Tips for Food Planning Your Healthy Meals

Have you ever come home from work stressed, exhausted, and hungry only to decide that tonight might be a great night to order in? Do you find yourself doing this two or three times a week simply because your life is so busy?

These questions aren’t meant to shame as we have all been there. Life doesn’t stop just because your day has been crazy busy. The kids still need to eat, the laundry still needs to get done, and you still have a night of sports, homework, or other activities ahead of you.

Let’s be honest, who would have time to even think about cooking a healthy meal with a schedule like that?

This is where the importance of food planning comes in. When you are able to plan your meals ahead of time you won’t need to hit that drive-thru window because you will already have your dinner ready. All you need to do is heat it, throw a salad together, and sit down as a family.

Even better, because everything is already set in place you can focus on other things while your food is warming.

Check out some tips to help you plan and stay on track with your food and even shopping.

Tips for Food Planning Your Healthy Meals

Taking one or two hours a week to plan your meals might seem like a hassle, and honestly, in the beginning, it might be a struggle to figure it all out.

But this can save you hours throughout the week. Doing something once a week is a lot easier than doing it multiple times a week.

One good trip to the grocery store and one afternoon in the kitchen is all you need to make an entire week of meals for your family.

Start the process by pulling out your recipe book and planning your meals for the week. Use your planner or paper and list out each meal for each day you are cooking. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Include who will be home to eat it, if applicable, so you know how many you are going to be feeding that day.
Also, look at whether the meal is to take to work or to be eaten at home. For those meals that are to-go, make sure to get some good glass prep containers or something that can travel well and be heated, if necessary.

Planning your meals is just the beginning. You also need to plan your trip to the grocery store.

Here is how:

What was once a headache can be a breeze when you have a categorized list in front of you. Make an Excel spreadsheet and list your grocery categories in bold, (frozen, produce, meats, supplies, etc.). You can even put it in order to the store layout!

Get the meal list you just created and then put each item needed under the appropriate category and print it out.

Not only do you have a focused list that will easily keep you on track and be a huge time saver, but your excel sheet can be a template for your future grocery lists.

This is also a great way to save money while you make it easier to stay on track with your healthy meals. It is a win/win all the way around.

Give it a try and let me know if it helps you!

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