How do you feel when you think about having to prepare dinner every evening for the rest of your adult life?
To me, it is a cringe worthy thought, even after three decades of marriage.
However, as an adult, no matter your current marital or parenting status, it’s certain you will be eating dinner every night for the rest of your life.
That may mean eating out or eating cereal, but at the end of the day, unless you are ill, at some point, you will be eating something!
Meal planning was an adulting seed planted long ago and far away.
I don’t remember a time that my mom ever went to the grocery store without first planning our meals for the week.
As a young single mom of three, time and money were both precious commodities.
Her goal was to make the most of both.
If both time and money are something you value, consider the benefits of planning your meals.
There is nothing to lose and both time and money to gain. It’s an idea worth sinking your teeth into!
The benefits of meal planning.
Meal planning saves money.
Save money at the grocery store.
Eliminate purchasing random, just in case, items by creating a meal plan prior to going grocery shopping.
Be laser focused on purchasing only the items necessary to make the meals on your plan.
Plan meals based on sales or what’s in the pantry.
Utilize the sales flyer or online app when meal planning.
Plan your meals based on what’s on sale.
Even better, eliminate a trip to the store altogether by planning meals based on items already in the pantry.
Plan meals that can do double duty.
Get in the habit of planning meals that can double as lunch for the next day or dinner for the next evening.
Meal planning saves time.
Know what’s for dinner before you ever walk in the door.
Instead of coming home, opening the fridge, and praying for inspiration, you’ll know what you’re having before you walk in the door.
Meal prep ahead of time.
When you know what you’re having for every meal, meal prep can be done ahead of time, saving even more time.
If you’re really ambitious, meal prep can be done on the weekends.
Meal planning lowers anxiety and frustration.
When you know what’s for dinner before you walk through the door, at least one contributor to anxiety and frustration will be eliminated.
If planning in general isn’t your strength, there are options.
Meal planning is a skill that’s easy to learn.
I have a post that can help you get started, Meal Planning Made Easy
Subscribe to a meal planning service.
Most have a free trial period that allows you to see if you like it.
I have just recently started experimenting with meal planning apps.
As I learn more, I will update the post with the results.
If you currently use a service to help you plan meals, I would love to hear from you.
If you too find planning and preparing meals cringe worthy, make meal planning part of your routine.
You may never love planning meals but hopefully having a plan in place can ease the pain.
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I love lists!!!!
Me too! That’s how I survive!
I have been trying to do this but haven’t been able to stick to it yet. I am learning to account for left overs. My meal monday and it’s leftovers tuesday. Wednesday something new and smaller. Thursday make enough for Friday too.