{"id":3971,"date":"2024-07-15T16:28:29","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T16:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyamerica.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=3971"},"modified":"2026-08-17T16:03:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T21:03:06","slug":"a-beginners-guide-to-meal-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/?p=3971","title":{"rendered":"A Beginners Guide to Meal Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This post may contain affiliate links. Healthy American may receive compensation if you use a qualifying link.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to save hours of your time and dollars on your budget? &nbsp;Planning your meals ahead of time is a well-known but massively under-appreciated hack.&nbsp; Batch your meal prep to save extra time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How often do you just stare into the fridge?&nbsp; You\u2019re hungry, but there\u2019s \u201cnothing\u201d to eat. &nbsp;Your pace around your apartment, roaming from the refrigerator to the cupboard, to the pantry, over and over again.&nbsp; Grumbling and sighing to yourself, unable to make a decision.&nbsp; Finally, you pop a bag of popcorn and wander back to studying or watching a show on Netflix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a couple of hours later now, and you realize you are starving all over again.&nbsp; But now it\u2019s too late to cook.&nbsp; You can\u2019t just start rattling around in the kitchen.&nbsp; So, what are you going to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you order in?&nbsp; Do you drive to McDonald\u2019s?&nbsp; This time you just make a bowl of cereal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need to break the cycle of spending hundreds of dollars a month on fast food. &nbsp;It does nothing for your energy levels and depletes your bank account. &nbsp;Instead, we are going to make a plan and, we\u2019re even going to save time and money just by doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best way to do this is to batch and plan our meals.&nbsp; Choose recipes with similar ingredients over the week to save money on groceries and avoid wasting ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Planning your meals for the week can be as simple or complicated as your cooking skill.&nbsp; If you enjoy cooking and do it all the time, you probably have a lot of great recipe ideas on hand.&nbsp; Plan out 5 to 7 meal ideas for the week and list all of the ingredients you\u2019re going to need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your culinary skills are somewhat lacking, you can also go on the web and look up some easy recipe ideas. &nbsp;There are tons of different ways to search.&nbsp; You can find five recipe ideas or even 30-minute recipe ideas.&nbsp; Whatever suits your time and budget restraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"if-you-are-coupling-meal-planning-with-budgeting-try-to-pick-recipes-with-similar-ingredients\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you are coupling meal planning with budgeting, try to pick recipes with similar ingredients.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyamerica.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3974\" style=\"width:517px;height:344px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/brooke-lark-JkTv__BqmaA-unsplash-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Buying fewer ingredients and learning new, creative ways to use them is fantastic to cut costs.&nbsp; This can be a fun activity, especially if you are adventurous and like to try new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not only have you now committed to a menu for the week, but you also have your grocery list.&nbsp; Doing one grocery shop weekly will save you time from making multiple trips to the store throughout the week.&nbsp; It will also save you money from the impulse purchases you would rack up on these extra trips.&nbsp; A chocolate bar here and a bottle of Pop there really add up over time, especially when you\u2019re trying to save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From here, you have a couple of options, you can go on to grocery shopping, return and put your supplies away, or prepare your ingredients.&nbsp; Upon arriving home and unloading your groceries, decide if you want to advance to this second stage of planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"preparing-everything-ahead-of-time-will-save-you-time-daily\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preparing everything ahead of time will save you time daily.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyamerica.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3973\" style=\"width:-805px;height:-1007px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-830x1038.jpg 830w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-1200x1500.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/dane-deaner-TXHml4xX9A0-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Batching the prep time also might give you a little more flexibility regarding what you want to eat on which night. &nbsp;Having many prepped meals can also save time overall on cleaning and dishes since you won\u2019t have quite as many each night.&nbsp;&nbsp; Just be sure to safely store the ingredients to avoid spoilage and cross-contamination.&nbsp; Freezing portions will give you extra flexibility when you do not have the time to cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have the available time, you can also cook and freeze portions for use throughout the week.&nbsp; This allows even more flexibility because you can just pop a serving in the microwave.&nbsp; &nbsp;Batch cook intricate meals like lasagna or shepherd\u2019s pie that require you to make larger portions and freeze them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having one batch cooking night weekly, and stocking up, will save even more time and dishes day today.&nbsp; The only limitation to this process is has enough freezer space. &nbsp;This is also a great option if you just need a few emergency meals on hand for days that you are super pressed for time.&nbsp; Having some meals frozen in the freezer can take the weight off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">*<em> Disclaimer * Some of the posted links are affiliate programs. By clicking these links, I may receive monetary compensation. This will not alter the price or change the buyer\u2019s experience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><br><em>I would like to be transparent so that there are no misunderstandings. As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from any products linked in this post. This is not a sponsored post, and I was not asked to recommend these products. These are products that I genuinely love and want to share with my audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This post may contain affiliate links. Healthy American may receive compensation if you use a qualifying link. Want to save hours of your time and dollars on your budget? &nbsp;Planning your meals ahead of time is a well-known but massively under-appreciated hack.&nbsp; Batch your meal prep to save extra time! How often do you just [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-health"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Beginners Guide to Meal Planning - Healthy American<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/healthyamericanusa.org\/?p=3971\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Beginners Guide to Meal Planning - Healthy American\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This post may contain affiliate links. Healthy American may receive compensation if you use a qualifying link. Want to save hours of your time and dollars on your budget? &nbsp;Planning your meals ahead of time is a well-known but massively under-appreciated hack.&nbsp; Batch your meal prep to save extra time! 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