Dj
03-18-03, 12:20 PM
This will go hand in hand with one of the suggestions for better nutritional eating that I posted today also. Hope this helps some of you with your planning.
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Meal planning
Meal planning is deciding in advance what you will eat for a period of time (generally 1 to 2 weeks). Planning your meals can help you eat more nutritiously, reduce trips to the grocery store, save time at the store, and save money.
Menu planning tips
Use the menu planner and grocery list shown below as you follow these steps:
Get out your cookbooks and plan several main meals. Make a list of these menu ideas on a menu planner. Plan some quick meals for busy nights. You also can double some recipes that freeze well, and save half for other busy nights when you don't have time to cook.
Check your pantry for all the ingredients called for in recipes. Write down all the ingredients you need to purchase. If you notice you are running low on certain basic items, put these on your grocery list as well.
Now fill in foods that you use to make breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, such as eggs, cereals, breads, tuna, milk, and juice. Don't forget plenty of fruits and vegetables!
Post this list on the refrigerator and add to it as you run out of foods or think of other things you need.
Take the list to the store and stick to it. You save money by not making impulse buys. However, you don't need to be so rigid that you pass up a good sale item.
When you get home, cut out and post the Menu Planner (so you don't forget what all that food is for!). You may want to write down page numbers from recipe books for quick reference. This way, whoever gets home first can start dinner.
The first few times you do this, it will seem like a fair amount of work. But the rewards are worth it, and you will become faster at the planning process. You can even save some of the menus and grocery lists and use them again in a few weeks.
Menu Planner
Plan your meals for at least 3 days.
Make a chart that shows breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. If you want to avoid making any choices during your day (which many people do when starting a program) you can add snacks as well. Fill in the blanks with what you want to make.
Grocery List
Write down any basic food items you need and the ingredients for your meals.
Make your list to match your grocery store's layout. Next time you go to the grocery, take a long a pad and pencil and write down the order in how you find things in your store. Make the chart/list in an easy way for you to be organized!
Click here to see examples of the menu planner and grocery list: (http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/57/14187)
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____________________________________________________
Meal planning
Meal planning is deciding in advance what you will eat for a period of time (generally 1 to 2 weeks). Planning your meals can help you eat more nutritiously, reduce trips to the grocery store, save time at the store, and save money.
Menu planning tips
Use the menu planner and grocery list shown below as you follow these steps:
Get out your cookbooks and plan several main meals. Make a list of these menu ideas on a menu planner. Plan some quick meals for busy nights. You also can double some recipes that freeze well, and save half for other busy nights when you don't have time to cook.
Check your pantry for all the ingredients called for in recipes. Write down all the ingredients you need to purchase. If you notice you are running low on certain basic items, put these on your grocery list as well.
Now fill in foods that you use to make breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, such as eggs, cereals, breads, tuna, milk, and juice. Don't forget plenty of fruits and vegetables!
Post this list on the refrigerator and add to it as you run out of foods or think of other things you need.
Take the list to the store and stick to it. You save money by not making impulse buys. However, you don't need to be so rigid that you pass up a good sale item.
When you get home, cut out and post the Menu Planner (so you don't forget what all that food is for!). You may want to write down page numbers from recipe books for quick reference. This way, whoever gets home first can start dinner.
The first few times you do this, it will seem like a fair amount of work. But the rewards are worth it, and you will become faster at the planning process. You can even save some of the menus and grocery lists and use them again in a few weeks.
Menu Planner
Plan your meals for at least 3 days.
Make a chart that shows breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. If you want to avoid making any choices during your day (which many people do when starting a program) you can add snacks as well. Fill in the blanks with what you want to make.
Grocery List
Write down any basic food items you need and the ingredients for your meals.
Make your list to match your grocery store's layout. Next time you go to the grocery, take a long a pad and pencil and write down the order in how you find things in your store. Make the chart/list in an easy way for you to be organized!
Click here to see examples of the menu planner and grocery list: (http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/57/14187)
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