Meal planning can be an overwhelming task. Many probably feel this way because there are a lot of things to consider in planning out meals such as the selection of recipes, shopping for ingredients, and preparation time.
As a newbie in creating a simple healthy meal plan, here are strategic tips to start:
1. Know your needs
There are a lot of considerations when you start to plan your meals. Are you doing this to save money or time? Are you doing it to eat better or to look for variety? Keep these goals in mind when you pick out your recipes. Some recipes are time-consuming, or some may be cheap. As a beginner, it is best to keep a simple goal so will not be overwhelmed.
2. Carefully choose your recipes
Choosing your recipes might be the hardest and most critical part in meal planning. This will also be your basis on what to buy for your trip to the grocery store. Before choosing your recipes, you must decide how many meals you need for the week. You also need to choose recipes you know you will be able to do, and you would love to eat. Recipes with common ingredients are what you should look for as a beginner.
3. Strategize your grocery planning
Before hitting the store, it is a must to make a list of what you already have. Go through your cupboards, fridge, and freezer and write down everything in there so you would not need to purchase these items again. Once you have done this, you can now create a list of what you need based on your recipes. It is highly recommended that you write everything so you would not be tempted into buying anything unnecessary.
Once you have all the items you need, you may also prep your ingredients ahead of time. You can wash the vegetables and arrange the items depending on your recipes.
Meal planning may be hard at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will surely change your life.
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