Meal Planning for Busy Moms | Dinner Ideas, Quick, Delicious, Healthy, Easy Meal Prep

Blaga Goertzen | Podcast Host | Meal Planning Coach & Strategist
Meal Planning for Busy Moms | Dinner Ideas, Quick, Delicious, Healthy, Easy Meal Prep

Do you dread meal planning because it’s too complicated and cumbersome? Are you eating fast food and takeout multiple times a week because of your family’s busy schedule or trying to figure out dinner at 5:00 when everyone’s asking, “MOM? What’s for dinner”? Do you wish you had a step-by-step system so you could spend less time planning and meal prepping and more time enjoying quick, healthy, and delicious weeknight meals with your family? I am so excited you are here! In this podcast, I will help you create easy, healthy and yummy meals that Will satisfy even the pickiest eaters! And you’ll only spend 15 minutes a week planning, because my weekly meal plans and other tips, tricks, and strategies will take the guesswork out of the process! Hey, I’m Blaga. A Mama of 4, wife, and a meal planning strategist obsessed with creating systems to make it as easy as possible for us mamas to answer the ‘what’s for dinner?’ dilemma without chaos! For many years, I was doing it all wrong- thinking about dinner by the seat of my pants, not planning, and resorting to takeout and mad dashes to the grocery store wasting my precious time and money. I finally realized if I was going to reduce the chaos, the overwhelm and pressure around the dinner time rush and meal planning, I needed a simple, effective and easy plan I could stick to no matter what was happening in our ever changing, busy lives. So I created a system that fit our family’s busy schedule. One that slipped seamlessly into my already jam-packed life, but I could actually stick with. An easy, simple, and sustainable plan for delicious meals that nourished my family!. And I’m ready to share it with you! If you are ready to find a simple meal planning system that is built for busy moms…. So you can create meals that are quick, healthy, and delicious Hold off on ordering that pizza, and grab your notebook, pen, and maybe a coffee - because we are about to dive in!

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Episode 120 Weekly Meal Plan and Christmas Prep Ideas

    Hey, hey beautiful Mamas,   Welcome to a very merry episode of Meal Planning for Busy Moms! With Christmas just days away, I’ve got a festive and practical weekly meal plan to take you from Christmas Eve all the way through the “in-between” week before New Year’s. Whether you’re planning a traditional Christmas dinner or looking for quick, healthy meals to keep everyone happy and fed, this episode has you covered.   We’ll also dive into my top tips for managing your holiday meal prep so you can spend more time making memories and less time stressing in the kitchen. And don’t worry—if you still need inspiration for your Christmas menu, I’ll point you to my Thanksgiving episodes packed with ideas for turkey and ham feasts.   Plus, I’m sharing some exciting news for 2025: starting in the new year, Meal Planning for Busy Moms will streamline to one episode every Sunday, giving you everything you need to master meal planning and tackle the “What’s for dinner?” question with ease.   This Week’s Meal Plan: Monday: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas Tuesday (Christmas Eve): Charcuterie Board & Appetizers Wednesday (Christmas Day): The Big Feast (Turkey or Ham) Thursday: Leftover Turkey Cranberry Sliders with Sweet Potato Fries Friday: Instant Pot Beef Chili Saturday: Build Your Own Pizza (or order takeout) Sunday: Sheet Pan Salmon with Roasted Asparagus and Potatoes   In This Episode, You’ll Learn:   How to plan and prep for a stress-free Christmas dinner. Tips for making the most of Christmas leftovers. A festive weekly meal plan to carry you through the week after Christmas. Why simplifying your menu and delegating tasks is a game-changer. Exciting updates for the podcast in 2025!   Get My Book: Meal Prep Made Simple on Amazon by Blaga Goertzen   Thanksgiving Episodes for Christmas Inspiration:   Turkey Menu Ideas (Episode from October)   Ham Menu Ideas (Episode from November) Become an Insider: Sign up here to get all recipe links delivered straight to your inbox!   Join the Community: What’s for Dinner Mama’s Facebook Group   Thank you for tuning in to this week’s episode. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! Be sure to join me next Sunday for more meal planning magic as we kick off 2025. Be blessed, my friends!   xx Blaga

    7 min
  2. DEC 15

    Episode 118 Weekly Meal Plan and Overnight French Toast For Christmas Morning

    Welcome to Episode 118 of Meal Planning for Busy Moms!   The holiday season is here, and with all the chaos, who has time to think about dinner? Don’t worry, Busy Mamas—I’ve got you covered! This week, we’re diving into a festive, family-friendly meal plan that’s quick, easy, and oh-so-delicious. Plus, I’m sharing a special recipe for Overnight French Toast that will make your Christmas morning stress-free and magical.   In this episode, I’ll be covering:   A 7-day meal plan featuring comforting favorites like Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken, Beef Tacos, and Cheesy Ham & Rice Casserole.   A fun and relatable holiday story about how I learned to simplify Christmas morning.   Step-by-step instructions for the ultimate Overnight French Toast recipe that you can make ahead of time.   How to join our What’s for Dinner Mamas Facebook group to connect with a community of meal-planning moms.   Why you need to grab my book, Meal Prep Made Simple, to streamline your holiday season.   This Week’s Meal Plan, Here’s what’s on the menu:   Monday: Oven Roasted BBQ Chicken with Veggies   Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie   Wednesday: Beef Tacos   Thursday: Grilled Cheese and Homemade Tomato Soup with Veggies and Dip   Friday: Beef Dip with Caesar Salad   Saturday: Cheesy Ham and Rice Casserole   Sunday: Cream of Cauliflower Soup   Featured Recipe: Overnight French Toast   Make Christmas morning extra special with this easy, make-ahead recipe. Prep it the night before and enjoy a warm, delicious breakfast without the stress.   Ingredients and step-by-step instructions are shared in the episode. Don’t miss it!   Get all the recipe links sent right to your inbox by becoming an insider here.   Resources and Links Mentioned   Get the Book Meal Prep Made Simple – Your Guide to Stress-free Meal Planning, especially during the holiday season. You can buy it on Amazon here.   Join the Facebook Group: What’s for Dinner Mamas – Connect with a community of moms sharing tips, tricks, and inspiration here.   Subscribe & Share   If you loved this episode, be sure to:   Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.   Leave a review—it helps other moms find the show and join the meal-planning fun.   Share this episode with your friends or family who could use a little holiday meal-planning help!   Thanks for tuning in, Beautiful Mamas! Wishing you a blessed and beautiful week. See you Wednesday for more meal-planning inspiration! xx Blaga

    7 min
  3. DEC 8

    Episode 116 Weekly Meal Plan & 12 Days of Christmas Meals and Traditions to Bring on the Cheer

    Hey, hey beautiful mama,   Welcome to Meal Planning for Busy Moms! This week, we’re tackling dinner chaos with a brand-new weekly meal plan filled with quick, delicious recipes that will save your sanity during the holiday rush. Plus, we’re diving into the 12 Days of Christmas Meals and Traditions, packed with festive ideas and family activities to keep your holidays merry and bright. Let’s make this season magical and manageable!   This Week's Meal Plan Here’s your weekly menu, complete with recipe links to help you get dinner on the table fast: Monday: Baked Greek Chicken Breasts with Herbed Couscous and Cucumber-Tomato Salad Tuesday: Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli Served Over Steamed Rice Wednesday: Sheet Pan Maple Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts Thursday: Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili Friday: Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Slaw and Lime Crema Saturday: Classic Spaghetti Bolognese with Garlic Bread and Caesar Salad Soupy Sunday—One-Pot Sausage and Spinach Tortellini Soup   The 12 Days of Christmas Meals and Traditions Quick Festive Dinners "Buy What You Want" Night Sprinkle in Family Traditions Mix and Match Keep It Stress-Free: Spread the 12 days out across the month and lean on shortcuts like pre-made gingerbread kits or store-bought cookie dough. Let’s Connect: Grab my book: Meal Prep Made Simple, which is available now on Amazon! Become a Meal Planning Insider: Get recipe links and bonus resources delivered straight to your inbox. You can sign up here. Join our “What’s for Dinner Mamas” Facebook community: A fun, supportive space for meal inspiration and holiday tips here. Thank you for tuning in! Have a blessed and beautiful week,   xx Blaga

    7 min
  4. DEC 1

    Episode 114 Weekly Meal Plan, Pantry Power Ups, and December Delights

    Hey, Hey!   It’s December 1st, and I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by! This month, I’m bringing you fabulous holiday tips, stress-free brunch ideas, and hacks to make holiday meal planning seamless. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a brand-new weekly meal plan featuring quick, delicious, and family-friendly recipes to keep your dinners stress-free during this busy season.   Plus, I’ll introduce my Pantry Power-Up Hack—a simple yet game-changing way to organize your pantry so you can breeze through the holidays like the rockstar you are. Whether you’re juggling holiday shopping, school events, or family gatherings, this episode has everything you need to stay ahead of the mealtime madness.   This Week’s Meal Plan:   Monday: BBQ Chicken Skewers with Veggies   Tuesday: Instant Pot Stroganoff   Wednesday: Sheet Pan Haddock with Broccoli   Thursday: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken with Rice   Friday: Instant Chicken Parmesan Pasta   Saturday: Crispy Chicken Quesadillas with Fresh Salsa   Sunday: Hearty Beef Stew in the Instant Pot What You’ll Learn in This Episode:   How to tackle a busy week with a simple, efficient meal plan.   My Pantry Power-Up Hack to keep your pantry organized and ready for action.   A sneak peek into upcoming episodes filled with holiday tips, brunch ideas, and more! Resources Mentioned:   Grab my book Meal Prep Made Simple for time-saving hacks and delicious recipes: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DNVH97R9   Become a Meal Planning Insider for exclusive recipes and tips: https://busymamamealplanning.com/landing/insider   Join our What’s for Dinner Mamas Facebook community to swap ideas, share wins, and connect with other moms: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whatsfordinnermamas     Thank You for Listening! Thanks so much for tuning in to episode 114 of Meal Planning for Busy Moms! If you loved this episode, please share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps so much! And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. See you next Sunday for more holiday-inspired tips and meal planning magic! Have a blessed and beautiful week,   xx Blaga

    5 min
  5. NOV 28

    Episode 113 Meal Plan Like a Black Fiday Boss: Easy Make-Ahead Meals for Shopping Day

    Hey, hey!   Welcome to another episode of Meal Planning for Busy Moms! 🎉 This week, I’m sharing how to Meal Plan Like a Black Friday Boss. Whether you’re braving the crowds or shopping from the comfort of your couch, these tips and recipes will help you stay fueled and stress-free on the biggest shopping day of the year.   Plus, BIG NEWS—I just published my first book, Meal Prep Made Simple: Reclaim Your Time, Save Your Sanity, and Make Dinner Effortless! It’s now available on Amazon, and it’s your ultimate guide to conquering dinner chaos with fun, fast, and fabulous strategies. 🎉   What You’ll Learn in This Episode:   How to prep quick, grab-and-go breakfasts for an early shopping start.   The magic of slow cooker meals that cook themselves while you shop.   Freezer-friendly dinner ideas that make post-shopping meals effortless.   Easy snack options to keep you energized and avoid “hangry” shopping decisions.   How to reinvent leftovers for a quick, no-cook dinner after a long day.   Grab My Book, Meal Prep Made Simple!   If dinner time feels overwhelming, my book is here to save the day! Inside, you’ll find: Flexible, foolproof meal planning strategies. Tips for using tools like the air fryer and Instant Pot to save time. Creative ways to transform leftovers into new meals. Resources like the 15-Minute Meal Plan System and my Troubleshooting Guide to Cooking Mishaps. It’s perfect for busy moms like you, whether you’re a kitchen pro or just starting out. Grab your copy on Amazon here and make dinner effortless—for yourself or as a gift for a friend!   Links and Resources:   Get Meal Prep Made Simple on Amazon   Join our What's for Dinner Mama's Facebook Community to get daily dinner inspiration, here.   Stay Connected:   Thank you for tuning in! If you loved this episode, please leave a review, share it with a friend, or tag me on social media. Your support means the world!   Have a beautiful, blessed week, and happy Black Friday shopping! I’ll see you on Sunday where I drop your weekly meal plan!   Bye for now,   xx Blaga

    6 min
  6. NOV 24

    Episode 112 Weekly Meal Plan & Bonus American Thanksgiving Menu

    Hey, hey!   Welcome to this week’s episode of Meal Planning for Busy Moms! We’re diving into a fresh meal plan packed with quick, family-approved recipes, a genius 30-second hack to make life easier in the kitchen, and a bonus Thanksgiving menu for my American friends. Whether you’re hosting the big day or just bringing a dish, I’ve got you covered! Also I have a new guide LIVE on Amazon!  (Check it out below!)   This Week’s Meal Plan: Here’s what’s cooking this week: Monday: Honey Garlic Pork Chops (Sheet Pan)   Tuesday: Beef and Bean Chili (Slow Cooker)   Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo Bake (Oven)   Thursday: Loaded BBQ Chicken Nachos   Friday: Stuffed Bell Peppers (Air Fryer)   Saturday: Crispy Chicken Tenders with Waffle Fries (Air Fryer)   Sunday: Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Slow Cooker)   Bonus Thanksgiving Menu: For my American listeners, here’s a cozy ham-centered menu to make your holiday stress-free:   Main: Glazed Ham   Sides: Scalloped Potatoes Sweet Potato Casserole Green Beans with Garlic Butter Cranberry-Orange Relish Fluffy Dinner Rolls Desserts: Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Chocolate Pecan Pie   If turkey is more your style, here is my other (Canadian) Thanksgiving Menu for inspiration:   Herb Roasted Turkey (with plenty of butter, of course!)   Classic Stuffing – because Thanksgiving isn’t the same without it.   Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes – a little extra sweetness never hurt anyone.   Green Bean Almondine – simple but so good!   Cranberry Sauce – homemade or store-bought, no judgment.   Pumpkin Pie – because, obviously, it’s a must.   30-Second Genius Hack: Save time during the week by pre-mixing your spice blends!    Quick Announcement Before We Wrap Up!" Hey friends, I’ve got some exciting news to share with you—my brand-new guide, Meal Prep Made Simple: Reclaim Your Time, Save Your Sanity, and Make Dinner Effortless, is officially live on Amazon! Whether you’re tackling picky eaters, stuck in the dreaded “What’s for dinner?” loop, or just looking to make dinner less stressful, this guide has got you covered. It’s not a cookbook—it’s a game plan for making mealtime simple, efficient, and even a little fun. And let’s be honest—this time of year, it makes the perfect gift. Need a thoughtful hostess gift for holiday gatherings? Or maybe you know someone who could use a little help answering that daily dinner dilemma? This book is the beautiful little nudge they need to make dinner time easier and more enjoyable. You can grab it now in Kindle or paperback—just search Meal Prep Made Simple by Blaga Goertzen on Amazon, and it’s all yours. So, if you’re ready to reclaim your evenings, save some time, and actually enjoy dinner again—or help someone else do the same—go check it out. And let me know if you grab a copy! I’d love to hear how it’s helping you.   Join Us!   Become a Meal Planning Insider! Get weekly meal plans with recipe links (including the Thanksgiving Bonus Menu) delivered straight to your inbox along with exclusive tips and tricks to make dinnertime a breeze. Click here to join.   Join our What’s for Dinner Mamas Facebook community! It’s the perfect place to share ideas, swap recipes, and connect with other busy moms. Click here to join.   That’s it for this week! Wishing all my American friends a beautiful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and good food. And to everyone, have a blessed week—see you back here Wednesday!P.S. You can use these Thanksgiving menus for Christmas too!  So you might want to favorite it! Bye for now,   xx Blaga

    8 min
  7. NOV 21

    Episode 111 How to Plan a Thanksgiving Potluck Without Losing Your Mind and Sanity

    Hey, Hey!   Thanksgiving doesn’t have to mean doing it all yourself! In this episode, we’re diving into the ultimate hosting hack: the Thanksgiving potluck. I’ll share my top tips for coordinating dishes without drama, asking guests to bring what they want (or what they can), and making sure the big-ticket items like turkey and stuffing are covered. Plus, we’ll chat about keeping contributions fair, making the day fun and memorable, and why potlucks are my absolute favorite—despite my Macedonian roots where bringing a dish used to be offensive.   Whether you’re a potluck pro or hosting one for the first time, this episode is packed with laughs, tips, and a plan to make your Thanksgiving stress-free and delicious. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:   How to ask guests what they’d like to bring without stepping on toes   The secret to keeping contributions fair and balanced   How to handle no-shows, mishaps, or gaps in the menu   Why potlucks are the ultimate way to share the load, the love, and the food Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:   💌 Become a Meal Planning Insider: Ready to make meal planning easy every week? Get my weekly meal plans delivered straight to your inbox, complete with recipe links! Sign up here: Click to Join.   👩‍🍳 Join the ‘What’s for Dinner Mamas’ Facebook Group: Connect with other busy moms, share meal ideas, get inspired, and lighten your dinner load. Join the group here: Join Now. Let’s Connect: If you loved this episode, don’t forget to share it with your friends, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review! Your support means the world to me and helps other moms find their way to easier, stress-free meal planning.   Until next time, happy planning and happy eating!Bye for now,   xx Blaga

    7 min
4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Do you dread meal planning because it’s too complicated and cumbersome? Are you eating fast food and takeout multiple times a week because of your family’s busy schedule or trying to figure out dinner at 5:00 when everyone’s asking, “MOM? What’s for dinner”? Do you wish you had a step-by-step system so you could spend less time planning and meal prepping and more time enjoying quick, healthy, and delicious weeknight meals with your family? I am so excited you are here! In this podcast, I will help you create easy, healthy and yummy meals that Will satisfy even the pickiest eaters! And you’ll only spend 15 minutes a week planning, because my weekly meal plans and other tips, tricks, and strategies will take the guesswork out of the process! Hey, I’m Blaga. A Mama of 4, wife, and a meal planning strategist obsessed with creating systems to make it as easy as possible for us mamas to answer the ‘what’s for dinner?’ dilemma without chaos! For many years, I was doing it all wrong- thinking about dinner by the seat of my pants, not planning, and resorting to takeout and mad dashes to the grocery store wasting my precious time and money. I finally realized if I was going to reduce the chaos, the overwhelm and pressure around the dinner time rush and meal planning, I needed a simple, effective and easy plan I could stick to no matter what was happening in our ever changing, busy lives. So I created a system that fit our family’s busy schedule. One that slipped seamlessly into my already jam-packed life, but I could actually stick with. An easy, simple, and sustainable plan for delicious meals that nourished my family!. And I’m ready to share it with you! If you are ready to find a simple meal planning system that is built for busy moms…. So you can create meals that are quick, healthy, and delicious Hold off on ordering that pizza, and grab your notebook, pen, and maybe a coffee - because we are about to dive in!

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