Seasonal Meal Planning Made Easy
These days the buzz about meal planning is all over social media - with beautiful pictures of homemade dinners, and artfully packed lunches flooding our eyes. Yet, if meal planning is new to you, it can be intimidating to know how to get started. (Especially when you already have a lot on your plate! ) The benefits of meal planning are many! It is a great way to help you save time, de-stress, save $$, and support your family to eat healthier and nutritious family dinners throughout the week. Read along to learn a simple method to crafting a whole week’s worth of healthy meals!
Seasonal Meal Planning in 4 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Hold A Scavenger Hunt in Your Pantry - A great way to reduce food waste is by starting your meal planning in your home pantry. In many cases, there is food hiding in the pantry or fridge that needs to get used. Try scheduling in 5 min or less once a week to make a list of all the foods in your kitchen (and/or garden) that need to get used. This is a great task for kids to get involved with. Kick it up a notch: This can also be done at your local farmers' market. Start your seasonal meal plan by foraging the market for the best of what is in season and then plan your weekly menu.
Step 2: Schedule in Time Each Week to Build Your Plan - Try to pencil in time weekly to sit down and build your menu with the family. Note: This is also a great time to decide who is going to do what to help prepare the meals and clean up.
Step 3: Find Balance By Trying a Template - When you are learning something new, often it can help to use a tool to help you get started. Below is a sample meal planning tool that I like to use. My favorite part about this chart is the cheat sheet areas to the left. This helps you learn to balance your meals by breaking down a meal (like dinner) into all those important food categories to fuel your body.
Step 4: Create a Shopping List - Once you have your plan, this helps you to quickly make your shopping list. Having a list will help you focus while at the store, and reduce those last-minute impulse purchases.
Tips to Simplify Meal Prepping:
Set up your Station Like A Pro - Start your Meal Prep Party by first setting up a clean, sturdy cutting board. Prepare your knives, and make sure they are sharp. Set up a compost bucket to save veggie scraps. Have a few clean washcloths close by to tidy up. Start warming up your oven or grill if using.
Grab Your Ingredients + Tools - Pull out all the ingredients and tools that you will need for your recipes to have them within easy reach. Start preparing items that will need to cook the longest. If an item will be reheated before eating - be careful not to over-cook.
Store Safely - Once your meals have been prepared - start the cooling down process quickly. Be sure to label and date your meals. Most foods last 5-7 days when refrigerated. Try to get a glass or BPA-free storage containers to reduce endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Try out this helpful guide to help you get started on balanced, nutrient dense meal planning. Try your hand at meal prepping for a week and see how easy it can be!
