Who is tired of stressing out about what to eat for dinner every night?

During this quarantine season, I can imagine you feel the stress even more without the freedom to go to the store everyday to grab something your forgot. Meal planning can make your life easier, your grocery shopping trips less stressful, save you money, and can help you feel more in control about what you are eating and feeding your family. Not to mention, keep your risk of catching COVID-19 down by limiting your trips to the store!!

I truly believe having a plan is one of the most important ways to eat well. When plans aren’t in place, last minute and convenient decisions are made, which let’s be real… aren’t always the best decisions.

I hear from clients over and over again, that they feared planning food would limit their food freedom. Once they get in the habit, they all say that having a plan gives them more freedom! When you don’t have to stress about what to make for dinner every day, you have more brain power to enjoy and do other things!!

I know, it can be a dreadful process, but once the process is in place it becomes a tool for success, and you will get to the point where you aren’t willing to not utilize that tool… because you know how it will lead to your success.

Here are a couple tips on meal planning:

Think about meals and what is going on around those times:

• Will you need to pack food? Have a quick meal? Utilize leftover? Will you feel like cooking?

• Be realistic and recognize your time and energy restrictions!!! Thinking through these things can prevent that situation that we’ve all been in… You get home late, had a plan to make a full meal. Then you ran out of time and energy and your left eating PB&J and cereal, feeling like you failed cause you didn’t eat as planned.

Utilize leftovers!

Think about breakfast, lunch and snacks!

• I often see that when people meal plan they only think about dinner, which leaves your scrambling for the rest of the day!

Think about fresh ways to use normal ingredients.

• I can’t even tell you the amount of different meals we’ve made with chicken and rice! Use spices; look for a cuisine you haven’t tried making before; think about your favorite flavors when you eat out and try to replicate at home!!

Balance your meals, always!

• Each meal should include a protein, starch and fruit or vegetable. Plan it that way!

Make a list, and check it!

• There is nothing more frustrating than forgetting an ingredient or buying something you already have!! Eliminate this issue by checking what you have and making sure all ingredients you need are on your list.

Meal planning can be so helpful in keeping you and your family eating healthy AND it can save time, stress and money.

Check out these resources to help you meal plan better!

Menu subscription:

Do you feel like you run out of ideas when it comes to fresh meals? Let me help by sending you 3 meals a week that include a complete grocery list and meal prep instructions!!

Meal Plan Guides:

Organize your meal plans! These are 3 templates that I encourage you try out now!!!

Option 1: This guide will help you keep your week, days and grocery lists all in one place!! It even helps you keep track of your nutrient intake daily!

Option 2: This guide will help you think through each meal of the week and plan according based on what is going on around that meal and what type of meal you need to have.

Option 3: This guide is a simple way to help you organize and plan your week!

And I will leave you with this: a goal without a plan is just a dream, so plan your food out!!!