Meal Planning Tips for Beginners

Meal planning is one of the best ways to reach your health goals. It will save you time and money and you'll feel more energised and probably a little bit smug too! My 'How to Meal Prep Tips' below will get you excited about healthy eating again and guarantee delicious midweek meals for all the family.

If you're feeling a bit stuck when it comes to meal planning, check out the personalised meal plans I provide as part of my 30 and 90-day packages here. 

15 Tips for Better Meal Planning

1. Invest in a slow cooker. Meals cook slowly over 8 hours (while you're at work or doing other fun stuff). You'll come home to a wonderful aroma of home cooked food. What could be better?
2. Plan for leftovers. Instead of cooking for two each evening double your ingredients and pack the leftovers for lunch the next day. Make a little extra of everything and if you don’t fancy it there and then, freeze it.
3. Make soup. It's nutritious, quick and easy. If you are really caught for time buy ready chopped vegetables. Just watch which stock cube you use as many contain tons of salt and artificial flavour enhancers, like mono-sodium-glutamate (MSG) and should be avoided. Choose a reduced salt bouillon powder instead. Here's a hearty soup recipe for inspiration.
4. Make a stir-fry. You could use ready-chopped boxes of vegetables if necessary and add some cooked prawns but make sure you swap sachets of stir fry sauce (which are loaded with sugar) for soy sauce, chilli flakes, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger and coriander. And of course plan for leftovers. 
5. Schedule an online shop so you don't waste time navigating the aisles in-store. Grocery shopping online means you can easily repeat previous orders so it becomes faster each time you checkout. Some online grocery shops allow you to upload recipes and populate your basket with the ingredients.
6. Spend an hour on a Sunday batch cooking a stew or curry. Get your favourite podcast, music or audiobook on and enjoy the process! Freeze portions or refrigerate for later.
7. Oven roast some chicken with vegetables and your lunch will be the envy of everyone in the office over the next three days. Try out my recipe here.
8. Hard boil six eggs and keep them in the door of your fridge for up to three days. Simply use them in salads, or slice them on-top of some avocado on wholemeal toast for a light evening meal or healthy breakfast.
9. Batch roast jacket sweet potatoes. Fill one or two with hummus and salad and take in your lunchbox.
10. Make a vegetable frittata, cut it into slices (like a pizza) and you have a portable breakfast or lunch option.
11. Assemble stuff. Get some oatcakes, smoked mackerel, some cherry tomatoes and rocket/spinach leaves. Assemble a quick and delicious meal on your plate in minutes.
12. Share the cooking. Ask your kids to help in the kitchen if they can. The more good habits they learn from you now the better their chances of maintaining healthy habits in the future.
13. Rotate a few of your favourite recipes weekly and introduce one new recipe a fortnight to keep things interesting (new recipes will take slightly longer to cook).
14. Planning is Key! Plan in advance what you are going to eat for the week ahead. Look at your recipes and make a quick shopping list. It will help you stay on track so you are less likely to impulsively buy unhealthy treats. Choose recipes that you can get a few portions from such as a stew, soup or shepherd's pie.
15. Save money. You'll be amazed how much money and hassle you'll save yourself and you'll reduce your food waste too.

 
Seriously, it will soon become second nature to you. It's so freeing! Try it and see for yourself! If you're struggling for ideas or need some support getting started, check out my meal plans and the different ways we can work together here. 

P.S. Check out my Instagram @Stellar_Health_Mary and like my Facebook page for daily lunchbox inspiration.