Benefits of Meal Planning & How to Get Started

1. SHOP WITH A LIST & USE THE LEFTOVERS

Make a list of foods you love that you could incorporate into your meal prep routine. Whether it be go-to snacks that you can use during busy work days or simple and quick meals that make you feel good. This will give you a starting point for your meal plan and make it easier to come up with ideas on the fly.

 Create a shopping list based on your meal plan, which will not only save you time when shopping, but also stop you buying unnecessary items, saving you money. Plan your meals at the same time so that you not only use them for that lunch, snack or dinner, but you can also use some of them to prepare other meals. This will make meal prep itself incredibly easy and save you a lot of time as well.

Rather than spending money on food I don’t have, meal planning helps me reduce food waste and mitigate needless shopping trips by utilizing what’s already on hand.

2. UTILIZE YOUR FREEZER

One of the main benefits of using a freezer is that it allows you to make double batches of meals and freeze half for a quick and easy meal on a busy night. This can save you time and effort in the kitchen, as you can simply defrost and reheat a pre-made meal instead of starting from scratch. This can also be a cost-effective way to plan meals, as you can save money by buying ingredients in bulk and stretching them over multiple meals.

Another way that a freezer can help with meal planning is by allowing you to store leftovers in a convenient and safe way. Instead of letting leftover food go to waste, you can package it up and store it in the freezer for a quick and easy meal at a later date. This can help to save time and money, as you won’t have to start from scratch every time you want to make a meal.

A freezer can also be a useful tool for meal planning by allowing you to store pre-prepared ingredients or partially prepared meals. For example, you can chop vegetables or marinate proteins in advance and store them in the freezer until you’re ready to use them. This can save you time and effort in the kitchen and make it easier to put together a meal on a busy night.

3. EQUIP YOUR KITCHEN

 It is hard to cook and store meals if you don’t have the necessary equipment. There are several pieces of kitchen equipment that can be essential for meal planning, and the specific tools you need will depend on your personal cooking style and the types of meals you like to prepare. A few examples of basic kitchen equipment that can help you with meal planning that I use myself include: a set of good knives, a cutting board, a set of measuring cups and spoons, a set of bowls, and of course a set of boxes to portion your meals into.

4. USE A SLOW COOKER

A slow cooker can be a helpful tool for meal prep in a few different ways. Using a slow cooker allows you to prep meals in advance and have them ready to eat when you get home. Simply add your ingredients to the slow cooker in the morning, set the timer, and come home to a ready-to-eat meal. This can save you time and effort in the kitchen, as you won’t have to spend time preparing a meal from scratch after a long day.

It also allows you to cook large batches of meals in advance. You can make a big batch of soup, stew, or chili on the weekend, for example, and portion it out for quick and easy meals throughout the week.

5. STOCK UP ON PANTRY AND FRIDFE STAPLES

If you have basic ingredients in your pantry and fridge, meal planning is definitely easier and less stressful. It’s definitely a useful strategy, as it can make it easier to put together quick and convenient meals on busy days. If you have a well-stocked pantry and fridge, you’ll have a variety of ingredients on hand that you can use to whip up a quick and easy meal. This can be especially helpful on busy days when you don’t have time to plan a meal in advance or make a trip to the grocery store.

You’ll also be less likely to have to make last-minute trips to the store, which can save you time and money. Plus, having a variety of ingredients on hand can help you to create meals at home instead of eating out, which can also save you money.