Meal planning is one of those things that you don’t really want to do, because it feels like it will take too much time and effort – but actually it can be a game changer when it comes to less stress and work in the kitchen each day. But, planning, prepping, and even cooking several days worth of meals ahead of time has a number of proven advantages, from saving you time, to helping you get a wider variety of nutrients in your diet.
So what are the benefits of meal planning?
1. Save time. Planning your meals for the week can help you to manage your time better.
2. Portion control.
3. Reduces the amount of food waste.
4. Reduce the stress of cooking last minute, avoiding the “hangry”.
5. Save money, because you’re shopping for what you “need”.
6. Avoid unhealthy options like fast food or Door Dash fixes.
7. Enjoy more variety.
So, what’s the best way to accomplish this? Involve the family. Has a sit down where everyone is involved in what meals they want to eat in the upcoming week. Once the meals have been decided, then it’s time to make a grocery list, and shop. Pick a day (usually a weekend day) to prepare/prep for the upcoming meals ahead of time. Use a calendar to write down what meals are going to be eaten on what day, that way everyone can help.