What is the very first step in meal planning?

A few times a year — usually right after the holidays and right before school starts — my meal planning system needs a refresh. It starts with a few too many weeks where groceries go underutilized or we find our takeout budget blown before the month's end. This happens to even the best meal planners during busy seasons or big life changes. When it does, I take a little self-inventory and revisit what I know and love about meal planning and what still needs some work.

Think of this quiz as a status check for yourself too — whether you're an expert meal planner who's just fallen off the wagon a bit or you're starting this whole endeavor from scratch, take this quiz to see what you know and where you can grow before you start meal planning.

How to Take This Quiz

This four-question quiz is quick and easy. Choose one answer for each question and make note of the number for each of your answers. Scroll down to find your personality based on your results.

What is the very first step in meal planning?

1. Preparing food for the week ahead.
2. 2. Selecting recipes for the week.
3. 3. Checking the calendar for events and obligations.
4. 4. Taking stock of your pantry and fridge

You choose recipes based on the following:

1. The number of leftovers they'll leave for lunches.
2. How much your family loves them.
3. How fast they are for busy weeknights.
4. All of the above, plus how well they use up pantry ingredients.

At the grocery store, do you ...

1. Have a general list of staples you can turn into many meals?
2. Organize your list by area?
3. Choose shortcuts to get shopping and dinner done faster?
4. Have a full belly, a grocery list, and your favorite reusable bags?

Finally, what meal planning step do you love the most?

1. Meal prepping — chopping and whisking soothes the Sunday Blues.
2. Pinning and saving recipes that you hope to make each week.
3. Getting out of the grocery store with everything on my list in record time.
4. The ability to easily repeat the same stress-free success each week.