Easy Meal Planning Tips

Picture this: It’s 4 PM., work is winding down and the dreaded, “what’s for dinner?” dilemma is creeping in. By 5, you’re wandering the aisles of the local market with other shoppers looking to solve the same dilemma. What do we all need? A nutritious dinner idea that won’t take hours to make because it’s a weeknight and we’re all tired, hungry, and in no mood to really cook.

With proper meal planning, quick dinners turn into healthy, balanced meals—leading to better health and more free time. Imagine replacing time spent panicking in the frozen section with time spent at the gym, or working on those long put-off projects. When meals are planned ahead, time becomes manageable and stress lessens.

Meal planning is a simple yet effective way to achieve a well-balanced lifestyle. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Benefits of Meal Planning

• It can save you money (check out Savories Weekly and subscribe to our email list for weekly deals).
• Contributes to a more nutritionally balanced diet.
• Saves time in the long run.
• Reduces stress as it helps you avoid the last-minute “what’s for dinner?” dilemma.

Getting Started With Meal Planning

With a little foresight and the right tools, meal planning can be easy and fun. The first step is getting the household on board. Speak with your housemates, partner, or family and come up with a list of dinners that everyone can agree on.

If you and your household value consistency, consider making recurring recipes part of your weekly menu. For example, many people like to incorporate “Meatless Mondays,” or “Whole-grain Wednesdays” into their plans. Weekly meals become routines that everyone looks forward to, and they take some of the mental labor out of meal planning.

Tools and Resources for Meal Planning

Put together a monthly calendar or spreadsheet with your meal ideas, recipes, and shopping lists. You may find it beneficial to invest in a few kitchen tools as well, like quality food storage containers (check out Stasher Bags and Bowls) and labels. An air fryer, or instant pressure cooker are other popular cooking tools that people find helpful for quick meal preparation.

Pro Tip: Be sure to check out our recipes page for inspiration. Our database is full of healthy recipes for every diet.

Tips for Successful Meal Planning

Once your menu is planned, write your list and choose a day of the week to go grocery shopping. If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of planning and shopping for an entire week’s worth of food, start small by making a menu for only 2 or 3 days of the week, leaving the other days open for a little spontaneity, like picking up a pizza.

Pro Tip: Check out the MoC Reservations site where you can easily reserve family-sized meals, sides, soups, and more to pick up at your convenience.
Make Leftovers Part of the Plan

Make larger portions of meals and save the leftovers for the next day. You can also freeze them so they’ll be ready to thaw and eat for the next few weeks, even months ahead. Be sure to label each container with the contents and date. Saving meals for long-term use helps you avoid “left-overs fatigue,” a phenomena that happens when family members get bored of eating the same dish multiple nights in a row. Symptoms include excessive whining and grumbling at dinner time.

Guide for Safe Food Storage

Understanding proper food storage is essential for successful meal planning. Here’s a simple guideline for keeping food fresh and safe:

In the refrigerator:

• 2-3 days: cooked fish (fish, like house guests, start to smell after 3 days).
• 3-4 days: cooked ground beef or poultry, cooked whole meats, soups and stews.
• 3-4 days: cooked beans and hummus, hard-boiled eggs.
• 5-7 days: chopped vegetables (in air-tight container).

In the freezer:

• 2-3 months: soups, stews and cooked beans.
• 3-6 months: cooked meat and poultry (ground or whole).
• 6-8 months: berries and chopped fruit in freezer bags.

Avoid the 4 o’clock “what’s for dinner?” dilemma. Save time, money and achieve a well-balanced diet with meal planning. Remember to get the whole household involved, get organized, and have some fun planning meals together.