If you want to save money on groceries, meal planning can help you do just that. Meal planning isn’t just about eating the same things over and over again; it’s about strategically saving money by making sure all your meals are planned out in advance so you only have to buy what you need instead of blindly throwing random ingredients into your cart while trying to remember what was on your shopping list. Use these steps to plan out your weekly meals and start saving money on food today!
Save time
Meal planning is all about a saving time and spending less on groceries. Meal plans provide people with the ability to plan their grocery trips in advance. The best part about this is you will be preparing your meals ahead of time so you know exactly what you need to purchase and won't have to worry about forgetting anything or waiting until the last minute.
The next step in the process would be mapping out a rough timeline for when and what you would like to eat during the week. If this were my weekend, I would use my grocery list as a guide and create my schedule of lunches, dinners, snacks, desserts etc. Of course not every week has an identical list but this will help make things more manageable from shopping to clean up. It also gives me peace of mind knowing that there are no surprises that might end up costing me extra money (or force me to order takeout).
Avoid eating out
-Cut the time you spend cooking in half. With pre-made meals and services, you'll have all the ingredients delivered so they're ready when you are, or you can shop online for pre-planned menus that give you a whole week's worth of food. You won't even need to get dressed! Just cook when it's convenient for you--even at midnight.
-Cut your grocery bill in half by going shopping with a list that helps keep impulse purchases down. By knowing what's on your menu this week and having a well stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer--you're less likely to want to spend cash on takeout when there are nutritious, easy homecooked options available instead. This way, you also save energy (especially if you're using convenience foods) as well as help avoid using products packaged in plastic which contributes to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Reduce food waste
In order to get the most out of the food you buy, do a little bit of prep work before you go grocery shopping. By putting together a menu plan and shopping list, you'll reduce food waste that inevitably occurs when you impulse buy. Plus, by sticking with one or two recipes per week instead of scrambling through your cookbooks every night, you'll be more inclined to try new things and grow your cooking repertoire.
Most importantly, if your kitchen is cluttered or not well-organized at all times, it can hamper your creativity for cooking new dishes! When items are strewn about on the countertop or stove top instead of neatly stored in the fridge or cabinets above them, it's much harder to find what you need when you need it. Not only does this lead to wasted time spent looking for things, but it also means that you may end up grabbing something like a dirty bowl from the dishwasher when an empty one would have been just as good! Organization also prevents accidental overuse: Have you ever gone to make cookies only to realize there were five bags of chocolate chips in the pantry? Well, now there are none left because they weren't organized correctly. It's difficult to tell how many bags you have without taking them all out first. So make sure everything has its place so that these kinds of mistakes don't happen again!
Get more out of your groceries
Know what you're going to make before you head out the door. For example, if your store has a monthly flyer with all the items on sale that month and a detailed list of how much things are usually priced, go online, print it out, and take it with you! Seeing your potential purchases will help you stick to your grocery list instead of getting carried away. Plus, stores often put items on sale because they are about to expire or run out. You can grab those bargains as long as they last! As for stocking up on items that don't go bad like canned goods, try and buy them when they're not on sale. It's cheaper to get cans of tomato sauce in bulk than it is to buy one at a time from the soup aisle. If you're really set on saving some dough, consider couponing (it's free!). Search for coupons online before heading out for your weekly shop.
Improve nutrition
Meal planning helps not only your wallet, but your waistline. Consider how many trips you make to the grocery store each week. Chances are you'll spend $500 on groceries per month. That's a lot of money that can easily be saved with a little effort and pre-planning. Whether it's through one-pot meals or preparing big batches of sauces and soups on the weekend, prepping food in advance is key. Not only will this help free up time during the busy workweek, but it also cuts down on takeout expenses (which can run into the hundreds). You'll save time when trying new recipes from allrecipes instead of relying solely on Google, plus you'll have an easy reference for the recipes you've tried out before. Don't forget about stock either: There's nothing worse than coming home tired after a long day and realizing there isn't any chicken broth in the fridge. Stock is great because you can freeze what's left over so it doesn't go bad, which means more wiggle room in your budget.
When you're cooking at home, limit yourself to what needs cooking that night: It's much cheaper than buying raw meat and vegetables separately. Plus, shopping while hungry leads to impulse buys - so don't do it! Try making three lists: a list of ingredients needed for tonight’s dinner; a list of items which need restocking; and a list of items which might be nice as quick dinners for later on down the line.
Create healthy habits and routines
We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but that doesn't always mean it has to be a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. What you choose to put in your body will have a direct impact on how much energy you have throughout the day. This means that skipping meals - or eating foods without protein, carbs and healthy fats - will give you low energy levels and prevent weight loss goals from being achieved. Find an easy way to mix up your routine with these seven smart habits:
1) Take advantage of leftovers For example, serve up last night's dinner for breakfast. Or if a recipe calls for more than what you need for one serving, just pack away leftovers for tomorrow's breakfast or lunch. The possibilities are endless!
2) Eat breakfast within an hour of waking up You'll feel better and have more energy when you get out of bed. Plus, there's no need to skip breakfast because eggs are both filling and affordable.
3) Eat every three hours The best time to eat after working out is within 30 minutes; otherwise, wait at least three hours between meals or snacks so the food can digest properly. There are many different food combinations that will keep you energized so don't be afraid to experiment!
4) Get plenty of sleep Sleep deprivation not only leads to a sluggish morning but also makes us crave junk food because we're trying to compensate for our lack of energy levels. Try setting a specific time to go to bed each night so you know exactly when you should turn off your screens. And make sure that once you do turn off those screens, it's lights out! 5) Avoid sugary drinks Sugary drinks cause us to overindulge in other foods which ultimately causes weight gain. Try replacing sugary drinks with water or tea and see how good it feels not feeling bloated all the time! 6) Drink more water Water helps flush toxins from our bodies and regulates metabolism which helps burn fat quicker. It may seem like common sense, but drinking enough water daily is necessary for proper functioning of organs such as the kidneys and brain cells.
good
ReplyDelete