Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact, it can be quite simple! Meal planning is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting the nutrition you need while also saving time and money. But if meal planning isn’t your strong suit, don’t worry. Here are five tricks to help make meal planning easier.
Make a List
Before you go grocery shopping, take some time to make a list of all the ingredients you need for the week’s meals. As you plan out what meals you’ll make, consider which items could be used in more than one dish and try to stick with whole foods whenever possible. Not only will this save time at the store, but it will save money as well.
Prep Ahead
Setting aside some time on Sunday or another day during the week to do prep work for upcoming meals can help reduce stress during busy days and ensure that everything is ready when it needs to be. This could mean chopping vegetables ahead of time so they’re ready to throw into a stir fry or prepping ingredients for an easy slow cooker meal. That way all you have to do is pull it out and toss everything in!
Cook Once, Eat Twice (or More!)
Another great trick is taking advantage of leftovers by cooking once and eating twice (or more!). If possible, double up on recipes so that you can use them throughout the week in different dishes or freeze them for later use. For example, if you’re making roasted vegetables one night, cook extra that can be used as part of a frittata or salad later in the week.
Freezer-Friendly Meals
The freezer can be your best friend when it comes to meal planning! Freezing ingredients allows them to stay fresh longer so there’s less food waste and preparing freezer-friendly meals keeps dinner quick and easy on busy nights. Soups, stews, and chilies are all great options because they usually freeze well and taste even better after sitting in a container for a while!
Keep It Simple
Last but not least, don’t overcomplicate things! Meal planning doesn’t have to involve fancy recipes every night. Keep it simple with staples like grilled chicken breasts with roasted potatoes or tacos made with ground beef and beans—recipes that require minimal effort but still provide plenty of flavor (and nutrition).
Meal planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming; these five simple tips will help make it easier than ever before! Whether it’s prepping ahead of time or making sure your recipes are freezer-friendly, these tricks will save both time and money while providing delicious meals every single night of the week. With just a little effort upfront, healthy eating can become second nature—so why not try it? You won’t regret it!
