Katherine J. Kobayashi
Share on Facebook, Tweet on TwitterMeal planning can be a great help if you struggle to balance a busy week at work with eating healthily. You can refer to the meal plan for your week instead of worrying about what to prepare later. This is a great way to eliminate the guesswork and make life easier when you arrive home after work.
A meal plan allows you to try new recipes and experiment with healthy ones. You can easily prepare wholesome and tasty meals with the ingredients you already have in your pantry. A meal kit subscription will come in handy for busy parents, students and working adults. EveryPlate is a great example of a meal kit subscription service that offers healthy meals at affordable prices.
Meal Planning 1011: Contents hidden. Plan your meals. Select your recipes3. Create your shopping list4. Schedule your shopping day5. Last thoughts
Meal Planning 101
If you find that meal planning seems overwhelming, it is usually because you do not have a plan on how to approach it.
Here are some simple steps you can take to start planning your meals today.
- Schedule your time.
Every household will have a different meal plan. If you are a medical professional who has a changing schedule, you will need to plan your meals around that.
You can choose healthy and easy recipes if you know you will be returning home late. You can also cook in advance, put it on your fridge, and then heat it when you arrive home.
If you are a parent, also consider the times that your spouse will be home on time. Make sure there are enough dishes for the whole family if the house is full on Friday evenings.
Consider your schedule and your availability. Also, consider how many people will be eating with you, your child’s allergies or other factors. You can create a plan of meals that fits your lifestyle.
You can also control the foods and ingredients that you put in your body when you plan ahead.
- Select your favorite recipes
The fun part is choosing your recipes and meals! While you are listing your recipes, make an inventory of your pantry and fridge. Also, note any products that will soon expire, such as canned goods. This will help you reduce waste, encourage conscientious shopping, and free up space in your pantry.
Make sure you choose recipes that suit the weather. You can prepare soups, noodles, and hot pots if it is rainy. You can choose quick and easy recipes if you’ve never done meal planning. You can check out a variety of blogs. You will feel more motivated to stick with your weekly routine.
If you have been cooking for a long time, you may choose recipes that are based on themes. It’s a great way to spice up your meal planning, and you can try new healthy dishes. If you have a craving for Asian cuisines, browse through the digital recipes to find some tasty and easy Asian recipes.
- Your grocery list is complete
Once you have narrowed your choices down, it is time to write down all of the products, ingredients, and other necessities needed to prepare the dish. You can search for alternative brands of ingredients and condiments if you need clarification on the brand.
You can group them into categories to make it easier to find them when you are shopping. Group together, for example, all dairy products, cans of food, poultry, and other items.
Decide which ingredients are worth the time spent cutting and preparing. You can buy pre-cut meat if you need more time. If you’re okay with it, you can buy pre-chopped veggies.
You can save money by planning your meals.
- Schedule your shopping day.
You can schedule your shopping to fit your free time. If you are working Saturdays and Sundays, then you may want to shop the day after or before your shift.
If you are too busy to go shopping, you could opt for online grocery services or meal kit subscriptions. You can save money by using these services and support local farmers, as they are in partnership with some of them. These businesses usually have pre-measured and pre-cut ingredients that help you to reduce food waste. They deliver ingredients to your door, so following your meal plan is easy.
If you have a weekend off, set aside a shopping day and stick to it. You can easily incorporate grocery shopping into your weekly routine.
- Be flexible
You want to follow your plan, but sometimes unexpected events can arise. You might be too tired, forced to work overtime, or have friends over. Treat yourself to food from your favorite restaurant.
You don’t have to stop ordering take-outs and food when you plan your meals. Meal planning can be used as a backup plan in case Thursday’s planned dinner out has to be canceled.
It should be fun to plan your meals and ensure that you eat healthy despite the demands of your daily routine. Beginners may burn out if they don’t allow for rapid revisions and experiments. Slow down and find out what you like.
Final Thoughts
You can introduce meal planning into your daily routine using different strategies. Following these simple steps, you can create a meal plan to suit your lifestyle. You don’t have to make every dish, but meal planning allows you to return to the kitchen.
