As summer winds down and the back-to-school season approaches, many of us must brace for the hectic schedules and increased demands that come with Fall. That makes now the perfect time to prepare, considering ways to get organized and reduce stress to avoid the Fall frenzy. And one overlooked but highly effective strategy for regaining control and minimizing daily chaos? Meal planning.
The Mental Burden of Meal Decisions
Most of us eat three meals a day, and each of those meals requires some degree of time and mental energy. First, we have to decide what to eat, then we have to prepare it or pick it up. So, it’s not just about the act of eating that adds to the considerable mental load. It’s the planning, shopping, and cooking. It is these simple actions that often consume a significant portion of our daily lives.
It begs the question: why spend moment after moment wondering about your next meal when you can streamline the process?
What Is Meal Planning?
Meal planning is a straightforward concept. It involves thinking about and pre-planning your meals for the upcoming days or week so you don’t have to think about it in the moment. This simple act can bring a surprising amount of organization and peace to your daily routine. Additionally, meal planning enables you to make a single grocery store run to get everything you need, rather than making multiple trips throughout the week.
The Benefits of Meal Planning
Planning ahead of time is a major benefit in most aspects of life, so why not your daily meals? By planning in advance what you want to eat, you will eliminate the daily stress of last-minute meal decisions, freeing up mental space for other important tasks and reducing decision fatigue. You will also find yourself benefiting in several other ways:
- Time Savings: Planning meals and creating a consolidated grocery list means fewer trips to the store. According to a survey, Plan to Eat customers reduced their time planning and grocery shopping from 140 to 73 minutes per week — a 47.5% reduction in time spent on these tasks.
- Cost Savings: Meal planning helps you buy only what you need, which can significantly cut down on food costs. The same survey found customers saved an average of 23% on monthly food costs.
- Healthier Eating: With a meal plan, you’re more likely to prepare balanced, nutritious meals rather than resorting to fast food or unhealthy snacks because you’re pressed for time or ideas.
- Less Food Waste: Planning your meals helps you use up all the ingredients you buy, which means less food goes to waste.
By doing something as simple as planning your meals out ahead of time, you stand to save time and money, not to mention eat healthier, which comes with its own set of benefits.
How to Get Started with Meal Planning
While the benefits of meal planning are definitely worth considering, you will also need to keep the process in mind. Meal prep requires its own efforts, especially when it comes to finding the time to plan, choose, and prep your meals. Below you will find some general steps to help you get started:
- Set Aside Time to Plan: Dedicate a specific time each week to plan your meals. Make it a routine to sit down and think about what you’ll eat in the upcoming week.
- Choose Your Meals: Start by selecting recipes for the week. Consider your schedule and choose meals that you’ll have the time to cook. Include a mix of your favorite dishes and try to incorporate new recipes to keep things interesting.
- Make a Grocery List: Make a detailed grocery list, checking your pantry and fridge to see what you already have and what you need to buy. Use an app like Plan to Eat to make a comprehensive shopping list based on planned recipes.
- Shop Efficiently: Head to the grocery store, sticking to your list to avoid impulse buys and save time.
- Prep Ahead: If you have time, do some meal prep in advance. This could be chopping vegetables, marinating meats, or even cooking complete meals that can be easily reheated.
Keep in mind that meal prepping should follow your specific schedule. Some people might have time to prep more complex meals or cook ahead of time, while others might need simpler dishes that can be quickly thrown together. The goal is to unload mental stress, not create more, so plan something that makes sense for you.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Meal planning can bring many benefits, but it can also present some challenges if you’re new to the process. Here are some tips to overcome common obstacles:
- Start small. You don’t have to plan every meal right away. Begin with dinners or just a few days at a time until you get more comfortable with the process.
- Involve your family in the planning process. Let everyone choose a favorite meal for the week to ensure there’s something for everyone.
- Keep track of the benefits you’re experiencing. This can help you stay motivated to continue meal planning.
In addition to the above, you can also use a tool like Plan to Eat to help make the process easier. For instance, Plan to Eat allows you to store all your favorite recipes in one place, create meal plans with just a few clicks, and generate organized grocery lists automatically. This way, you can streamline your meal planning process, avoid multiple trips to the grocery store, and ensure you have all the ingredients you need.
With Plan to Eat, you create personalized meal plans to suit your dietary needs, cooking skills, and budget, ensuring that every meal is enjoyable and nutritious. Want to try Plan to Eat for yourself? Head on over to their website and use their free trial.
