I used to believe that a “good mom” cooked every meal from scratch. I had visions of colorful meal prep containers, home-cooked everything, and freezer-friendly snacks. And honestly? I pulled it off for a while.

But life had other plans.

Between moving across three countries, adapting to a new career in data analytics, and trying to be fully present for my daughter, that Pinterest version of motherhood quickly unraveled. And it took me some time (and a few tears) to realize: feeding your family well doesn’t have to look perfect—it just needs to work for you.

The Mental Load of Meal Time

Feeding a family sounds simple, but let’s be honest—meal decisions take up more brain space than we realize.

There’s the planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, storing leftovers… then doing it all again the next day. And when life gets chaotic? That’s when the guilt creeps in.

I’ve had weeks where I fed my daughter pasta with frozen sauce and instant noodles for my husband and me. I’ve also had Sundays where I batch-cooked like a champion. I finally accepted this truth: flexibility feeds my peace.

My Flexible Meal Plan Method

So here’s how I do it now—with way less pressure and a lot more grace:

• I create a weekly meal plan using the Balanced Hive Planner—just a basic layout of lunches and possible dinners
• I prep a grocery list based on what we already have and my planned meals. I would normally aim to buy fresh proteins (beef, pork, fish, poultry) with the longest expiration date, along with 2 veggies that can last practically forever😆, like carrots or potatoes. If I know I will have free time within 2 days, then I can plan ahead to buy some green veggies; otherwise, it would be a waste.
• I keep 1-2 “backup meals” like frozen pasta sauce and frozen Indonesian style meatball (our family’s staple comfort food!) for crazy days
• I give myself full permission to order takeout when I need to

Some weeks, I’m energized and experimental. Others, I’m barely holding it together—and that’s okay.

Let the Freezer Help You

My freezer became my best friend when I stopped expecting myself to be Supermom. If I bought ingredients and didn’t get to them? I froze them. If I made a huge batch of stew? Half went into the freezer.

It’s not about “perfect planning”—it’s about being kind to your future self.

Here are a few freezer habits that help me:

• Freeze pasta sauces in single family portions
• Store chopped onions or garlic cubes for quick cooking
• Freeze overripe bananas for smoothies or muffins
• Keep a stash of frozen veggies and dumplings for fast meals
• Freeze leftover pancakes or waffles for my daughter’s lunchbox options

Takeout Is Not a Failure

Let’s break this once and for all: Takeout is not a parenting failure.

There were seasons when my job required me to stay at unpredictable sites. Sometimes we didn’t get home until dinner time, and cooking just wasn’t going to happen. I slowly allowed takeout to be an option—without the guilt.

Now, we keep a small takeout budget in our Monthly Budget Tracker, and we plan around it. Sometimes, that €15 ramen buys us peace, connection, and a relaxed day—and that’s priceless.

Real-Life > Perfect-Life

2023 was filled with hospital visits for our family. It taught me that a “messy house weekend” or a skipped home-cooked meal doesn’t define me. It means we’re living.

So if your week includes a mix of planned meals, last-minute noodles, and freezer saves—you’re doing great.

Tools That Help Me Keep It Together

I rely on:

• The Balanced Hive Planner for meal layouts, grocery lists, and flexible routines
• The Monthly Budget Tracker to plan and track our food budget, including takeout
• A lot of grace (and coffee)

---

If you’re craving less stress and more clarity in your daily chaos, my Balanced Hive Planner was designed exactly for women like us—busy, passionate, and craving balance (not perfection).

👉 Grab your copy now and let’s plan smarter, not harder.