Meal Planning Made Simple: How a Mom of 5 Feeds Her Family Without the Stress with Melissa Griffiths (Ep 299)
About the episode
How do you get dinner on the table every night without losing your mind? Melissa Griffiths shares her monthly meal planning system, how to get kids helping in the kitchen, and how to lighten the mental load around food.
Helpful Links:
Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links):
Pro tip from Melissa: Add "-AI" to your recipe searches to filter out AI-generated recipes!
Connect with Melissa Griffiths
What if meal planning didn't have to feel like another thing on your endless to-do list?
Melissa Griffiths is the founder of Bless This Mess, a food blog she has been growing for over 13 years to help busy moms put simple, nourishing meals on the table. As a mom of five who recently moved her family from Utah to Vermont, Melissa knows what it takes to feed a family through every season of chaos.
In this conversation, Melissa shares her monthly meal planning system, including the master list method and how theme nights can take the decision fatigue out of dinner. We dive into getting kids involved in the kitchen and her "launch list" concept for life skills she wants her kids to have before they leave home.
Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Melissa opens up about her family's cross-country move after losing a family business, what it was like to downsize by two-thirds, and how to ask your partner for real help with the mental load.
Whether you are drowning in dinnertime decisions or just want a simpler approach to feeding your family, this episode will leave you with practical strategies and a fresh perspective.
Key Takeaways:
The master list method for monthly meal planning
How to get kids involved without it becoming a chore for mom
How to handle picky eaters without shame or food battles
Why smaller spaces can actually simplify your life
How to ask for help and share the mental load
About Melissa Griffiths:
Melissa is the founder of Bless This Mess, a food blog she’s been growing for over 13 years to help busy moms put simple, nourishing meals on the table without stress. As a mom of five, she understands firsthand how chaotic dinnertime can be.
After years of homeschooling and running their household full-time, Melissa and her family recently made a big leap and moved from southern Utah to rural Vermont. Today, she and her husband are restoring an old home and building a life centered around family, good food, and community, with kids, dogs, garden plans, and plenty of everyday mess along the way.
Through Bless This Mess, Melissa shares approachable recipes, from-scratch cooking, and encouragement for moms who want to feed their families well, even on the busiest days.
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:54 Meet Melissa Griffiths
6:23 The monthly meal planning system and master list method
9:12 Theme nights and delegating meal choices to kids
15:49 Getting kids involved in the kitchen without the guilt
20:03 The "launch list" of life skills for kids
23:43 Moving from Utah to Vermont after heartbreak
26:12 Downsizing by two-thirds and why smaller is simpler
35:35 The mental load and sharing invisible labor
42:25 Handling picky eaters with grace
Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com
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cheers!
About Deanna Yates
Based in San Diego, CA, Deanna helps high-achieving moms clear the clutter from their homes and lives.
Through coaching, courses, summits, and her top-ranked Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, she supports modern women in building organized, peaceful homes where they can thrive.
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