The Meal Plan Said Chicken… My Brain Said Sandwiches

How often do you avoid making a decision because your brain suddenly acts like choosing one thing is equivalent to solving a murder mystery?

What should I make for dinner? Should I answer that text? Do I switch the laundry now or just accept that the dryer is its permanent home? And why are there 47 brands of yogurt?!

You are not alone. Most people experience decision fatigue at some point because our brains naturally crave simplicity. But if you’re neurodivergent? It’s amplified. Every little choice can start feeling mentally exhausting.

Which is why something as “simple” as grocery shopping can feel like an extreme sport. You walk in with a list and confidence. You walk out with random snacks, one unnecessary candle, and somehow none of the ingredients for the actual meals you planned.

As a mom of three, I experience decision fatigue daily — especially when it comes to dinner. I plan. I shop. I organize. I buy all the groceries with the genuine belief that this will be the week I stick to the meal plan.

Then 5:30 PM arrives.

I open the fridge like it personally betrayed me. Suddenly none of the meals sound possible. The recipe has too many steps. The chicken needs thawing. Someone is crying. I’m overstimulated. And somehow the only thing my brain can process is… sandwiches.

Again.

At this point, sandwiches are less of a meal and more of a survival strategy.

For a long time, I blamed myself for not being able to “just stick to the plan.” I thought I lacked discipline or consistency. But now I understand that it’s not laziness or failure. My brain simply needs flexibility in order to function well.

So instead of rigid meal planning, I create systems that actually work with my ADHD brain instead of against it.

Rather than committing to specific recipes every night, I plan flexible meals like:

• bowl nights

• sheet pan meals

• taco nights

• “everyone fend for yourself” nights

I keep the basics on hand: protein, fruits, veggies, dairy, bread, and ingredients for a good sauce because honestly, sauce makes people believe you tried harder than you did.

This kind of flexible structure helps me stay consistent without feeling trapped by a plan. But here’s the important part: what works for my brain may not work for yours.

And that’s exactly why individualized support matters.

At Love and Focus Coaching, I help people create personalized systems that fit their brains — not someone else’s color-coded Pinterest fantasy. Together we build routines, habits, and strategies that reduce overwhelm, increase confidence, and make everyday life feel a little less chaotic.

No judgment. No shame. Just support, strategy, and a whole lot of love.