Meal Planning and Prep: What is the Hype?

What is meal planning?

Meal planning involved creating a weekly menu and in some cases prepping those meals ahead of time for the week.

What’s the hype?

Meal planning can help you stay on track with your health goals. Studies have found that people that meal plan:

1.)    Eat healthier

2.)    Are able to lose weight and maintain that weight loss

3.)    Eat a more balanced diet

4.)    Have better portion control

In addition to health benefits, meal planning has some other benefits:

·       Saves time and money

·       Reduces stress

·       Prevents food waste

Meal Planning 101

Get started with meal planning by creating a weekly menu. It may be helpful to start out with one meal a day, for example, planning out dinners for the week.

Tips for making a menu:

-          Check your pantry and freezer to see what you have on hand and need to use up

-          Find foods on sale for the week

-          Shop produce in season

-          Plan at least one plant-based meal per week

-          Plan at least two fish meals per week

-          Plan one or less red meat meals per week

-          Plan in leftovers!

-          Find make ahead meals for your busy days

-          Create your shopping list!