Meal planning sounds like a chore. Done together, it's ten minutes on a Sunday that saves you from the 6 pm "what do you want?" loop all week.
1. Pick a regular time
Same day, same time. Sunday afternoon works for most couples because it's before the weekly shop.
2. Start with the week you actually have
Look at the calendar first. Late meeting on Tuesday? That's a leftovers night. Friends over on Saturday? That's the one bigger meal.
3. Don't plan every night
Most couples do well planning 4 or 5 dinners. Leave room for leftovers, takeout or eating out.
4. Decide who cooks
Put a name on each night. It stops the quiet standoff where nobody starts cooking.
5. Make the list from the plan
Go recipe by recipe and add what you need. Check the fridge and cupboards first.
Doing it in Yumpair
In Yumpair, open Plan, add recipes to the days and pick who's cooking. Then send each recipe's ingredients to your shared grocery list. Your partner sees the same plan and list on their phone.
Want a paper version? Use our free weekly dinner planner.