Osterloh Meal Menu's

Meal Planning That Works for Us : Somewhere between motherhood, marriage, and healing, I realized God calls us to find peace even in the smallest parts of our day — like dinner time.

I mentioned that a tragedy that affected me physically, leaving me unable to care for my family and home during the healing process. Once I was better, Austin shared something that stuck with me — he said he had been “trying his hardest to stay afloat.” Taking care of the kids, the house, his wife, and working full time… he was doing it all. And truthfully, I know many of you can relate.

So before I dive into meal planning, I want to take a moment to remind you: lean on each other — your spouse, your family, your friends, your coworkers. Most people genuinely want to help. Life takes a village, and it’s okay to use the one you have. Don’t take advantage — but give yourself the grace to ask for and accept help when you need it.

After Austin shared his experience with me, I knew it was time for a change. We needed a shift in our kitchen — and I needed to step up and help out.

One of the biggest ways I’ve been taking care of myself lately is by planning ahead, especially when it comes to meals. For so long, dinner time felt like pure chaos. I was tired, unprepared, and stressed before the cooking even started. As a mom and wife, I was in a funk — I didn’t want to help in the kitchen or think about dinner plans.

Then 5 p.m. would hit. I’d be relieved Austin was home and ready to hand off the kids. But we’d have nothing planned to eat, which led to panic and stress. I’d let Austin figure it out while hoping he’d also take over with the kids so I could get a break. Meanwhile, he had just gotten off work, ready for a mental reset — excited to talk to me and play with our boys — and suddenly found himself juggling dinner, kids, and me, without ever really getting that chance to unwind.

Something had to change.

I didn’t want to spend hours planning or prepping every Sunday. I just wanted a system that worked for our life — simple meals, easy prep, and realistic plans for busy nights. So, I created a “Meal Ideas” Word document where I can easily pull from recipes we love. Then I built a simple template that includes the date, meal name, ingredients (or recipe link), and a grocery list. Every week or two, depending on our schedule and grocery haul, I fill it out, print it, and hang it in the pantry and Austin’s office.

Having that plan in place has made a huge difference in how smoothly our evenings go. But more importantly, it changed our dynamic around meal times. Dinner used to feel like a chore — now, it’s teamwork.

That shift meant creating more meals that fit our lives, like freezer dump meals, slow cooker dinners, and recipes that can stretch into leftovers. It also meant sharing the responsibility — equal ownership in cooking, prepping, and cleanup.

Now, our kitchen feels like a team space again. It doesn’t matter who’s the “head cook” or the “sous chef.” What matters is that we’re doing it together — laughing, talking, connecting — and dinner no longer feels like a daily battle.

Meal planning isn’t just about feeding my family. It’s about giving myself room to breathe — one less decision to make, one less stress in the day, and one more way to get back to me.

Getting back to me has meant finding peace in the everyday moments — even something as simple as planning meals. It’s not about being perfect or having everything figured out; it’s about creating balance where there used to be chaos. When I show up with intention in the kitchen, I show up with more patience, more presence, and more love everywhere else. Little by little, I’m learning that taking care of my family starts with taking care of me. 💛

Menu idea's.docx

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Osterloh Family Menu.docx

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