Easy Meal Planning Tips for Busy Moms
Meal planning is an important part of healthy eating, but it doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful. With a little bit of planning and some hacks that help you save time and money, you can create easy meals without spending hours in the kitchen every night. Here are some tips for making meal planning work well for your family:
1. Lead by example
Set a good example for your family by eating the food that you prepare.
It’s important to set a good example for your family by eating the food that you prepare. If they see that you don’t like it, they won’t either. This can be especially true for kids who have picky palates and are more likely to eat what their parents eat.
It’s also helpful if you’re cooking with someone else in mind–whether that person is family or friends–so consider whether there are people coming over who may not be able to eat certain foods due to allergies or other dietary restrictions (e.g., vegetarian).
2. Be Committed
Commit to cooking at least one new meal each week.
- Commit to cooking at least one new meal each week.
Cooking new meals is a great way to try new things, and you’ll learn skills and recipes that can be applied across your cooking repertoire. You may even discover a food allergy or sensitivity! Plus, if you have leftovers, they’re likely to be more exciting than what you would order in at a restaurant (think: salads with homemade vinaigrette). Finally, eating out when there’s no need for it is expensive–it costs about $5 per meal per person on average in the US.
3. Leftovers
Plan for leftovers, so you don’t waste money on ingredients that you didn’t end up using.
Planning for leftovers is a great way to save money. Not only do you get the benefit of not having to buy as many ingredients, but you also don’t have to cook as much food at once, which saves time and energy. Leftovers make it easier for you to use up leftover ingredients in other meals later on in the week or month (or year).
If possible, try freezing some of those leftovers before they go bad so that you can use them later when time is tight or when you need something quick and easy but nutritious for dinner–and remember that most frozen foods will stay good for about three months!
4. Stock Your Pantry
Keep your pantry stocked with staples like dried beans, rice and whole grains so you always have something to feed hungry mouths.
- Keep your pantry stocked with staples like dried beans, rice and whole grains so you always have something to feed hungry mouths.
- If you don’t have these ingredients on hand, pick some up at the store before making your next trip.
5. Freeze Meals
Plan for meals that are easy to make in large quantities for freezing — soup, sauces and casseroles are great options.
Plan for meals that are easy to make in large quantities for freezing — soup, sauces and casseroles are great options. Soups freeze well and are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner on those busy days. Sauces can also be frozen and used later on pasta or pizza. Casseroles make great leftovers for lunches too!
6. Don’t Be Discouraged
Have a plan B in case your meal doesn’t turn out as expected. Takeout isn’t cheap!
If your meal doesn’t turn out as expected, don’t get discouraged. Keep trying until you get it right! Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t be afraid to admit that sometimes we all need a little extra assistance in the kitchen.
7. Be Organized
Meal planning is an important part of healthy eating, but it doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful
Meal planning is an important part of healthy eating, but it doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful. In fact, meal planning can actually be fun–and if you’re the kind of person who loves organizing things and making lists, then you’ll probably find yourself enjoying this process.
If you need want to plan out your meals for the week and month my Home Management Planner will do just that. It is simple yet, it is an all in one planner for busy mothers. Get yours below as supplies are limited.
Here are some tips to help make your next meal-planning session go smoothly:
- Plan three meals ahead of time each week (or even more if that works better for your schedule). This way, when it comes time for dinner on Thursday night and all you want is takeout pizza again because nothing else sounds good right now…you won’t have to call in an order! You’ll already know what’s cooking up in your kitchen over the next few days so there’s no room for indecision when hunger strikes at dinnertime.
- * Get creative with leftovers! If one dish didn’t turn out quite as expected but has potential once reworked into something new–like say leftover chicken breast cutlets from last night’s stir fry paired with some scallions and carrots tossed together with soy sauce and sesame oil for tonight’s stir fry–then go ahead and use those ingredients again instead of letting them go bad.
- * Keep a backup plan ready in case things don’t work out exactly as planned (i.e., if someone gets sick). For example: If someone gets sick before dinner time then maybe tomorrow night would be better suited for burgers than tacos since burgers don’t require any prep work beforehand (aside from heating up patties on both sides) while tacos do require chopping vegetables beforehand which could pose problems depending upon how much energy everyone still has left after fighting off whatever bug took hold earlier today!
Conclusion
Meal planning is a great way to save money and time, but it can also help you eat healthier. If you’re not sure where to start, use these tips as inspiration for your next meal plan!
