In today’s fast paced well, it’s easy to feel that there’s no time to eat or even plan for it. You grab what’s available and you are already on the world. However, this is usually detrimental in the long term.
Developing an effective meal plan may seem like a lot of work, however if done properly, has lots of benefits for yourself and family.
One of the first things to consider in building a good menu is asking what your family likes to eat. Write a list of everyone’s favorite meals, including yours. If you introduce a new recipe for the family and they love it, add it to that list. Develop a list long enough to last for at least a 2-week cycle.
The next thing is to take stock of your provisions or pantry. Based on the list you’ve created you need to check if you have all the right ingredients to be able to prepare these meals. If not, it means you are due a trip to the market.
Always plan ahead. To maintain an effective meal plan, it is advisable to be prepared. You don’t have to be checking what’s available in the pantry on the day the meal is to be eaten. If you plan ahead, you are better prepared to get the necessary items and stock them well in time.
Start small. If you are new to developing a meal plan, there’s no point in developing a 2-week plan and failing to commit to it. You can do one for the week and slowly work your way up. Once you are comfortable with your list and can stick to it, you can slowly introduce new recipes along the way.
Include a nutritious variety
It may be tempting to draw up a list of all your family’s favorite meals to use as your meal plan but it’s important to keep in mind their nutrition needs.
A good meal plan includes a wide variety of balanced and nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch and supper. You should make room for surprise recipes to keep things adventurous and exciting at home.
You may also include healthy snacks as part of the menu, especially for your little kids who constantly crave something to munch on.
Planning a meal menu for the family can be daunting in the beginning but over time comes with many benefits. You have more control over what they eat and can be assured that their daily nutritional needs are being met.
Menu
