Meal planning involves choosing your meals and snacks based on factors such as your schedule, preferences, and what foods you have readily available.
Unlike a meal plan which can be quite rigid, meal planning is flexible and helps you develop skills to have a balanced diet.
Top Five Tips for Meal Planning
Include a variety of foods
This ensures you get a variety of the food groups, such as different fruits and vegetables which are important for giving you different vitamins and minerals.
Focus on foods high in protein and fibre for your meals and snacks
Fibre and protein will help keep you satisfied for longer, which is particularly helpful if your goal is weight loss.
Include any leftovers in the planning
This is more cost effective and helps to reduce food wastage. Find foods you already have and check their expiry dates to find out when they need to be used, and choose recipes that include these ingredients.
Include your favourite foods in your meals and snacks
You’re more likely to eat the meals and snacks you plan if they include foods you enjoy. To make it more satisfying, it can help to pair your favourite foods with something high in fibre and protein. For example, having chips with veggie sticks and hummus for a filling snack.
Choose recipes that are realistic for you to make depending on your schedule
If you know your week is going to be busy, it can help to include some ready-made meals or recipes that are quick and easy to make with minimal ingredients.
What are the benefits of meal planning?
- Helps you save money
- Saves time
- Don’t have to think about what to cook during the week
- Easier to achieve health goals
- Develops planning and cooking skills
Here at RTH we plan out your meals based on what foods you request, and the weekly shopping list is all done for you. These plans are flexible, allowing you to swap meals around instead of being a rigid plan.
If you need help with meal planning, then the RTH programs are for you!
These programs map out the entire meal planning system I developed over the years using it personally, and now with my clients.
It has cooking plans, shopping lists, meal plans, and everything you need to follow for healthy eating.
