Last week I shared my meal plan printable and had a lot of questions about meals and other things pertaining to the way I meal plan. So this week, I decided to continue the #MealPlanMonday madness and share some other meal planning tips with you guys.
1. Decide on the meals you want. This is the most time consuming step, especially if you have other people you are trying to feed as well. While I’m all for the “you eat what you are given” method, I’d never cook or plan to cook a meal I knew Thomas wouldn’t touch, it’s just silly and a waste.
Find meals on Pinterest using key words. Search things like “easy Asian dinner ideas,” or “low calorie lunches,” or simple dinner ideas.” Narrowing down your search from things like “dinner meals” will really make a difference, and you will see something other than the same meals over and over again.
Use other methods of searching. Pinterest is fabulous, but it can become a little repetitive after a while. Hit up good old Google or grab a seasonal food magazine from the store. Some of my favorite recipes are from he strangest places.
Above is my meal plan for this week! You can click on any of the meals and it will take you to the recipe link, give it a try.
2. Lay out your meals using my meal plan printable. Being able to see every single meal you want laid out, will help you decide not only exactly what you need from the store that week, but what meals can be turned in to leftovers.
Laying out your meals on the meal plan printable is the tale tell sign if you eat too much of one thing. For me, that thing is usually Mexican food, but whatever. I’m always careful to make sure I’m not eating a certain meat too many days in a row, or having the same veggies three times a week.
3. Go through each meal & write down the ingredients needed from the store. Meal planning is great and all, but if you don’t actually go to the store, all of your hard work was pointless. I start with the first meal of each week, usually Monday morning’s breakfast, and write down the ingredients needed, then to Monday lunch, then dinner and so on and so forth. Going meal by meal allows me to see what I need from the store versus what I already have in my pantry, and it also tells me if I need to buy more of one item or another.
What are you cooking up this week? Any questions for me? Be sure to leave them below!
21 comments
As soon as I'm back from Europe I need to start cooking healthy meals for myself, thanks for the tips!
YAAAS! I'm so happy you're talking more about meal planning because this girl needs some help! Haha 🙂 I totally need to write down the ingredients I need from the store because I always seem to forget stuff when I'm making a recipe!
X,
Cristina
cristinawashere.com
This is awesome! Meal planning saves so much money, and it makes life a heck of a lot easier!
I really need to step up my meal planning game! Thanks for these awesome tips!
-Anna | http://www.fivefootandfabulous.com
I really need to get into the habit of meal planning! It's easier when I'm home with my parents for the summer and don't exactly have to worry about planning meals, but for when I'm living at school this will be so helpful! Thanks for the post Tiffani! Will definitely be printing out your meal planner!
xo
Sami
http://www.theclassicbrunette.com
Very smart! We meal prep our lunches for the week on Sundays but not our dinners so we usually end up cheating mid-week instead of eating something healthy.
xoxo, Jenny
So true! Once you get in the hang of it it's really not that bad!
Alix | http://www.apintsizedlife.com
I am pinning this post- I haven't been so great about meal planning lately and have been so bad about spending lots of $$$ on ingredients at the grocery store!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
I really need to do this!! I am so bad about spending lots of money on random stuff at the grocery store and then forgetting main ingredients to make the actual meal!! This would be so helpful!
xo Ashley
I know I could really benefit from meal planning but it always seems like SUCH a chore. You've inspired me though, it can't be THAT hard right? (:
I really need to do this!!! This week I really budgeted at the grocery store, and I feel like writing it all out will help even more.
I used to be all about meal planning last year, mainly so I can make sure I eat up all my food and it wont't go bad. I may start getting back into it again!
xoxo
Amy | Pastel N Pink
Eating at home more is one of my goals for the summer so this printable is perfect! I can't wait to meal plan next week.
Xoxo,
Amanda
Trulyyoursa.com
I am really hoping to get better about my meal planning this summer in an effort to save time and money, but I had no idea where to start. Thank you so much for this!
XO, SS || Seersucker Sass
It's REALLY not that hard, just time consuming. Once you get past that part, it's all good from there!
I think this is one of the most vital info for me.
And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things,
The site style is perfect, the articles is really great : D.
Good job, cheers
Pretty! This was an extremely wonderful article. Many thanks
for supplying this information.
Greate pieces. Keep writing such kind of information on your page.
Im really impressed by it.
Hey there, You’ve performed a great job. I will definitely digg it and individually recommend to my
friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this website.
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog shine.
Please let me know where you got your theme. Cheers
This post provides clear idea for the new viewers of blogging, that really
how to do running a blog.
Hi there, I enjoy reading through your article post. I
like to write a little comment to support you.