Some people may enjoy being creative and making something out of whatever is left in the fridge and cupboards. Or if you're like me, you may like to have a plan and a list when you go to the store so you know exactly what to pick up and how much it will cost.
Set up a time each week to write out your grocery list. Go through some of your favorite healthy recipes as well as take into account any upcoming special events that week. Be sure to have a sheet of paper with each day of the week written down along with each meal and snacks. Write out your food plan and transfer any food items needed to a grocery list. On your meal planning worksheet, write down the recipe name and page number if you are preparing foods from a particular recipe.
Decide what to prepare. It might be helpful to build in some routine as you first get started. Maybe Tuesday night is always fish night. Fridays you always go out to eat. Saturday is healthy homemade pizza night. You get the point. This helps makes the whole process feel a little less daunting.
Remember that you can always make great meals with leftovers. If you cooked a chicken the day before, any leftovers can be used to make soups, chicken wraps or tacos.
That’s it! Learning how to menu plan is actually pretty simple, but it will only work if you do it.
Tell me: Do you menu plan?