How I Organize My Favorite Recipes, Plan Weekly Meals, and Shop Stress-Free with AnyList and Instacart
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If you’re anything like me, you love scrolling through Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok for meal inspiration. There’s just something about finding that perfect recipe that you can’t wait to try. But let’s be real—saving those recipes is one thing; actually organizing them, planning meals, and making sure you have everything you need to cook them? That’s a whole other story.
That’s where my little system comes in. I’ve found a way to make this whole process seamless, and today, I’m going to walk you through how I collect and store recipes from social media, plan my meals, and do my grocery shopping—all without breaking a sweat.
Step 1: Collecting and Storing Recipes
So, you’ve found a recipe on Pinterest that looks delicious, or maybe you caught a quick cooking video on TikTok that you just have to try. Here’s how I make sure those recipes don’t get lost in the abyss of bookmarks or screenshots on my phone.
Saving Recipes on Pinterest:
When I find a recipe I like on Pinterest, I immediately save it to a dedicated board called “Recipes.” This way, I know exactly where to find it when I’m ready to start planning.
If I’m on Instagram or TikTok, I’ll either screenshot the recipe or save the post. But I don’t stop there—these screenshots and saved posts can quickly become overwhelming, so I make sure to upload them to my AnyList app.
Uploading Recipes to AnyList:
I use the AnyList App to organize all my recipes. AnyList lets you add recipes manually, but it also has this amazing feature where you can import recipes directly from websites. For Instagram and TikTok, I’ll manually input the recipe or copy and paste the text into the app. For Pinterest, I’ll copy the URL into the AnyList app and it automatically pulls the entire recipe. It’s so quick!
Each recipe gets categorized (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc.), so when it’s time to meal plan, I’m not scrolling aimlessly—I can quickly find what I’m looking for.
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Step 2: Meal Planning Like a Pro
Once my recipes are neatly stored in AnyList, I move on to meal planning. This is where the magic happens because a little planning goes a long way in keeping your week smooth and stress-free.
Choose Recipes for the Week:
Every Saturday, I sit down and choose the recipes I want to make for the week. I try to pick a variety of meals—some quick and easy for those busy nights, and others that might take a bit more time for when I feel like being fancy.
I usually plan for about 3-4 dinners. I typically cook on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We do leftovers on Mondays and Wednesdays. Fridays in my house are Pizza Nights and Saturdays are a toss up but usually involve eating out.
Once I plan dinners, I go back and add a few recipes for lunch. I’ll be honest- this is the meal that I struggle with the most. At work, there is always something catered or there’s something good in the cafeteria. If I’m home, I run and grab something quick on my lunch break. I’ve got to get better about sticking to a meal plan!
Add Recipes to Your Meal Plan:
In AnyList, there’s a feature where you can assign recipes to specific days of the week. I’ll drag and drop my chosen recipes into my meal plan, and just like that, my week is organized.
I also make sure to note any special occasions or nights when I know I’ll need something quick or on-the-go, so I can plan accordingly.
Step 3: Shopping Made Easy with AnyList and Instacart
With my meal plan set, it’s time to make sure I have everything I need to bring those recipes to life. This is where the AnyList and Instacart combo comes into play.
Creating a Shopping List in AnyList:
The best part about having your recipes in AnyList is that you can automatically generate a shopping list from your meal plan. AnyList will pull all the ingredients from your selected recipes and add them to your shopping list.
I go through the list and check off any items I already have in my pantry or fridge. Then, I’ll add any additional items I need that aren’t tied to specific recipes—like snacks or breakfast staples.
Ordering Groceries with Instacart:
Once my list is ready, AnyList makes magic happen. There is an in-app shopping feature that allows me to choose my favorite stores. Depending on how busy I am, I may choose to pick up groceries at our local HEB, but if I have a lot going on, I schedule grocery delivery with Instacart. When I choose the store, AnyList automatically goes down my list and searches each item. I select my brand of choice and move on to the next item. Once I’m done, I complete my order, schedule delivery or pick up and pay. That’s it!
Delivery Day:
When my groceries arrive, I quickly scan through everything to make sure it’s all there. If something’s missing, I can easily adjust the meal plan or make a quick run to the store if needed.
Why This System Works
This system has been a game-changer for me. It takes the guesswork out of what’s for dinner and makes sure I have everything I need on hand without multiple trips to the store. Plus, it saves me so much time—I’m no longer scrambling to figure out what to cook or realizing mid-recipe that I’m out of a key ingredient.
If you’re ready to streamline your meal planning and grocery shopping, I highly recommend giving AnyList and Instacart a try. Trust me, once you get into the groove, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them!
Hi, I'm Leah- THE Systems Strategist for side hustlers! I love helping side-hustling moms like you organize and automate every aspect of your busy life. Whether it’s keeping your household running smoothly, streamlining your side hustle, or finding that sweet spot where both meet, I’m here to show you that you really can have it all—with a little help from the right systems.
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