page.

The fun doesn't stop there! Bring in your kids to help prep and cook each meal. Give them age-appropriate tasks; this could be measuring, pouring, mixing, or setting the table. It reinforces a sense of responsibility in the kitchen while also letting you gather around your favorite, family-chosen meals.

Once this becomes part of your weekly rhythm, it’ll feel less like work and more like a fun tradition. Keep past menus in a folder—your kids will love looking back at what they picked weeks ago (and you’ll have a backup plan when you’re low on ideas).

Grab those markers and get planning—your kitchen is about to become the most fun room in the house!