Meal planning and meal prepping are great ways to save time and eat a healthier, more balanced diet overall. A well thought out meal plan can make it easier to improve the quality of your diet or reach a certain health goal while saving money and time along the way. Meal planning and prepping can be daunting at first, but the good news is that there are plenty of tips to consider that will help you to meal prep and plan like a pro. 

Stick to a Template

This great template for meal plans can make it easier for you to plan what you’re going to eat throughout the week. Sticking to a template will help you visualize what you’re going to eat and you can hang it in the kitchen so that you’re not trying to keep track of it all in your head. You can also use your meal planning template alongside a shopping list app or a traditional paper shopping list so that you know exactly what ingredients you are going to buy, making shopping easier and likely cheaper. If you tend to shop online more often than in the store, consider using apps that can connect directly to your online shopping list to simplify your time. 

Plan According to Your Week

It’s easy to make the mistake of planning what to eat based on what you want to eat, without thinking about how busy you might be that day or if it’s going to be realistic. If you know that you are going to be working longer hours than usual on a certain day or have other things to do that are going to take up a lot of your time, choose the simpler and easier meals on these days. In addition to making it easier for yourself, this also means that you have to get ahead with planning your week putting you firmly in control and reducing your stress levels. 

Batch Cook on the Weekend

If you have a particularly busy week ahead, then batch cooking some meals on the weekend can be an ideal way to save time on your busiest days and avoid reaching for convenience foods or ordering takeout, since your meals are already cooked and all you need to do is warm them up. Use Ziploc bags in the freezer to store your meals to make the most of the space that you have. Lots of different meals including curries and stews can easily be batch cooked and frozen for later in the week, giving you peace of mind and the option not to cook on those days where you don’t have the energy or motivation. 

Use Kitchen Tools to Simplify Your Life

Investing in some kitchen tools and appliances that will make your life simpler and easier when cooking will be a great decision. For example, getting a slow cooker or crock pot is a great idea since all you need to do with this for a lot of recipes is throw the ingredients in, turn it on and let it cook all day while you are busy at work or with your family. By the time dinner time comes around, your dinner will be ready to serve. A rice cooker can also be a good investment if you enjoy a lot of meals with rice – all you need to do is fill it with rice and water and turn it on, meaning that there’s no need to spend time watching the rice cooking on the stove. 

Meal planning and prepping can make a big difference to your life, time and stress levels. 

Joniel Suezo