By SUZANNAH KOLBECK
How To Craft And Plan For Balanced Meals All Week
A meal plan helps manage your time and reduces stress. Simply determine all the times you'll eat during the upcoming week and then decide what you will cook and eat.
Unpack Planning
Planning makes it easier to eat a balanced diet and accommodate dietary restrictions. Include all meals, snacks, and any other activities that involve food or drink in your plan.
Understanding what makes a balanced diet will help you work out what to include in the plan, such as protein, whole grain carbohydrates, and fruits or vegetables.
Figure Out Needs
Healthy fats from foods like avocado, whole milk, nuts, and olive oil are also essential. You’ll need to consider any dietary restrictions among the people you’ll be cooking for.
Reviewing the ingredients you already have in your kitchen will ensure that you don’t buy unnecessary items and encourages you to use up food you already have.
Take Inventory
Make a list of everything and organize it into categories. Start with grains like rice and oats, then list frozen fruits and vegetables, meats, and finally dry and canned goods.
Stocking up on non-perishable staples like canned and dried beans, pasta sauce, lentils, and rice cuts down on grocery bills and makes it easy to prepare quick meals.
Stock Pantry
Other pantry items that make meal planning simpler include oils, vinegars, and baking supplies. Onions, potatoes, and garlic are also key, but rotate these so they don't spoil.
Once you’ve completed the previous steps, choose the recipes you’ll use during the week. You can find recipes online, in cookbooks, or from family and friends.
Select Recipes
Select meals to fit your tastes, and include one new recipe a week for novelty. To allow for leftovers, cook larger quantities than you need, and overlap ingredients to save time.