Planning your meals ahead of the trip to the grocery store is a key strategy for eating well on a budget. Can reduce stress as you avoid last minute decisions about what to eat, or rushed preparation.Can contribute to an overall more nutritionally balanced diet.Can help with weight control, as you decide the ingredients and portions served.If you already cook some weekday meals for your family, you might decide to create a schedule so that you are not deciding last minute what to make and to ensure you have the needed ingredients on hand.If you already food shop once a week and have basic cooking skills, your goal may be to choose one day a week to do most of the cooking, or try a new recipe.If you now eat fast food or takeout several nights of the week, your goal may be to choose a specific day of the week to create a food shopping list and hit the grocery store.Although any type of meal prep requires planning, there is no one correct method, as it can differ based on food preferences, cooking ability, schedules, and personal goals. Amidst hectic weekday schedules, meal prep or meal planning is a great tool to help keep us on a healthy eating track. Now, imagine a different scenario where within a few minutes of walking through the door you have a delicious home-cooked dinner, and perhaps even lunch packed-up for the next day.

Who hasn’t left work late with a growling stomach but little energy to shop and cook? A busy schedule is one of the top reasons why people choose quick takeout meals, which are often calorie-laden and a contributor to expanding waistlines.

Healthy habits meal prep