I love cooking. I really do. I enjoy pottering about in the kitchen, trying new recipes, and putting a decent meal on the table. But even when you love cooking, there’s one question that can feel relentless:

“What are we having for dinner tonight?”

Recently, my daughter Chloe shared how she’s made mealtimes easier by adding a bit of structure to her week. She leads a busy life and is often out in the evenings after work, so she’s created a simple framework:

  • Monday – a pasta-based meal
  • Tuesday, Wednesday – something cooked in the slow cooker
  • Thursday – something from the freezer
  • Friday – takeaway night
  • Weekend – more relaxed and flexible

She said that just having this loose plan instantly removed the daily decision fatigue. No strict meal plan, no pressure — just a framework. And honestly? It really got me thinking.

A Simple Framework (With Room for Fun)

I realised that a framework like this would work really well for me too — but I wanted to keep things flexible and enjoyable. After a bit of planning, this is what I’ve landed on:

  • Each month, I’ll choose 8–10 core meals
  • These become our base menu for the month
  • We’ll pick from this list as the weeks go on, depending on mood and energy

But I didn’t want it to feel boring or repetitive, so I’ve added two little twists:

  1. Library Cookbook Night
    Once a week, I’ll pop to the library, pick a cookbook, and choose one recipe to try. New inspiration, no clutter, and totally free.
  2. Cupboard Ingredient Night
    One night a week, I’ll choose an ingredient we already have in the cupboard and build a meal around it. A great way to reduce food waste and get creative.

January’s Base Menu

So, what does this look like in real life? Here’s our January dinner menu:

  • Peanut Butter Noodles with Halloumi
  • Thai Chicken Traybake
  • Honey Mustard Chicken
  • Asian Slaw with Satay Chicken
  • Beef Burgers, Chips & Coleslaw
  • Egg Roll in a Bowl
  • Lemon Pepper Chicken with Egg Fried Rice
  • Tuna & Sweetcorn with Salad and Jacket Potato

The cookbook I picked up from the library this week was Bored of Lunch: Fakeaways, and Glenn immediately chose Chicken Yakitori with Fried Noodles.

And our cupboard ingredient this week? Mango chutney — which I’ll be turning into Sticky Mango Chicken.

Less Stress, More Ease