How to Plan Weekly Meals for the Family
Summer holidays are nearly over, and kids are getting back to school next week. But before getting stuck into the chaos of the busy daily routines, why not plan things in advance and make family life a little bit easier? Preparing meals for the whole Family can be quite a challenge and very time consuming, but if preparing menus & shopping lists in advance, it will certainly make it easier.
Planning healthy, balanced family meals for the week can be a time saver for even the busiest people. By shopping for your meals once a week, you can save time, money and gas by making fewer trips to the grocery or convenience store. Taking some time to learn how to plan balanced meals for your family will save you time—and help you eat better—in the long run.
There are certainly many benefits to meal planning for your family, including healthy eating. By learning how to plan weekly meals and eating meals at home, you can control your portions and avoid eating hidden calories. In addition, family meals eaten at home tend to be less expensive and higher in nutrients. So here is how to start:
Get Ideas – When children are involved in the planning process they’ll be more likely to eat what is prepared. Ask your children and other family members what foods they would like to eat during the week. It will also be easier to get help with the meal preparation and clean-up process if their food preferences are considered. Search for delicious recipes to get more ideas.
Plan by Personality – Do you combine fresh and convenience foods to make the meal faster? Is cooking something you enjoy and don’t mind spending time doing? Do you prefer to cook from scratch or do you rely on frozen and canned foods such as frozen broccoli or, canned tomatoes or beans to make the meal easier to prepare? These are important questions to answer to yourself before you start planning your Menus.
Keep Healthy Food on Hand – Adding meal staples to your shopping list makes it easier to create quick meals on busy nights. Make sure your pantry, cupboards, refrigerator and freezer are stocked with healthy foods from all of the food groups like milk, cheese, tomatoes, garlic, onions, apples, bananas, bread, cereal, pasta, rice, tortillas, beans, etc. Remember, the food you have on hand will determine how healthfully you eat so, choose wisely.
Shop Once for the Week – Once you’ve made a list of the recipes you’re planning to prepare, including snacks and staples, make a list of all the ingredients that you will need to prepare these meals. Make sure your list includes nutrient-rich foods from all the food groups, then check your pantry and refrigerator to see what you may already have on hand. Make adjustments to your list and take your list to the store.
