9 Easy Meal Planning Ideas for Busy Women

What are some meal planning ideas? How important is it to promote good health? Learn some healthy tips on starting meal planning and practicing it.

Dinner can be a real struggle with picky eaters in the family and busy schedules. Even the best home cooks can struggle to come up with quick, inexpensive, and (at least somewhat) healthy meals, let alone those whose plates are already piled high.

According to the research, meal planning was associated with a healthier diet and fewer obesity cases.

If you can find the time to plan your meals, it can save your life in those circumstances. If you don't have the time or resources to sit down once a week and plan out your favorite meals, we've got your back with this straightforward guide that will assist you in making a grocery list and meal plan.

Making a weekly meal plan or menu is simple with the help of these meal suggestions and recipes (one for each night of the week, plus two extras you can substitute in and out).

How should meal planning begin? Try these successful meal planning ideas!

Why not make pasta a weekly occurrence since it is an inexpensive, universal favorite? Having a set pasta night is brilliant because you can essentially serve any pasta with any sauce, protein, and vegetable you like. Then the next week you can try something completely different.

Steamed or baked vegetables go great with any cut of meat or fish that has been baked, grilled, or pan-fried. Add some rice, lentils, or potatoes for a complete meal after varying your marinades and cooking techniques for even more variety.

These days, it's simple to turn either a hearty salad or a filling soup into a meal in and of themselves. If the weather is nice, plan to eat an elevated salad one night per week with some fancy ingredients to make it enjoyable. Consider having a hot soup and some crusty baguette to go with it on those days when you feel like something a little more comforting.

Who doesn't enjoy a meal that is simple to prepare and then forgotten about until it is time to eat?

The beauty of slow cookers and Instant Pots is that they take care of all the labor-intensive tasks. Decide which night of the week will be the busiest for you, and then prepare to use either tool to make dinner in a snap.

When putting together last-minute meals or figuring out how to use up fresh ingredients that have been sitting in your fridge for a few extra days, having a well-stocked pantry is always essential. Be sure to stock up on things like tomato sauce, canned tuna, lots of stock, and a few grains and legumes high in protein.

Do you still have the meals you prepared a few months ago in your freezer, waiting to be consumed? Use them now, especially if you know you'll have an evening where cooking dinner will add to your list of worries. And if you haven't joined the freezer meal bandwagon yet, you might want to do so.

You can prepare many freezer meals in advance to enjoy on those busy nights when cooking is the last thing you want to do. You can do this by doubling your following pasta sauce or by putting together a second lasagna or tray of enchiladas.

Eating with your hands is always enjoyable, whether you're eating a taco, pizza, or burger. This explains why we frequently order the same fast-food items throughout the week. If you want to cut costs, buy better ingredients, and still prepare a meal quickly for a well-earned night of eating with your hands!

Although Meatless Mondays are popular, any night of the week is an excellent excuse to omit meat—mainly when you include filling foods like whole grains, quinoa, and barley.

Make a delicious Buddha bowl with everything, make a creamy risotto from scratch, or stuff eggplant or squash with entire grains and nuts. Keep it straightforward and filling, and soon you won't even be able to recall a time when you didn't include a meatless dish in your meal planning.

Not to mention, it's always a good idea to designate one night without planning. Yes, leftovers are what we're talking about. Throw whatever scraps you have in the fridge on the table once a week for everyone to eat, or transform them into a clever, brand-new dish that only takes a few minutes to prepare.

Meal planning ideas? It's not necessary to prepare a complicated menu. Make a list of some of your preferred meals to get things going. Set a weekly meal plan in motion. Make sure to serve sides, entrees, and a few nutritious desserts. Make a list of the ingredients you'll need for your shopping trip once your menu plan is complete.

To learn more about managing your food cravings and improving your holistic health and diet, check out my Cravings Management 101. With personalized advice and practical tips, you can dive into what's driving your food cravings and create your own cravings management menu.

With Love,

Pempi 💖