How to Meal Plan

How to meal plan! This post will walk you through the why's and the how's to help you make a meal plan that will work for your budget and your lifestyle!

Do you feel like you're constantly eating out because you don't know what to make for dinner? Do you end up wasting food because you didn't plan ahead? If so, then meal planning is the solution for you!

In this post, we will discuss why meal planning is important and how to go about creating your own meal plan. We'll provide tips on what to include in your meal plan and how to make sure that it fits into your lifestyle.

Follow these simple steps, and you'll be on your way to healthier and more budget-friendly meals!

Why meal plan

There are a number of reasons to meal plan.

It saves money

Going to the grocery store with no plan is a great way to end up with a bunch of ingredients and no meals. Having a grocery list (and sticking to it), is a great way to save money and to ensure that you'll get the ingredients you need to make your meals.

To eat healthier

It's easier to eat healthier when there's a plan. It's more difficult to avoid the drive through when you don't have a plan.

Less stress

After a long day of work, trying to figure out what to make for dinner can be downright stressful. Having a plan and the ingredients already at home, makes dinner one less thing to worry about.

Cuts down on food waste

Buying ingredients with a plan in mind means that those ingredients will get used, and that helps to cut down on food waste.

Things to consider

Here are some factors to take into consideration before making your meal plan.

Sales

Building your meals around sales and deals is a great way to save money.

How much time do you want to spend cooking?

It's important to consider whether you want to meal prep or batch cook or whether you'd like to cook every day.

Pantry ingredients

Before you choose recipes, it's important to take stock of what you already have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Did you stock up on pasta during a sale? Have a bag of salad mix you need to use? Consider what you already have on hand when planning your meals.

Weekly schedule

Do you work late some evenings? Do your kids have games or practices on certain nights? Consider your weekly schedule and any upcoming events when planning your meals for the week.

Appliances

Consider the kitchen appliances that you have when choosing recipes. Do you love to use your slow cooker? Does your Instant Pot make life easier? If so, keep that in mind when selecting recipes.

Leftovers

In order to cut down on waste and minimize cooking time, consider how you’ll use leftovers. Will you eat them for lunch the next day, have them as leftovers the next night, or will you turn them into planovers and repurpose leftovers into a new meal?

How many meals

When making your plan, consider whether you want to plan for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, or all of your meals.

How to make a plan

Thinking about all of the above will become second-nature as you get more practice with meal planning. Once you'll thought it all through, it's time to choose the recipes!

You can use cookbooks, food blogs, or find recipes on Pinterest. Just make sure to choose recipes that fit into the factors discussed above.

Also, meal planning is meant to make life easier, so do what works for you! If having theme nights (i.e. Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday, Pasta Wednesday) makes planning easier for you, then do it!

Don’t forget your sides, snacks, and desserts! When planning your meals, consider what side dishes and toppings or condiments you’ll need to complete the meal. Also, decide whether you’d like to include desserts or snacks.

Shopping

Decide whether you’d like to shop in person or via a service like a grocery pick up. Now that you have your recipes, make a list of all of the items that you will need, keeping in mind the items that you already have in your fridge and pantry.

Make note of your favorite recipes

Many families have a meal rotation for a reason! Finding recipes that you love and that work well for your schedule will make future planning that much easier.

Make a contingency plan

It's important to plan for the unexpected. Meetings and appointments run late and traffic jams happen. Keep ingredients for a quick backup meal, like spaghetti, on hand for times when things go wrong.