Do You Ever Have Decision Overload?

+ a new twist on an old classic: Salmon Marbella!

Happy Monday! If you’re here for the Salmon Marbella recipe, that’s bonus content for paid subscribers. Scroll to the bottom!

Do you ever feel like your brain is completely fried by the end of the day? Same. Lately, I’ve been wondering if it’s a menopause thing, but honestly, after making a hundred tiny decisions—what to wear, how to respond to emails, which olive oil to buy, which errands actually need to happen today—by 5:00 pm, I’m toast. I was talking to a friend who felt the same way. She’s not a meal planner, so when dinnertime rolls around, she just stares blankly into the fridge, overwhelmed. That’s decision overload. And when it comes to food, it often leads to takeout, cereal-for-dinner, or the same uninspiring meals on repeat.

But here’s the good news: cooking doesn’t have to be another stressor. With a few simple strategies, it can actually be the easiest part of your day.

The Power of a Template

I learned the meal template strategy from my mom. Of course, she did not have decision overload because there was no internet, no cooking shows, and she had 1 cookbook. So her options were very limited lol. Instead of reinventing the wheel every week, create a simple meal template. This doesn’t mean eating the same exact thing every day, but rather having a loose framework that removes the guesswork. For example:

• Meatless Mondays – A plant-based meal like a lentil soup or grain bowl.

• Taco Tuesdays – This could be actual tacos or a taco-inspired meal like a taco salad or burrito bowl. I can’t tell you how many people have been making my Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos weekly for years and years!

• One-Pan Wednesdays – A sheet pan meal or skillet dish.

• Throwback Thursdays – A favorite recipe from your childhood or a staple like pasta night. My mom made Baked Ziti every Thursday night my entire life!

• Fish Fridays – A simple salmon or white fish dish with roasted vegetables.

This structure helps cut down on decision fatigue while still allowing for variety within each category.

Perfect a Few Recipes

You don’t need a million recipes in your repertoire—just a handful of go-to meals that you can make without much thought. Think of these as your personal classics or what I like to call “my greatest hits,” meals you know your family enjoys and that you can whip up with minimal effort. Master a few solid dishes, and then rotate them with slight variations.

For example, I made my kids the same three or four school lunches for years, simply switching up the fruit and veggies based on what was in season. They never complained! There’s no need to feel pressure to constantly reinvent the wheel. The same approach works for dinners—change up the sauce, the protein, or the side, and you’ve got a fresh take on a familiar favorite.

Batch Cooking and Smart Prep

Another way to minimize decision fatigue is to batch cook or prep a few ingredients in advance. Roast a big tray of vegetables, cook a pot of quinoa or rice, make a simple vinaigrette—then mix and match throughout the week. A little effort on Sunday or Monday can make the rest of the week feel effortless. I always have my Everyday Salad Dressing #2 in the fridge (and the freezer) so a salad is minutes away.

Let Go of Perfection

Don’t let Instagram and Pinterest make you feel less than. We put so much pressure on ourselves to cook elaborate, exciting meals every night, but simple is often better. You might be surprised what I cook for us regularly. A delicious omelet with sautéed greens, a big chopped salad with whatever is in the fridge, or a bowl of comforting soup can be just as satisfying and nutritious as a complex recipe. Give yourself permission to make things easy.

At the end of the day, decision overload is real, but cooking doesn’t have to be another source of stress. With a little planning, a solid rotation of go-to meals, and a willingness to embrace simplicity, mealtime can become easier and more enjoyable.

What’s one meal you could make part of your regular rotation?

Even More Musings is an extension of my weekly newsletter, Monday Musings. My newsletter is a sponsor-free zone and is fully supported by readers like you. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to get Even More Musings! Each week, I share my tips and tricks along with a new recipe. For only $5/month or $50/year (less than $1 a newsletter), you'll also gain access to the entire archive, featuring favorites like My New Hyper-fixation High-Protein Fluffy Breakfast Bowl  and the Hillstone Copycat Emerald Kale Salad.  This week I am sharing a recipe for a remake of an old recipe that I love, Chicken Marbella, but with salmon!