Four benefits of meal planning

Meal planning is often listed as one of the top habits for healthy eating, however many of us view this as too daunting a task or a waste of time. On the contrary, proper meal planning will save you time. You won’t have to cook every night and get a head start of your meal prep, so that you can enjoy a healthy meal every day of the week, helps you make healthier food choices and saves you money.

#1 Saving You Time

This is a bonus for a busy lifestyle and especially those that’s not so fond of cooking. By selecting your meals for the week in advance, you can dedicate a couple of hours one or two days a week to prep your meals. Here is a tip for the single cook, select meals that you can cook once and get 4-5 different meals out, for example roasting a whole chicken, 2-3 x meals using the drumsticks, thighs and wings, add some vegetables and a grain, 2 meals using the breast making either a salad, wrap, pasta or sandwich.This is a bonus for a busy lifestyle and especially those that’s not so fond of cooking. By selecting your meals for the week in advance, you can dedicate a couple of hours one or two days a week to prep your meals. Here is a tip for the single cook, select meals that you can cook once and get 4-5 different meals out, for example roasting a whole chicken, 2-3 x meals using the drumsticks, thighs and wings, add some vegetables and a grain, 2 meals using the breast making either a salad, wrap, pasta or sandwich.

#2 Saving You Money

This is one of the biggest benefits and sure to put a smile on your face. Here is how meal prepping can save you money.

Make the most out of Batch Cooking

Select recipes with similar ingredients to batch cook during the week, divide into portions for each meal. Less money is spent on ingredients you may never need again.

Less wasted food

By preselecting your meals, you know how much of everything you need, and you will be less likely to waste any food.

Take advantage of sales

Almost all the grocery stores have “loyalty programmes” such as Checkers Xtra savings and PnP Smart Shopper. Look at what they have on offer and consider this when planning your meals. For example, the fresh vegetables are often on a by 3 for Rxx.xx deals. Many of these stores also have the delivery apps, where you will be able to benefit from these savings, and not be tempted to buy extra luxuries you don’t need.

Less take-aways

This is an obvious benefit. Meal planning reduces the chance of you grabbing take-aways for dinner and helps you to make healthier choices.

#3 Makes Eating Healthy Easier

Meal planning takes the guesswork out of figuring what to eat each meal. As mentioned above, by planning you will be less likely to quickly run to the shop and buy something to curb the hunger pangs or left with a lack of time to figure out what to make for dinner. When you know what you are going to be eating, you are far more likely to stay on track.

#4 Makes it easier to mix it up a little

Not only does meal planning help us make healthy choices, it also helps to add variety to our diets. This is where shopping the specials can also help. Try something new once a week, you may just find your new favourite dish.

Meal planning may be hard at the beginning, but once the habit is formed you will reap the rewards in the long term.