But Planning Meals Takes Time!

Planning meals is a way to help us accomplish several other goals, such as...

• Sticking to a budget
• Saving time daily
• Cooking Healthy
• Spend less time prepping and shopping

I am going to summarize my secrets to planning meals that will make it so easy for you.

1. Decide on a structured meal plan that will reduce decisions needed per day. Meatless Monday, Taco Tuesday, Wacky Breakfast Wednesday, Pasta Thursday, Comfort Seafood Friday, Picnic Saturday, and Southwest Sunday. This is just an example. One could name days whatever they wanted. I title Moday a "Meatless Monday" then when I plan a meal for Monday I know I stay away from meat, which also saves money and reduces the choices and takes less time to decide. There is a fabulous website called Meatless Monday that is loaded with tips. If Tuesday is Taco Tuesday you will quickly find that there are so many things you can put into a taco besides just ground beef. BBQ pork or baked fish are amazing in a taco shell or soft taco.
2. Download a sheet that lists foods under appropriate categories; Meat, Carbs, Veggies, Bread, etc. and choose one item from each category to plan a balanced meal. Here is the sheet I like to use from Body-for-LIFE.
3. Purchase a calendar or print one month at a time from an online site. Write a simple menu for each day working in two week increments. Post on the frig for the never ending question "What's for supper?". I actually made my own on an Excel spreadsheet and added some personal pictures to it to make it even more appealing. Here is a site where you can download some calendar pages if you like. 
4. Make your grocery list from the meal planning calendar. As you get more experienced you will be able to incorporate fruits and veggies that are in season to also save money. If you can grow any of your own fruit and veggies, even better!

Other things you can do once you get more used to it is plan meals that use similar staples like beans, rice, potatoes etc. and cook extra the first night so you have some already available when you use it again a few days later. In the same way it takes money to make money, it takes time to make time!