Top 5 Canva Templates Every Bookworm Should Try

Let’s be honest: figuring out what to eat every single day can feel like a full-time job. If you’ve ever stood in front of the fridge at 5pm with no plan and a growling stomach—friend, you are not alone.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a meal prep queen or a spreadsheet lover to stay on top of your weekly meals. In fact, you can make meal planning fun, aesthetic, and totally stress-free with a little help from Canva. 🎨✨

Whether you’re planning for a busy family or just yourself, this blog post will walk you through how to create a beautiful and practical meal planner + grocery list using Canva. Let’s get organized, save money, and (finally!) skip the dinner-time scramble. 💃

🧡 Why Meal Planning Works (And Feels So Good!)

Before we jump into the design process, let’s talk about why meal planning is such a game-changer:

• 🧠 Less decision fatigue during the week

• 🛒 Fewer last-minute grocery runs

• 💸 Big savings (because you’re actually using what you buy!)

• 🥗 Healthier, more balanced meals

• 🕊 More peace and less panic around dinner time

Plus, it helps you avoid the dreaded question: “What’s for dinner?” again.

🖥 Step 1: Open Canva and Choose a Layout

Head to Canva.com and start a new design. I recommend using:

• 8.5x11” (portrait) for a printable version

• Or Instagram Post (1080x1080) if you want something digital to save to your phone or tablet

You can search for “meal planner” or “grocery list” to browse Canva’s free templates—or start from scratch and build something that fits your routine!

🗓 Step 2: Add Your Weekly Menu Sections

Start by laying out the days of the week. You can go vertical (Mon–Sun in a column) or horizontal (a weekly grid) depending on how your brain works best!

Include sections like:

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Or just a single line if you’re only planning dinner

• Bonus: add a column for “Leftovers” or “Eating Out”

Make it cute with color-coded boxes or fun Canva icons (plates, utensils, hearts—you name it!).

🛒 Step 3: Design Your Grocery List

Next, add a simple grocery list next to your menu. Organize it by category:

• Produce

• Dairy

• Meat / Protein

• Pantry

• Frozen

• Miscellaneous

This makes grocery shopping faster and helps you avoid aisle zig-zags (you know the ones 😅).

✨ Tip: Leave space for “Staples to Restock” like olive oil, paper towels, or coffee—because running out of coffee? Not on our watch.

🎨 Step 4: Add Personal Touches

Customize your meal planner with:

• Your favorite colors or theme (pastel, rustic, bold—you do you!)

• A motivational quote or meal planning mantra (“Cook once, eat twice!”)

• Space for notes, snack ideas, or prep reminders

You can even include a “This Week’s Favorite Meal” box to track what your family loved most!

💾 Step 5: Save, Print, and Use Weekly

Download your planner as a PDF or PNG and either:

• Print and hang it on your fridge

• Use it digitally on your iPad or phone

• Make a reusable version with dry-erase laminate!

You’ll be amazed how much smoother your week goes when you already know what’s for dinner.

🛍 Want a Done-for-You Meal Planner?

Looking for a head start? I’ve got you covered!

Check out my Canva meal planner templates and printable grocery lists in my Etsy shop:👉 A Rea of Treasures on Etsy

Inside, you’ll find:

• Meal planners for families, singles, and batch-cookers

• Matching grocery list designs

• Menu boards you can print or use in a digital planner

• Bonus: coordinating kitchen printables + fun food-themed scrapbook paper!

Everything is designed with love to make your everyday routine easier and prettier.

💌 Want My Favorite Canva Templates for Free?

Join my mailing list and you’ll get:

• A bundle of free Canva templates for posts + printables

• Weekly tips for design, content, and scrapbooking

• Special discounts in my shop

• First access to new releases + digital freebies

👉 Click here to sign up! Let’s build your dream toolkit—one template at a time!

🧡 Final Thoughts

Meal planning doesn’t have to be rigid or overwhelming—it can be a small, beautiful act of care for yourself and your family.With Canva, it’s easy to create a system that works for you—and looks good doing it!

So go ahead, open up that design dashboard, and start mapping out your week with confidence. You’re going to love how it feels to plan with purpose (and maybe even a splash of joy).

You’ve got this! 🍽✨