Meal planning is key to avoiding the unhealthy and expensive habit of ordering takeout regularly. The first step in meal planning is evaluating the upcoming week’s schedule to determine which days are busy and which can accommodate meal preparation. The next step is planning out meals in advance and making a grocery list, considering what ingredients are already in your pantry and fridge. Prep ingredients and meals ahead of time to make cooking during a busy week more manageable. Having healthy snacks and pre-made meals stored away for busy days is essential. Use technology to help with meal planning by accessing websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms.
How to Meal Plan for a Busy Week (and Avoid Takeout!)
Are you tired of scrambling to put together dinner every night after a long day of work? Do you find yourself resorting to takeout more often than you’d like? Eating out or ordering in can quickly become expensive and unhealthy habits. To make sure you’re eating well and efficiently, meal planning is the key. Here are some tips on how to meal plan for a busy week.
Evaluate your schedule
The first step in meal planning is to evaluate your schedule for the upcoming week. Look at your calendar and determine which days you’ll have time to prepare a meal, and which days may be busier. If you know there’s a day when you’ll be working late or have a social event, plan to have a simple meal or leftovers on that day.
Plan out meals in advance
Now that you know which days you’ll be cooking, it’s time to plan out your meals. Start by selecting your recipes for the week. Make a list of meals that you’d like to have and consider what ingredients you’ll need.
Make a grocery list
Once you’ve selected your meals, make a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to buy. Make sure to check your pantry and fridge first to see what items you already have on hand. This will save you money and reduce food waste. Then, organize your list by store section so that you’re not running around the entire store when shopping.
Prep ingredients and meals ahead of time
One of the biggest challenges of cooking during a busy week is finding the time to prepare meals. That’s where meal prepping comes into play. Set aside time on the day you grocery shop to wash, chop, and prep any ingredients you’ll need for the week. You can also cook a large batch of something in your slow cooker or Instant Pot and use it throughout the week.
Store snacks and meals for busy days
No matter how organized and prepared you are, there will always be days when you just don’t have the time or energy to cook a full meal. That’s where having healthy snacks and pre-made meals come in handy. When prepping ingredients, make sure to chop up some veggies and fruit to have on hand for a quick and healthy snack. Also, consider making a large batch of a healthy dish like quinoa salad, soup or lasagna that you can easily reheat or grab on the way out the door.
Use technology to help you meal plan
There’s an abundance of resources available online to help you in your meal planning journey. Websites, mobile apps, and social media can provide inspiration and organization for meal planning. There are mobile apps like Mealime and Paprika that offer recipe ideas, grocery lists, and nutritional information. Pinterest is great for saving new recipes and organizing them into categories. Also, many food bloggers share weekly meal planning ideas and grocery lists on their websites and social media.
In conclusion, meal planning is a crucial habit to develop for those with busy lives. Spend some time each week planning out your meals, prepping ingredients, and using technology to your advantage. With a little bit of organization and planning, you can avoid the takeout trap and have healthy meals throughout the week.