A Quick Start Guide: Meal Planning Tips and Tricks

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The idea of having to prepare three meals each day can seem daunting and even impossible with the time given to us in a day. The good news is that despite the various roles and responsibilities we take on daily, you can kiss all of that stress and anxiety goodbye with the right meal prepping strategy and meal prep schedule. Here are some meal planning tips and tricks for you to try out.

Meal Planning Made Easy

Meal planning is an excellent strategy for creating a food budget while improving your food choices at the same time.

You are not the only one who finds how difficult it can be to carve out enough time to prepare a healthy meal during a busy day.

So, by prepping and cooking your meals for the week, you eliminate many of the worries that revolve around eating healthy during the day. Thoughtful meal planning also keeps you disciplined and provides a better alternative to wasting money on fast food, deliveries, and excessive eating out.

To help you achieve your health goals, here are some meal planning steps to follow.

Step 1: Creating A Food Budget

Budgeting for food requires some careful planning, especially for families. Begin by eliminating the number of times you eat out.

Next, it would be helpful to look more closely at the types of food you are purchasing from the grocery store. Finally, think simple and create a weekly menu that is easy to stick to.

Of course, you can employ tons of additional money-saving tricks like using coupons, shopping in season, canning, and finishing up leftovers the following day. 

Step 2: Start With Your Favorite Meals

Many people make the mistake of trying to cook something new every day, especially when planning meals for families.

When you’re focusing on getting healthier, the nutrients within the meal are much more important than the appearance or taste of the dish. 

Instead of focusing on creating something that would make Betty Crocker happy, begin your meal planning journey by sticking with your favorite meals. Simple recipes make the preparation process much quicker and easier. 

As you become more efficient, you can always swap out a recipe or two with each passing week. It’s important to always focus on the nutrients rather than the taste. 

Step 3: Use Leftovers As Much As You Can

You have the opportunity to save some additional time each week by using the leftovers available in your fridge.

Using items already in the fridge will accomplish a few goals:

• Saves time that would have been spent cooking or baking from scratch. 
• Prevents having a fridge full of random food items. 
• Sparks a fun, creative, and weekly activity for yourself and your family in trying to figure out how to put the week’s leftovers together. 

Pro tip: Tomorrow’s meals should start from the leftovers you have laying around. 

Step 4: Have Some Essential Ingredients 

During meal prep, it would be best to focus on getting your required calories and macronutrients for the week. Be sure to include combinations of grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. 

Keep some essential ingredients such as peanut butter, barbecue sauce, and Tabasco as a few great options to easily turn any meal into a tasty treat. 

These Meal Planning Tips and Tricks Will Help You Break Away From The Takeaway 

Meal planning is a great way to achieve your health goals.

By following these meal planning tips and tricks, you will also begin to notice that you are accumulating extra time throughout the week that can be spent doing the things you love most. Whether you’re looking for meal planning ideas for families or just yourself, these tips will help you.

Having a weekly meal plan eliminates sporadic food choices throughout the week that often are both unhealthy and expensive. So remember, keep the emotions out of the kitchen and focus on creating a healthy and sustainable menu that serves your body.