I hosted a small gathering recently. And my mom chastised me for not writing the menu I was planning to serve. “But it’s all in my head” I thought proudly. In the end, my mom was right. Writing out what you plan to serve helps to streamline the process. That being said, think how much writing down meal plans weekly will streamline the process? However, it might seem like more work at first. But in the end it actually helps you save time. Planning and writing down your meals will help you with budgeting, shopping, preparing and serving. There are so many ways meal planning makes life easier.
How Meal Planning Makes Life Easier
Podcaster and former monk Jay Shetty said that monks wear the same basic robes everyday in order to simplify life. How much easier is it to just wear a uniform (to work or school)? When I think about the time it takes me to actually look through my closet and then put together an outfit. It would be much simpler to just wear the same outfit daily. Meal planning works much the same way.
It might take a little bit of work at first to have to think about each day and write it down. But it saves you so much time in the end. No more getting home and then having to think of what to make. It would be all laid out for you. It also makes you think of the the foods you already have. This could help eliminate food going bad.
Further, you can incorporate your meal planning into your budget. It’s a lot easier when it’s all laid out in front of you rather than having to think about it daily.
Also, I find it’s so much more helpful to say no to picking up fast food when you have your meals planned and (hopefully) prepped at home.
Lastly, it helps you stay on track with eating healthy. You don’t have to be a formal calorie tracker. But writing down each meal will help you see how much fruit/veggies/whole grains/proteins you (and your kids) are eating daily.
Helpful Tips on Meal Planning
It’s always good to get a feel for your children’s taste. This will make meals much easier especially if you have a picky eater. Ask the family for suggestions on this week’s meals before you start!
Also, consider to start the planning during the week. The reason for this is because supermarket mailers don’t come out until Monday. If you’re on a budget, using supermarket mailers/coupons are a great way to keep you on track! And it’s a good idea if you start the week on Tuesday. Because the stores are less busy during the week as opposed to weekends.
Meal prepping will help. I try to wash all veggies as soon as I get home and store them in produce keepers. If you have time, it’s always helpful to have veggies washed and chopped and in Tupperware. All set and ready to go!
Finally, my initial thought process of keeping menus “in my head” was not a good idea. It really does help to write things out. And for some reason, I’ve discovered I prefer using shorthand as opposed to my smartphone. It seems more convenient to have everything on my phone. But I discovered I like using a good old pen and paper. For some reason, it helps my brain work things out better. And it’s not all that inconvenient to take a pen and paper to the store.
As always, Remember 2 Savor!
