Help.
That's usually what every mom needs come sunday evening (or at least me). I know I need the help planning the meals, so that way come 5PM I'm not loosing my mind by the words "whats for dinner?"
How can you plan your meals?
There are many ways you can navigate this. I've found hitting up Pintrest, looking in the freezer, thinking of meals we haven't had in a while.
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Choose a Set Time: Select a specific day and time each week to plan your meals and create a shopping list.
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Find Recipes: Look for recipes that you want to try, considering your dietary preferences and any ingredients you already have.
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Create a Meal Plan: Outline your meals for the week, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
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Make a Shopping List: Write down all the ingredients you need for the week based on your meal plan.
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Prep in Advance: Consider doing some meal prep, such as chopping vegetables or marinating proteins, to save even more time during the week.
What is the advantage to meal planning for your family?
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Save Time: Planning your meals in advance eliminates the need to constantly decide what to eat. You'll spend less time each day figuring out what to cook or where to order from. Plus, you can prepare multiple meals at once, making cooking more efficient.
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Save Money: Meal planning allows you to create a shopping list based on what you need for the week's meals. This reduces impulsive spending on takeout or extra groceries and helps you stick to a budget.
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Reduce Food Waste: When you plan your meals, you can buy ingredients in the right quantities, minimizing food waste. You can also incorporate leftovers into your plan, reducing the chances of discarding uneaten food.
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Healthier Eating: By planning your meals, you have better control over the nutritional content of your food. You can make sure you include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and balanced meals in your diet. It's easier to avoid fast food or unhealthy snacks when you have a plan in place.
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Portion Control: Planning meals in advance can help you manage portion sizes, preventing overeating. You can also choose healthier cooking methods, like baking or grilling, rather than frying.
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Variety: Meal planning encourages you to try new recipes and cuisines. It allows you to incorporate diverse ingredients and flavors into your weekly menu.
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Stress Reduction: Knowing what you're going to eat each day reduces the stress of last-minute meal decisions. This can be particularly helpful when you have a busy week ahead.
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Family and Social Benefits: Meal planning can involve your family or housemates in the process, making it a collaborative effort. You can also use it as an opportunity to connect with friends by planning and cooking meals together.
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Efficient Shopping: With a meal plan and grocery list in hand, your shopping trips become more efficient, saving you time and energy. By grabbing a shults farm Meat box to make your meal planning for an easy peasy one shopping plan!
Here is a meat box you can pre-order now!
We also try to do family theme nights!
1. Mexican
2. Italian
3. Chinese
4. American
5. Soup and Sandwich
And many more!
I've created a simple meal planning menu for you to use! Download, print or keep it as a picture and write on it on your phone and send it to your family to keep them updated!
Click Download to go to my canva page! FREE!
Thanks for coming along fam,
Marybeth & Lori.