“It still counts as preparing a meal,” Cording says.įirst, write down the ingredients and quantities you’ll need for each recipe. And if you know you’re going to be super busy on a certain day, plan for a simple “recipe,” like a pre-cooked BBQ chicken with a simple green salad and instant brown rice. The WeightWatchers® app and website have loads of recipes, but try tapping into friends and families for ideas as well. When selecting recipes, keep in mind your goals, cooking ability, and time. For example, many people find it’s easiest to cook three dinners a week and use leftovers and takeaway for the other nights. “Be realistic about your limits, schedule, and potential barriers,” Cording says. Start by jotting down any meals you’re eating out, and then work around them. You might only want to plan dinners, or maybe you want to figure out every meal of the day. There’s no set formula here the number of meals you plan may vary from week to week. Determine the number-and type-of meals you’re planning. “A few common goals are losing weight, watching your intake of sodium, and minimising intake of preservatives or additives,” Cording says.Ģ. Meal planning shouldn’t be difficult, and it will take less time as you get used to doing it.
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Your menu might also include restaurant meals. “Convenience items-like pre-cooked chicken-can be part of a plan,” West Passerrello says. Your cooking skills: Even if you hate cooking, meal planning can work for you.Your schedule: “The biggest factor for success is to be realistic about how much time you can devote to planning and prep,” says Caroline West Passerrello, a registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Your goals: Are you making a meal plan to help you save time? Cut costs? Lose weight? Your goals affect how often you’ll cook and the recipes you choose.Dietary restrictions: Consider everyone’s food intolerances, allergies, and preferences.The answer may differ for some meals, depending on your family’s schedule. How many people you’re feeding: Whether you live alone or have a big family, you’ll need a head count to plan portions.A meal plan needs to take into account the following factors:
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Meal planning includes choosing meals and finding recipes shopping for ingredients as well as prepping and cooking food. It can include things you cook as well as premade and restaurant meals and it usually supports a specific goal, such as saving time, sticking to a budget, and/or eating healthier.
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A meal plan is a written list of what you (and your family, if you also have other mouths to feed) will eat for every meal over a set period of time.