Yes, I’m putting it right here for all to see: meal planning has changed my life.  Seriously.

For those of you who checked out my recent post on my post-partum fitness journey, you already know that I have taken some big steps in the past few months when it comes to prioritizing myself and my fitness.  However, before I got there, it started in the kitchen.

And do you know what?  Living a healthy lifestyle is ALL ABOUT THE KITCHEN.

I know, I know.  I fought it too.  I would justify my actions, that second drink, that extra muffin (Or cookie. Or entire row box of cookies).  The “I’m too busy looking after everyone else to worry about what I’m eating” qualifying statement.  Shoving into my mouth whatever food I could quickly get my hands on in order to satisfy the hunger that I had been ignoring for the past two hours.  Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

In the fall, Christian and I took a long hard look at our eating strategy, which we realized wasn’t a strategy at all.  We were grocery shopping multiple times a week, using our precious time ineffectively, and spending more money on food as a result.  We felt like we were eating fairly well, but often  found ourselves “running out” of food (I use air quotes because we had plenty of food, it just didn’t necessary add up into a meal).  Snacks were often forgotten, or the same thing on repeat every day.  And then came the 8pm evening munchies.  Oh yes.  That.

But let me be honest with you: the game changing meal planning didn’t just magically happen overnight.

No way.

First, we started with dinners Monday to Friday.  Every Sunday we would sit down together and figure out what was on our menu, and as each meal was prepped and consumed, we would keep track of those meals. The first few weeks, this took A LOT of time.  But week by week, it got so much easier.  After a month, we had a spreadsheet full of meal options to choose from – we just built on the progress little by little.

Getting dinner sorted then snowballed into other areas of our nutrition.  For example, lunches quickly followed, because we could simply prep extra for lunch the following day.  Even though I’m still at home during the day with Harrison, I too get a Tupperware packed lunch!  It’s sitting there waiting for me every day.  No excuses.

“Oh, I’ll just pick up a shawarma…there’s nothing ready in the fridge at home anyway.”

Let’s say it all together: NO MORE.

So, who’s with me!?  Wait…you are!?  Oh goody!  Today is your lucky day, ’cause here are:

Five Tips to help get your Meal Planning Started

1) Start Small.  If you’ve never truly meal planned before, it can all be really daunting.  21 meals and 14+ snacks is a lot to think about.  Choose the meal you struggle with the most and plan for 5 days: Monday to Friday.  Weekends sometimes can be wild cards, so I recommend starting with the even keel week-days.

2) Prioritize Planning and Prep Time. The biggest habit that Christian and  had to form was that we do not go to bed on Sunday night without our plan for a week and a grocery list set.  Typically, we aim to grocery shop on the weekend, but in a pinch, we go on Monday nights.  Regardless, we ensure the planning ahead is DONE and email ourselves the grocery list.  Whoever is going knows exactly what to get.

 

3) Shop Once.  If anyone hates inefficiency, it’s my darling husband.  In the past, we were shopping several times a week, throwing away food and wasting money.  Since prioritizing proper meal planning we spend less time grocery shopping, eat better and save money.  Need I say more?

4) Make it Visual.  Find a way to post your meal plan in a visible and accessible spot. The best $3 I’ve ever spent was to purchase a magnetic weekly planning board from Dollarama.  Every Sunday we write our food plan for the week, which includes breakfasts and dinners (we use dinner leftovers as our lunch for the following day).  This takes the dreaded question “what’s for dinner?” out of our life completely, and it’s rather liberating.

5) Have some fun.  Like to order in once in a while?  Build it in!  Have a Saturday morning breakfast ritual?  Plan ahead and try something new each week.  For us, Friday nights are a bit of a special night as we often reserve this for an at-home “date night”.  We like to make something fun and out-of-the-ordinary.  For example, this Sweet Potato Crust Pizza from PopSugar Fitness is one of my absolute favorite choices for a Friday night in.  Served with a simple green salad and a glass of vino, its comfort food without the….bloat.

And there you have it!  What are you waiting for?  Why not take some time this weekend at GET PLANNING.