One of the most helpful ways to maintain a healthy diet is to meal plan weekly. Meal planning makes your grocery shopping easier too. If you know what you are going to eat, you know what you are going to need to buy. This way you do not end up with a fridge full of food and nothing to nosh.
I don’t always stick to the plan, but most of the time I do. I rarely throw food out or have food go bad. I don’t buy much in bulk and only buy what I plan to eat. I do keep canned goods in my cabinet and sometimes I change up what we eat. Next Friday I might not be in the mood for pizza and would rather make sausage and peppers.
I also like to cook a one pot meal on Sundays so that I have it for the rest of the week for lunch. Soups, stews casseroles or chili are common in the winter. During the summer, I tend to slack at this as I eat more salads for lunch.
I use this simple grid. I usually just check off my dairy, fruits, veggies, protein and fiber. I also tend not to be as strict on the weekends with my check boxes (or fill them in at all).
This is what I have on tap for next week. What do you plan to eat next week? Do you like to meal plan in advance or do you just wing it?
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thurs
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Friday
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Saturday
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Sunday
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Breakfast
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Coffee +Cream
Green Apple smoothie
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Coffee +Cream
Green Apple Smoothie
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Coffee +Cream
Blueberry Smoothie
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Travel
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Coffee +Cream
Yogurt
orange
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Coffee +Cream
Eggs Tacos (as brunch)
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Coffee +Cream
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Lunch
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Leftover soup
Cheese and grapes
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Left over Pork taco on salad
w/ avocado
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Travel
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Travel
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Leftover soup
Cheese and
apple
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Weekly pot of food/Thai pork and noodle soup
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Dinner
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Green Chili Pork tacos
Beans
salad
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lamb burgers
spinach salad
saffron brown rice
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Travel
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Travel
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Homemade Pizza
(veggie and meat)
Salad
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Dinner out
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Dinner at Moms
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Mid afternoon Snack
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Yogurt
tea
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Yogurt
tea
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Travel
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Travel
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Pack of nuts
tea
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Night Sweet Treat
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Mini chocolate bar
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Ice cream
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Travel
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Travel
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Blueberry pie
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Blueberry pie
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Dairy
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Smoothie
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Smoothie
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Yogurt
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Dairy
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Yogurt
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Yogurt
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Cheese
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Fruit
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Smoothie
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Smoothie
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Orange
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Fruit
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Orange
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Avocado
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Apple
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Veggie
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Smoothie
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Spinach
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Soup
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Veggie
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Salad
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Spinach
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Soup
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Veggie
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Salad
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Salad
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Salad
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Veggie
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Chili
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Salad
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Salad
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Veggie
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Chili
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Salad
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Pizza Veg
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Protein
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Chili
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Pork
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Soup
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Protein
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Pork
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Lamb
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Pizza
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Fiber
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Beans
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Rice
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Soup
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I try to meal plan, loosely. I do it more as a time and money saver. I am a single gal, so I usually eat the same thing for lunch for 1 week straight and then switch it up slightly the next week, depending on my budget and what food I have already. I HATE throwing away food, so I really try to use what I have.
I hate to throw out food too. I waste very very little. Every so often I’ll things will dry out out (bread) or mold (cheese) or go bad (cottage cheese). But I try to plan around what I have. I feel like it is such a waste.
I plan. It helps with wasting and cutting down money. The one thing I notice we waste is ricotta. Have to get better on that one. We usually have a ton of canned tomatoes and pasta. I buy it when it goes on sale.
I freeze ricotta until I need it. I always have grandiose plans to make lasagna and then I don’t want to do it because they are a lot of work!