Don’t Let Meal Planning Overwhelm You!

 

I have talked multiple times about how important it is to have a meal plan as a way to save tons of money on your overall food expenses.  Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to sit down and come up with that plan week after week or you simply run out of time.  In that case try simplifying the process.  This idea isn’t entirely mine as I was inspired by a Youtuber at Simple Food Simple Life and I think it is brilliant!

 

A blueberry muffin with 1/2 a large apple sliced

Breakfast – keep it super simple with toast or and English muffin and peanut butter or a toasted bagel with cream cheese plus a piece of fruit like a banana, pear, nectarine or an apple.  Some of us, and I include myself here, may not be ready to eat early in the day and if that is the case, then skip it.  Instead, opt for a mid morning snack, brunch or an early lunch when your stomach is ready for food.

 

A cup of split pea soup w/half a tuna salad sandwich & lettuce

Lunch – a cup of soup and half a sandwich.  Done!  With so many soup options and varieties of sandwiches it will take a good long while before you get tired, if you even do.  This combo allows you to hit all of the nutrition points too.  Also of note is that a serving of bread is one slice, but if you feel a half sandwich isn’t enough to keep you going, by all means make a whole sandwich.  Try it with the half sandwich first though because I found it surprisingly filling.

 

Beef stroganoff over rice w/broccoli

Dinner – a starch, a protein and a vegetable (fresh or cooked or a combination).  I try to avoid too many starches myself, but if you handle them well then select healthy options like rice or potatoes.  To make it easy try coming up with a simple meal plan for suppers that you can mix and match over a couple of weeks.

 

Small bananas & mandarins

Yogurt w/diced nectarine

Snacks – a piece of fruit, nuts, raw veggies with some salad dressing, a couple slices of cheese, half a apple sliced with a spoonful of peanut butter, a yogurt cup, etc.  Healthy snacks like these help fill in the nutritional gaps so you are sure to get all of your daily nutrients.  Stay away from ultra processed foods.

 

Chicken fried rice, egg drop soup & a green salad

Burger with lettuce & tomato plus potato salad for Diner Nite

Have themes – maybe Sunday is chicken, Monday is leftovers, Tuesday is Mexican food, Wednesday is soup and salad, Thursday is pasta, Friday is hamburgers or steaks, Saturday is pizza.  You get the idea.  Tailor it to fit your family’s particular tastes.

 

Tacos!

Meatloaf, small baked potato w/sour cream & vegetables

Your meal plans don’t need to be overly elaborate, but to save money and stay on budget you do need a plan of some sort.  Get your family involved in the meal planning so it isn’t always on you to make it happen and make sure they are helping with the cooking and clean up, especially the kids.  Life lessons they’ll need to learn for later on in life.  Keep it simple in order to keep it successful!