TLC in the Kitchen

I think we can all use a little help when it comes to healthy meal planning. Often I don’t plan before I shop and then I have a hard time making healthy meals from what I have on hand. I have recently returned to some of my better habits in regard to healthy meal planning. I will share a few of my strategies. Hopefully, they will help you also.

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Sometimes I just can’t think of something to make for dinner. With my master list, it’s like having a menu. I also give it to my husband or kids to pick a few dinners off so that they can have their favorites, too.

I like to do my major shopping every two weeks. Then once a week I pick up fresh produce, milk and bread. So twice a month we select 14 meals off the master list. I make a shopping list of everything needed for all the main dishes and side dishes. I divide my list in sections like the grocery store – produce, dairy, meat, cans, etc. Then, I check my pantry and refrigerator to see what is on hand and doesn’t need to be purchased. I also add in breakfast and lunch items.

I have found that this strategy works very well for me. It helps me to not “over buy” just because something is on sale. It also makes it much easier to decide what to make for dinner each night. Sometimes I just ask one of the kids to pick what they want and I don’t even have to make a decision. Another plus is that when my husband wants to take a turn cooking dinner, he knows what we have all the meal components to make.

I find when I am organized about planning meals and making a shopping list that we not only eat healthier meals, but we save a lot of money by not going out to eat or running back and forth to the grocery store for “just a few things.” It does take a little time to get started, but once you have your master list created it is a huge timesaver. Hope it works for you!