We are nearing the end of our 21 days of Intentional Health Challenges! So glad you’ve joined me. Do you like to plan activities, special events and/or your weekly meals? We’ll look at 8 Tips to Successful Meal Planning.
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What about holidays? How to Enjoy the Holidays with Food Allergies will give you seven tips on how to PLAN to be successful.
Our challenge today is planning our weekly menu BEFORE the week begins.
It’s a fact of life, we need to eat and drink to survive. We all have different ways to go about nourishing ourselves.
Which one describes you?
- Plan the next day’s meal the evening before.
- Decide what to eat when you’re hungry, making each day an adventure.
- Plan your weekly menu and make your grocery list accordingly.
If #1 or #2 describes you; maybe you’re a spontaneous person? Please keep reading and we’ll see if you’ll accept the challenge of planning out your weekly menu.
If #3 describes you; you already know the benefits of planning out your meals. Perhaps you can offer some tips to others on menu planning.
Plan Your Weekly Menu Challenge
- 7 Benefits of Meal Planning
- 8 Tips to Successful Menu Planning
- Challenge: Plan out 7 days worth of meals
7 Benefits of Meal Planning
Reduces food waste. You will prepare your meals according to the portions needed, therefore avoiding wasting food. Every item you purchase will have a purpose.
Saves valuable time. In the long run, you’ll save time with planning ahead. You’ll make one trip to the grocery store that week. When you prepare food at home, it takes less time then driving to get take out or eating at a restaurant. (Crock pots are wonderful time savers!!)
Relieves stress from the week. No worries about what you’re going to prepare to eat the next day. You’ll have food in the fridge or freezer all set for the week.
Improves your diet. You’ll be eating food that has less sodium and preservatives. Planning to eat your vegetables will be beneficial to your health.
Saves you money. I love to save money! You can grab store coupons for items on your menu that week. Look online for ecoupons offered at your favorite grocery store. You’ll make less trips to the grocery store saving both gas and buying food items you may never eat. Shopping off a grocery list is an excellent way to know how much food you need for a week.
Eat nutritional balanced meals. Plan to succeed! You can buy a variety of vegetables and fruit for your week.
Teaching/practicing a quality life skill. Now this a huge value!!! As humans, we need food to survive
8 Tips to Successful Menu Planning
- Set aside an hour each week for planning meals. (Sunday afternoons work for me.)
- Check out the sale ads for your local grocery store. Look in the paper and online.
- Write out a grocery list based on your meals for that week(s).
- Buy just what you need, especially in perishable items. (Less waste)
- Incorporate your leftovers into an other meal. I like to use leftovers for breakfast or lunch.
- Use resources like recipe sites and Pinterest. By visiting an established blog or business Pinterest page, their organized boards will save you ALOT of time. Check out Intentionally Healthy Living on Pinterest for examples of how boards are laid out for your convenience.
- Take advantage of a slow cooker. Slow cookers are an excellent tool to be successful with preparing and planning meals at home.
- Double up on recipes and freeze them for the following week. I love freezing meals, especially when I know I have a very busy week coming up. (Tip: freeze meals to take with you RV camping.)
Check out: 31 Paleo Crock Pot Freezer Meals by The Family Freezer.
Resources
- Thrive Market. Online organic grocery store. (Our family saved over $1000. last year on our grocery bills by buying discounted health food.)
- Post: 3 Keys to Successful Meal Planning
- Meal Planner Pro: Free menu planning calendar service.
- Saymmm. Free meal planning, grocery list maker and recipe organizer.
- Grocery Pal. An app you can download on your phone to simplify grocery shopping.
- AnyList. The best way to create a grocery shopping list.
- Free Printable Meal Planning by Family Fresh Meals
Plan Your Weekly Menu Challenge
Challenge: Write out 7 days worth of meals. Create your grocery list based on those meals.
Share your challenge one of 4 ways; by commenting below, commenting on my Facebook page, Instagram page or email me your acceptance. Use #accept21dayhealthchallenge on your social media comments.
Pursing Better Health Together,