5 reasons to meal plan
I’ve been a meal planner since I was dating my husband – so for more than 8 or 9 years. We would do our grocery shopping together, even though we weren’t living together, and meal planning just kind of happened.
Some people still don’t get why we plan our menu each week and I have five reasons meal planning is so great.
1. Save on time. I know people who visit the grocery store every day, or every other day. I don’t have time to do that. I want to have everything on hand so I don’t have to worry about fighting crowds at 5:00 and wondering if I can really have dinner on the table by 6. (The answer would be “no.” I can’t have dinner on the table at 6 if I’m shopping at 5.)
2. Cut calories. Even if I have the best intentions of getting the healthiest item on a menu, it’s still going to be far more calories than what I’d eat at home.
3. Peace of mind. I like having things mapped out. I can have everything written out, and while I can move meals around depending on time or taste preference, it’s nice to know that I at least have a plan. Plus, when my husband is asking “what’s for dinner?” we can both look at the paper on the refrigerator.
4. Save money. I don’t know about you, but the average price for a meal out (for me) is around $10 or more. It’s rare if I can get something for much less than that after you factor in tax or tip. I can cook for far less money. (Thanks to eMeals budget friendly plan, I will be planning meals for EVEN less!)
5. Stay on track. Are you trying to eat paleo or clean? Or how about gluten free? It can be difficult if you’re not planning out your meals and snacks. I like to make a lot of slow cooker meals and the last thing I want is to be unprepared when prepping the meal the night before. (Are you sensing a theme here?)
If you have a resolution for eating healthy in 2015, maybe meal planning is a good goal to make. Right now you can get a jump start on meal planning with a two-week free trial of any of the eMeals plans. We’ve been using eMeals for over a year and this week I switched to the Budget Friendly plan to see what it’s all about. I’ve been happy with their slow cooker meals and the clean eating. I’ve also done the low fat meals which were great.
Best of all, I can always look back on previous weeks of meals and get ideas. I have over 13 months of recipes to choose from!
I’m currently working on planning for a full month, rather than a week. I’m curious to see if that will help my family. (Stay tuned. I’ll be posting a menu if all works well!)
Do you meal plan? Have you tried eMeals?
(The above links are affiliate links. I was not compensated for this post. I really do use eMeals on a regular basis.)
Those are all valid, legitimate reasons. I stink at it and will probably never have my act together enough to do it, though. Sigh.
No I don’t plan meals. I do kind of I guess–I try to figure out what I will want to eat for the week while I am shopping. It does not always work out! Thise really are great ideas especially for those of us on special diets.
I am up and down on meal planning. I usually do it a week ahead of time when making out my grocery list. Other times I just go to the store and toss whatever into the cart and hope for the best. I need to be more consistent though!
I haven’t meal planned since I used eMeals. I loved doing that plan. I need to go back to it!
I haven’t tried emeals yet but I love menu planning for every one of the reasons you mentioned. I use the Plan to Eat menu planning tool so I can just copy links of recipes I want to make and it creates a shopping list for me. I love it. I had wanted to try out emeals, maybe in 2015!
Meal planning is so helpful to Working Moms. It’s also a great way to save some money on the grocery budget.
It’s definitely a great way to save money. I need to try it myself.
I don’t get why people would NOT plan their meals! I’ve been planning meals for forever, it seems! I wouldn’t know how to do it any differently LOL
I am usually really organized. To the point of being OCD about it. But this last year or so things have been falling through the cracks. I have never really meal planned. I see whats on sale, buy that and our staples and then create a meal. If there is a recipe I want to make or meals I want to share for my website I will seek out those items. I know I need to meal plan. Even more than ever since our grocery budget is going to change. I have heard good things about eMeals and that it really does save money so the cost is justified.
I agree on all of these points but especially for when following a diet. I need to do this!
Great tips! I love meal planning. I havent done it in a while but when I did it go was so much easier and it not only saved us money but kept me from worrying about what to make! Going to start up again in the new year!
I do try to plan before I go grocery shopping. I rely on my lists. Without them I would be totally disorganized.
I so need to do a meal plan only because as a family of 7 planning at the last minute is overwhelming. I will try to stick to a plan.
See this is why I need to meal plan – however I never manage it 🙁 doesn’t help I don’t know how I am going to be from one day to the next though. x
I definitely need to meal plan better. I always hate planning ahead because I change my mood so often when it comes to food but I can see where it would save on money, time, calories, etc.
We are horrible at planning. This is something I need to work on in 2015.
These are all great tips. I need to start meal planning so I can eat healthier.
It’s so true! Meal planning makes busy nights so much easier! I’m working on making sure I always have what I need.
I used to be so good at meal planning. It definitely saves money and time.. but I just got out of habit of doing it. I keep saying I am going to start again, but I never do. 2015 is the year to do it!
I haven’t tried this. But maybe I should, considering my magnanimous amount of allergies and the number I times I get sick.
I honestly wish I was better at meal planning. We usually end up eating what sounds good to me that day! These are some great reasons to start meal planning. Thanks for sharing.
I have gotten better at meal planning but I have a long way to go. Great tips!
These are great tips. Unfortunately I am not as organized and also really difficult to plan Indian meals.