6 Tips to Conquer Meal Planning

Let's talk about food! I looooove food. It's an important part of our lives. It nourishes our bodies, gives us a creative outlet, tastes delicious, and is at the center of most gatherings with family and friends. It's a total necessity!

Food can also be a stressor. When we don't plan out our meals, it creates unnecessary stress and can cost us huge amounts of money. Just like food is essential to our lives, so is the planning surrounding the meals we eat. ​

Sometimes the hardest part of organizing your life is planning. It can feel overwhelming to look at all of the things you want to do, but not know where to start. Meal planning is an amazing start!

​Some of the benefits of meal planning include portion control, reduced food waste, less stress about cooking, and of course, saving money! After tackling meal planning, you can tackle any area of your life that needs some extra TLC. Here are some quick tips to help you get started so you can conquer your kitchen chaos!

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1. Write Down Recipes
Don't let all of your recipes live in your brain. It takes up way too much space and you're likely to forget all of the details. Invest in a recipe book and write it down! Better yet, use Pinterest. You can digitally organize your recipes however you want. Just make sure that you go through your Pinterest recipe board every 6 months to tidy up and get rid of recipes you don't like or won't use. 

2. Have a designated day to plan.
Whether it's weekly, biweekly, or monthly, choose an interval that works for you and stick to it. Pull out your recipes or your phone for Pinterest and choose the amount of meals you'll need. 

3. Make a grocery list.
While your recipes are handy, write out your grocery list. Make sure to check your fridge, freezer, and pantry for ingredients that you already have so that you aren't spending extra on things you don't need. 

4. Order online if you can. 
Grocery shopping used to be my least favorite chore until online ordering became more available. Ordering online will save you so much time! Plus, it'll be so much easier to stick to your list and not impulsively buy products you don't need. 

5. Prep as much as you can on the day you get your groceries. 
It may seem like a pain at the time, but it will save you so much time in the long run. Put on your favorite podcast or show and wash all produce and chop all veggies you will need for your meals. This tip is a huge time saver and it makes cooking much less stressful. 

6. Use leftovers.
You can eat leftovers as they are, or you can get creative with them and repurpose them into a new meal. For example, if your meal on Monday is roasted chicken, use leftovers to make chicken soup or chicken salad on Tuesday. This will reduce your food waste and save money!