Meal Planning Step By Step

Sep 11, 2023 | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition

Meal planning can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it. By following these steps, you can save time, money, and stress, and eat healthier meals.

Meal planning takes some organisation and time, so it’s important to set aside some time each week to do it. A good time to do it is on a day off work or evenings, when you have some time to relax and focus on your meal plan.

There are many meal planning apps and websites available that can make the process easier. These apps can help you find recipes, create grocery lists, and track your progress. Or dive into your recipe books and jot down your ideas on to your day-to-day planner.

Meal Planning Easy Steps

1. Consider your dietary needs and preferences. Think about what foods you and your family enjoy eating, as well as any dietary restrictions you have. This will help you narrow down your choices and make sure you’re planning meals that everyone will enjoy.

2. Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start finding recipes. There are many resources available online, apps and in cookbooks. Look for recipes that are easy to make, within your budget, and that use ingredients you already have on hand.

3. Recipes found, now start planning your meals for the week. Be sure to include a variety of dishes, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Include some of your favourite dishes

4. Once meal plan is complete, it’s time to make a grocery list of the ingredients you need. This will help you stay organised and avoid forgetting anything when you go shopping. When you’re ready to shop, take your grocery list with you and stick to it as much as possible. This will help you avoid impulse purchases and stay on budget. Choose your produce carefully, fresh, healthy and if possible, source locally.

5. Remember to take a look at what ingredients you already have on hand. This will help you avoid buying things you don’t need and make your grocery shopping more efficient.

6. Once you have your groceries, it’s time to start cooking. Make your ingredients work, and do use up your leftovers. If you have time, you can cook all of your meals ahead of time. Bulk cooking is a great way to have a good selection of home cooked foods and consider freezing them for later. This will save you time during your busy week.

7. Set up a good store of dried ingredients; rice, pasta, herbs and spices. Tinned food such as mackerel, beans and pulses are a super way to create a delicious, nutritious quick meal. Keep a stock of frozen fruits, vegetables, meat and fish as a back-up.

8. It is helpful to kit out your kitchen with some essentials such as pots, pans and utensils.

Speak to a Nutritional therapist if you need support with your personlised meal planning or to simply get help to get started.

Here are some additional tips for meal planning:

Keep your meal plan visible and adjust where needed.
Keep a grocery list on the go, add ingredients as they run out.
Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan, so be prepared to make changes to your meal plan as needed.
Get creative. There are endless possibilities when it comes to meal planning, so don’t be afraid to get creative and try new things.
If you have a family, get them involved in the meal planning process. This will help everyone feel invested in the meals and make it more likely that they’ll actually eat them.

The best part of meal planning is enjoying the fruits of your labour. Sit down with your family and friends and enjoy your delicious, healthy meals.

The information contained in this blog is not intended to treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a health practitioner. Please consult a qualified health practitioner if you have a pre-existing health condition or are currently taking prescribed medication. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet.