Would you like to eat healthier, but are too busy to do so consistently? Then meal planning could be an answer to prayer.
Many assume that planning meals is going to be time-consuming or complicated. However, it is a strategy that can help you save time. To be successful at most things in life takes planning — eating is no different. When we are more intentional about eating (and shopping for food) this can make life easier, especially for busy professionals and parents.
Find out how meal planning can enhance your life, and how to get started.
Benefits of Meal Planning:
- Eat Healthier. People who strategically plan their meals tend to make smarter food choices. Meal planning can help you to be more intentional about designing meals that are focused on whole foods and balanced nutrition.
- Manage chronic conditions. By being more intentional about eating healthier, you reduce inflammation throughout your body. This benefit helps to relieve discomfort and pain and aids in relieving various health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Save time. While it does take a little time for planning and preparation, you will undoubtedly make up for it in the end. Think about the time you will save by no longer allowing your daily meals to be a matter of guesswork. By eliminating last-minute trips in search of food, you will save lots of time.
- Cut costs. By comparison, shopping to find out which stores have the best prices and taking advantage of weekly sales, you can save money on food purchases. You’ll also save gas money by not taking frequent food trips.
- Reduce stress. If you have a busy life you’re probably well acquainted with how stressful it can be trying to figure out what you and the family are going to eat day by day. Planning your meals ahead of time will help you breathe a sigh of relief, and relieve stress.
- Reduce food waste. Between 30 to 40% of our national food supply winds up in landfills, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to lowering your food bill, you’ll be helping the environment.
Succeeding at Meal Planning:
- Use a calendar. This will give you a longer-range view of planning your meals. Maybe you can schedule times when you will try new recipes. You may also want to factor in those occasions when you and the family decide to eat at a restaurant.
- Take inventory. Figure out what you already have on hand, so that you can determine what items you want to purchase, and what things you’ve had around for a while.
- Make a list. Now that you know what you have and what you don’t have, you can make a list. Shopping with a list will help you remember what you need and avoid impulse purchases. This also saves money. To save more time, try to avoid shopping on the weekends when stores are crowded.
- Stock your pantry. Fill your pantry and freezer with items that you will use frequently. Stock up on basic items like pasta, rice, dried beans, peas, olive oil, baking supplies, and frozen vegetables. Learn to store items to maximize their freshness and life.
- Equip your kitchen. Owning a few pieces of choice equipment can make cooking simpler and quicker. Having items like a slow cooker, a good blender, a food processor, and quality knives can be beneficial.
- Cook in batches. Prepare meals with more than one day in mind. This will prevent you from having to start from scratch every day. Cooking in batches will also ultimately be a time saver.
- Use technology. Explore websites and apps that speed up the process. Browse for meal planning templates online. Subscribe to services that will send you recipes based on your preferences.
- Be flexible. Meal planning is more effective when you customize it for you. Be realistic about your available time and cooking skills. You can start small and work your way up.
Once you’ve gotten a good taste of regular meal planning, you may wonder how you lived without it. Taking a more strategic approach to food shopping and preparation can help you eat healthier, while you save time and money.
Photo by: Yaroslav Shuraev