When it comes to eating right, meal planning is one of the easiest things you can do to prepare for success. The beauty of this is that there are no rules and, really, it cannot be ruined. The key is to start and reserve a little time each week to do it. There are so many ways to approach meal planning that, after practicing only once or twice, you will begin to find what is also good for you and your family.
To help you get started, we've broken down some of the basics. We have even included two practice exercises to help you plan healthy meals for your next week!
Our feeding situations can vary greatly from week to week depending on work schedules, extracurricular activities, night commitments, travel plans, the list goes on. Here are some things to consider as you evaluate your food situation.
HOW MANY MEALS NEED TO PLAN FOR
Take a few minutes to think about what will happen next week. Making a quick inventory of each one's plans will quickly give you a rough idea of the number of meals you will need to spend the week and the number of miles you can get from each recipe.
WHAT YOU HAVE TIME FOR
If a crazy and busy week is approaching, make a mental note to be alert to fast and slow cooking or prepared meals that can be served in a hurry. We are fans of the kitchen once, we eat twice (or three times).
YOUR FOOD FOOD
Things like weather, a change in seasons and food cravings can affect what sounds good on a given day. Thinking about these things in advance will make the recipe selection process faster and the meals easier for everyone.
YOUR EDIBLE BUDGET
If you want to eat better for less (and who does not), think about seasonal products and sales. Take a look at these 6 ways to save meals.
PRACTICE OF MEAL PLANNING: MAP OF YOUR WEEKLY MEALS
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1. RECORD A PEN AND PAPER
Write down the days of the week on the left side of the page and the meals you want to plan at the top.
2. DRAW YOUR WEEKLY MEALS
Vague descriptions of fast dinner, leftovers or packaged lunch are fine by now. Do not forget to plan the leftovers and take note of the special dietary restrictions here.
3. TALLY UP
Consider how many meals you will need, grouping similar ones. For example, 2 quick dinners, 3 packed lunches ...
