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The Benefits of Planning Meals

We are all naturally good at planning. Whether it’s planning our work week, scheduling to pick up the kids from school, or getting together with friends for mid-week dinner parties, we all have to plan.  

Although It could feel great to keep up our productivity level and rush to get onto the next task, sometimes we forget to think about what and where our next meal will be. By not planning our meals, we can easily slip into a pattern of indulging in unhealthy foods. Fortunately, with these easy tips, you can turn a hectic week into something stress-free while improving your own personal health and the health of your family.

Saving time: There are numerous advantages to planning your meals. By taking one day out of the week to prepare meals for the week with appropriate portions, you can better manage your time. The rushes you were previously in to fit in time to eat will reduce and will help you have a stress-free day.

Eliminating last minute stress: Believe it or not, you waste a lot of time each day contemplating what to make for dinner, and it’s stressful. You go back and forth between recipies trying to figure out if you have the right ingredients or if it would take too long to cook. If you have a meal plan, you can take care of things in advance and all that is left at the end of a long day is just getting it on the table.

Helping you avoid unhealthy choices: Instead of picking up last minute unhealthy foods for dinner, you can plan to include healthy choices such as complex carbohydrates: whole grains, fresh or frozen veggies, fresh fruit or frozen berries, whole wheat bread, low fat or fat free dairy, lean meats, olive oil, salads with balsamic vinegar, etc.

Short grocery trips: Meal planning helps you stay organized when shopping for groceries. Write a list and pick up all the ingredients you need for the week or month during a single trip to your local market.