The running joke in my house is I that constantly tell my girlfriend we should have a meal plan for the week. Her response always falls along the lines of “when are you going to do that?” or “you’ve been saying that for months”. Other times I just get laughed at and the one-word response of “OK”.
People plan for vacations, babies, weddings and more. With all the things we prepare for, why not have a meal plan? It adds value and saves money every week you make one.
Why We Don’t Have Meal Plans Tools for Success
The Excuses
Like lots of people, I have a hard time making a habit of creating a meal plan every week because I give myself excuses.
Excuses like:
- Making a meal plan takes too long.
- I don’t know what I’m going to want to eat 4 days from now.
- I’m missing some of the ingredients I need.
The Whys
Maybe excuses aren’t the reason you don’t have a meal plan. Maybe you’re don’t see the value in one.
Can you answer “yes” to any of the following questions?
- Are your grocery bills out of control?
- Are you tired of eating the same meals over and over?
- Do you want to eat healthier meals?
- Do you need less stress during the week?
The Value of a Meal Plan
Let’s push the whys and excuses for not having a meal plan and learn the value that one adds to your week.
A Meal Plan Saves Money
Writing out a plan makes it easy to see what ingredients you are using for the week and putting those items that you need on your list. Making a grocery list keeps you from making impulse buys and grabbing ingredients you think you need. This leads to a lower grocery bill at check out.
Healthier Meals Make it to the Table
When you complete a meal plan you’re not throwing whatever is in the cabinets together last minute. You’re putting thought into what’s going to be on the dinner table. This leads to more balanced meals of lean proteins, healthy carbs, and vegetables.
Meal Plans Save Time
On busy evenings during the week make a family favorite that’s easy to put together, a slow cooker or pressure cooker meal. Have a meal of leftovers. These options allow you to have dinner on the table in no time.
Meal Plans Reduce Waste
A meal plan helps you stick to your grocery list by only buying what you need. You’re not throwing away unused perishable foods. It also allows a plan for leftovers. Plan lunches with leftovers to use them up and save money on eating out. You can also repurpose a meal from a previous day. For example, a leftover beef roast makes a great Beef Hash or Beef Vegetable Soup.
A Meal Plan Encourage Variety
Favorite meals and foods cannot be left out of the meal plan rotation, but trying new things is important too. Add a new recipe or food that the family hasn’t had before to your plan. Planning out dinners for the week allows for those new ingredients to be added to your shopping list and picked up with the rest of the groceries.
Reduce Stress with a Meal Plan
We all have stress of some kind in our lives. Having a meal plan takes the stress out of figuring out dinner every night. You’ve already taken a few minutes out of your week earlier to plan for the upcoming week. This benefit alone gives great incentive in having a meal plan.
How to Succeed
Schedule a Time to Meal Plan
Decide on the best time and day to sit and make your plan. Payday, Sunday evening, or the day the grocery ads come out. Go with whatever works best for you and be consistent. Consistency allows you to be successful in creating a meal plan habit.
Use Tools and Resources
In addition to having the knowledge of why a meal plan is needed, tools for success are needed as well. See what’s in your fridge, freezer, and pantry that needs to be used. Review grocery store ads for what’s on sale. Go through a few recipes you’ve been wanting to try.
To further help you succeed, I’ve created a FREE meal planning tool with grocery list. Complete the information below to get this great tool that allows you to plan your entrée and side dishes along with any needed items from the grocery store all in one place.
As with any new habit a few weeks of actively making a meal plan will make it routine. As I stated above, a meal plan is a work in progress for me as well. Don’t give up and keep trying. As soon as you notice one of the benefits listed above, you know you are succeeding.
