Meal Planning System

When trying to eat healthier or cook more at home, this is often what people say. I just need a list of foods to eat. Here is some ideas to help you continue to create that list from your own food preferences. You can follow another person’s plan, but incorporating what you like every week will ensure that you are personalizing it.

I encourage creating a system of planning, shopping and cooking. Once you do that you can practice your system and adjust as needed to make it better.

When you are planning first consider what you want to eat. If you are trying to eat healthier, see if there is a healthier version available or just add vegetables to it. You can use what you have for inspiration. You might already have some recipes saved, recipe books or bookmarks saved in your phone. Getting those out will support you in the tools you already have.

If you are already shopping now, what do you usually buy? Would you add any healthy foods to that? Where do you keep the list? Couple the new goal with what you are already doing.

After shopping you can do a little prep work. Meal planning doesn’t need to take all day, you can start with washing any vegetables. Cooking meat ahead might be appropriate for some recipes and saves time. Throwing something in the crockpot can get you a few meals. When you cook one meal, you can make leftovers or add some sides for variety and use the same main dish.

Practice your system. The more you do it, the more efficient you will become at it. Make any adjustments and share the system with the family, so they can get involved and help.

I also suggest saving recipes in a box in your kitchen, if you are old school. I prefer to do this with favorite recipes.

See also: tips on planning for weight loss here or thedowellbewell.com/coming-down-is-just-as-important/