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What's For Dinner? Meal Planning is Key

  • Sep 13, 2020
  • 3 min read

There is no art to meal planning. The key is to just sit down and do it. I struggled a long time when it came to planning out my meals and making grocery lists. I used to think that shopping and planning weeks ahead was just a waste of my time, but this past year has taught me that you definitely need to plan ahead when it comes to the food in your home.


Everyone plans out their meals and grocery lists differently, but there are a few things that I found worked best for me and my family from week to week.



Determine how far out you are meal planning



When you start your meal planning you have to know how far out you want to plan meals. You can plan from week to week, every 2 weeks, or a month out. I usually plan out every 2 weeks. I do this to avoid any foods spoiling or changing my mind about what I want to eat. I actually tried planning out a month and it worked, but it was just hard to keep those veggies fresh. I have now started to freeze more of my groceries in order to preserve them longer. Determine what is best for your household and go for it.


What do I already have!



This is probably the most important step. Before you make that grocery list or even look at a recipe, look in your fridge and pantries to determine what you already have. The key to keeping that grocery bill down…… don't buy things you already have! There have been numerous times that I have forgotten this step and end up with way too many of one item. This step also saves you money! Plan your meals around what you already have so you don't have to buy extra stuff.


Look up recipes


Once you know what you already have, start planning those recipes. The best place to go, Pinterest! I find 90% of all of my meals on Pinterest. You are able to type in the ingredients you have and a ton of recipes will pop up. This really is your best resource when it comes to planning. Another way to find recipes is using Google. Again, like Pinterest you will just type in what meat and sides you have or want to use and can find many recipes. Both of these resources will make your meal planning so easy regardless of your diet.





Make a grocery List and stick to it!



You have your recipes, now it's time to make a grocery list. Making a grocery list is definitely key when going to the grocery store… and not shopping hungry...lol. Be sure when making your list that you're checking it against your recipes. There have been many times when I don't fully read my recipe and end up running to the store the day of cooking a meal. Another great idea is to search Pinterest for a great pre-made grocery list or using the app Evernote to help you keep your ideas organized. Making your list and checking it twice will save you an extra trip to the grocery store.



There is definitely a lot that goes into meal planning, but it is so worth it. When you don't have to spend your days and evenings trying to figure out what's for dinner, you can spend more time relaxing with your family. For more examples of meal planning and ideas for dinner, check out my Youtube videos below.

What's for Dinner: https://youtu.be/eLylZMJOM14

Cook with Me: https://youtu.be/bnlRkjuD9f0



I hope that this inspired and motivated you!


KonnieNicole


 
 
 

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