What tools does Hilary Erickson recommend for efficient meal planning?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse. Here are the main tools and resources I recommend for efficient meal planning, based on what I use and share on Pulling Curls:

• A menu-planning template or planner – I use a flexible meal planner (with space for a grocery list) and often plan 7 meals for the next 2 weeks instead of assigning meals to exact days.
• A recipe system – binder, recipe box, or digital file where you gather family-friendly recipes you actually make.
• A shopping system – planning around sales, your pantry, or using store ads to decide what to cook.
• Optional paid services I like to rotate in:
  • Deals to Meals (matches grocery deals with recipes)
  • $5 Meal Plan (budget-friendly meal plans and freezer plans)
  • Freezer meal plans from Chaos and the Clutter
  • Angie from Country Chic Cottage’s meal planning book

What part of meal planning feels hardest for you right now: picking recipes, making the list, or sticking to the plan?