Did you know that more than half of Americans eat out two to three times each week? If you’re trying to save money or eat healthier, then you need to start eating at home. But it can be daunting to figure out what to cook each night.
If this describes you, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to get our top six simple meal planning tips anyone can follow.
1. Choose Your Meals
The first step in your meal planning is to decide on your meals. Sit down and think about what everyone likes for each meal. Then you can create a meal plan based on your chosen recipes.
You can also choose based on what food you have on hand for the coming week. Or you can look at what sales your local store is running to decide on your meals.
Finally, look at your favorite online shopping sites and choose from their selection. For example, to see amazing steak online you can view collection ideas and then choose your meals.
2. Keep Your Family in Mind
As you create your meal plan you need to keep in mind the other members of your household. What are their allergies or food preferences? What activities or work schedules do they have that might keep them from certain meals.
One of our best family meal planning tips is to always keep your family in mind as you choose your recipes.
3. Check Out the Servings Sizes
If you live in a small household or are watching what you eat then you need to watch how many servings each recipe makes. You can always cut a recipe in half if you’re only cooking for one or two.
Additionally, to account for a healthy meal plan, be sure to pay attention to how much you serve each person.
4. Work From a Weekly or Biweekly Plan
A weekly meal plan can give you a birdseye view of your meals without getting overwhelmed. You can also look at two weeks at a time, but avoid trying to over-plan an entire month at once.
5. Use Theme Nights
From Meatless Monday to Taco Tuesday use themes to help you come up with great ideas for your meal plan. This can save you from trying to come up with several unique ideas week after week. Again, talk with your family to see what themes they want and go from there.
6. Don’t Overcomplicate Your Meal Plan
Our final tip is to keep it simple. You don’t need to create three-course meals seven nights a week. If you use chicken one night then use the leftovers for enchiladas the next.
These simple meal planning ideas can save you from excessive spending and eating. Keep it simple, work with your family, and you’re sure to have success planning your meals each week.
Use These Meal Planning Tips for Success
As you can see, meal planning doesn’t have to be difficult. But it does take time and forethought. With these tips, you’re sure to create the perfect plan to successfully cook from home saving you time and money.
For more great ideas on this topic and more, check out the rest of our blog. And, remember to bookmark this article so you can come back and check our meal planning tips any time.
Gourmets Food 