Meal Planning Made Easy

Coming home from work late or too busy to figure out dinner plans? Ordering take-out might be convenient, but it’s not always the healthiest choice for you or your wallet. Instead, try putting together a meal plan, so you always have something ready to eat.

A good meal plan starts with choosing meals you want to make first then creating a shopping list of ingredients. Buying for the week means you’ll make fewer shopping trips and buy only the items you need. Here are some basic tips for creating your menu and grocery list:

1. Shop your kitchen first. Take note of what you already have on hand and save money by using these ingredients in the upcoming week’s recipes.
    
2. Map out your meals. Write down the days of the week and what you’d like to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
    
3. Use recipes for inspiration. Stuck in a rut? Choose unique and healthy recipes that include ingredients you already have on hand, your family enjoys or is a good deal.
    
4. Match your schedule. When you know which days will be busier than others, it helps to have a quick meal in mind ahead of time. Make time consuming or bulk recipes on the weekend to be enjoyed on your busiest days.
    
5. Love your leftovers. Choose recipes with enough servings for dinner one night or lunch the next day. You’ll reduce the number of ingredients you need to buy and save time prepping.

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