The 4-Week Meal Planning Challenge: January 2025

January 2025 meal planning challenge cover image with text.

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“What’s for dinner?” The dreaded question. You answer it once. And then you have to answer it again almost every day for the rest of your life!

If you dislike this question as much as I do, or if you’re tired of daily trips to the store for missing ingredients, or if you just want to save a bit of time every day… listen up!

I have an idea (you’ve probably heard of it by now) and I think you should give it a try… it’s called meal planning! Whether you’re a beginner who wants some incentive and support to gain a new habit, or an experienced meal planner who wants to jump back in, this challenge is for you!

I challenge you to plan each week’s meals
ahead of time for four weeks in a row.

Yes! That’s it! Plan your meals ahead of time for four weeks in a row, do your best to follow the meal plans you create, and see what happens. It’s as simple as that.

Why participate in this meal planning challenge?

This challenge is a FREE, low effort, super simple way to give meal planning a try. This challenge is for any eating style, any dietary needs, and any schedule. The goal is to make it work for YOU.

With a little bit of follow through, meal planning can help you save time, spend less money at the grocery store, reduce food waste, and more.

Past challenge participants have said that meal planning has made for less stress around meal times, and less asking “what’s for dinner?” from the family. That sounds pretty great to me!

How to participate in the meal planning challenge:

Sign up for the Project Meal Plan Email List. This is how you will receive updates about the challenge.
Join the Project Meal Plan Facebook Group. This is where you will share your weekly meal plans each week.
Every Sunday during the challenge, I will send you an email with a reminder to share your weekly meal plan in the Facebook Group. The Week 1 email will arrive Sunday, January 5th, 2025.
Entries can be posted in the Facebook group from Sunday, when you receive the email, to the following Saturday at 11:59PM PST. This means you have all week to share! Your meal plan can be any days of the week – it does not have to be M-F. Plan according to your own schedule!
Your meal plan post will count as your entry to the weekly prize drawing. After each week is over, I will randomly select a winner from everyone that posted their meal plan and bonus entries.

Join the challenge by signing up for the Project Meal Plan email list here:

NEW in 2025: Meal of the Week + Bonus Entry

To participate in this challenge, you must post your weekly meal plan in the FB group. After you’ve done that, you’re eligible for a bonus entry! This means you’ll have double the chances of winning the weekly prize drawing with two entries instead of just one.

Here’s how the bonus entry system works:

Include the Meal of the Week in your weekly meal plan (check the list below!).
Make the Meal of the Week as you’ve planned (or whenever works for you!) and don’t forget to snap a photo!
Leave a rating and review on the recipe page. This is incredibly helpful for myself and other readers!
Share your Meal of the Week photo in the Facebook Group. This will count as your bonus entry, along with your weekly meal plan. Your bonus entry will only count if you have also left a review on the recipe page.

Note: If you are unable to make the Recipe of the Week due to dietary restrictions, you can make a different Project Meal Plan recipe and leave a review there. Let me know if you have questions!

Week 1 (January 5-11): Meal Prep Unstuffed Pepper Bowls

Week 2 (January 12-18): French Onion Baked Chicken Breasts

Week 3 (January 19-25): Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Week 4 (January 26-February 1): One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta

What does my meal plan need to look like?

I am very flexible on the requirements of your meal plan – the point is to do what will help you the most. You’re welcome to use either one of my Weekly Meal Planner Template PDFs if you need a place to start.

Here are the general guidelines for submitting your meal plan into the challenge:

Plan 3 meals per day for at least 5 days of the week. Repeat meals are totally okay. Plan according to your schedule – it does not have to be Monday-Friday.
Your meal plan can be any format you prefer, including pen & paper, screenshot of your phone, or spreadsheet style.
Your meal plan can use any style you prefer, including arrows, color coding, bullet journal style, pretty much anything goes!
Please put in a little effort and do not enter exact duplicate meal plan photos you have already posted.

How to post your weekly meal plan:

To enter, upload a photo or screenshot of your weekly meal plan to the Project Meal Plan Facebook Group after the entry period has opened for the week (you’ll get an email reminder!).

You do not need to add any words or description, but please feel free to share and discuss your recipes and meals on your meal plan. I always add links to any recipes I’ll be making during the week, but it is not a requirement.

Sign up for the Project Meal Plan email list to join the challenge:

Important dates for the challenge:

You don’t have to remember these, just use this as a reference! One prize drawing will take place each week during the four week challenge.

Here are the dates for each week and approximate dates for the prize drawings for the January 2025 Meal Planning challenge:

January 5th: Start of meal planning challenge; Start of Week 1
January 11th: End of Week 1
January 12th: Week 1 Prize Drawing; Start of Week 2
January 18th: End of Week 2
January 19th: Week 2 Prize Drawing; Start of Week 3
January 25th: End of Week 3
January 26th: Week 3 Prize Drawing; Start of Week 4
February 1st: End of Week 4; End of meal planning challenge
February 2nd: Week 4 Prize Drawing & Grand Prize Drawing!

What are the prizes going to be??

During this meal planning challenge, I’ll be giving away a prize EVERY week! You’ll be entered for the week if you’ve posted your weekly meal plan by Saturday at midnight. Your bonus entry must also be shared before Saturday at midnight.

Here’s the prize schedule for this year’s Meal Planning Challenge:

Week 1 Prize: Set of 4 Rubbermaid Glass Brilliance Containers

Week 2 Prize: Set of 2 (1-cup) Souper Cubes Trays (you pick the color!)

Week 3 Prize: $50 Container Store Gift card

Week 4 Prize: America’s Test Kitchen Meal Prep Cookbook (Spiral Bound!)

images of prizes for meal planning challenge including souper cubes, glass food containers, and cookbook.

If you still aren’t convinced…

Here’s what some past participants had to say about the challenge!

“I liked the time frame- enough to make it a routine (habit) just not a daunting lengthy commitment.” – Terry
“I had fallen off the meal planning wagon and was grateful for the challenge getting me back into the habit.” – Martine
“I think the way this challenge was organized was perfect. It was a great way for first timers like me.” – Brittani
“Seeing other people as excited about meal planning as I am! Also love all of Danielle’s tips and recipes.” – Jen

If you have any questions, simply respond to any of my emails, leave a comment here, or head to the Facebook group! Can’t wait to jump in and see how meal planning helps you and your family!