Most American households spend about $3,000 per year dining out. Now that’s crazy; if you want to save money, start meal planning.
Successful meal planning will eliminate the costly effects that dining out can have. Not to mention, it can make spending time with family friends more enjoyable.
However, if you’re unsure how to get started, don’t worry with this guide; you can find out! From purchasing storage containers to batch cooking, you can learn the essentials of meal planning today.
Now, are you ready to get started? Here’s a quick look at meal planning:
Table of Contents
1. Purchase Quality Storage Containers
First things first, before you purchase your weekly abundance of groceries, make sure you have quality containers. The type of containers you buy will undoubtedly determine how fast your food will spoil.
So do your research before purchasing. After all, what might be proper storage for one food might be damaging to another.
For example, fruit and vegetables need to be stored in containers that have some form of ventilation; however, it tends not to matter if the container is made out of glass or plastic.
What’s important is that it should have some way to regulate the flow of oxygen. That way, moisture stays away, and your produce stays fresh longer.
However, for meat, storing it in an airtight, glass container is crucial to its longevity. Whereas for other food like bread and cheese, all you need is a simple reusable plastic bag.
2. Shop Online
One of the biggest hacks to meal planning is doing all your shopping online. Shopping in stores is often quite a hassle, but more than that, it creates many opportunities for you to impulse buy. However, when you shop online, it’s easier to stick to your list since you don’t have the distractions of other food choices around you.
Plus, it can help you stay on budget. By shopping online, you can see each individual item’s price and what your total is even when you’re still adding to your cart. That way, there are no surprises as to the item’s price, and you don’t go over your planned food budget.
3. Batch Cook
Now, batch cooking may sound stressful, but it can be a helpful aid in your meal preparation. You see, batch cooking is simply the preparation of large amounts of different food, which will then be used in different ways later on in the week. This method is great if you find yourself not having much time to cook during the workdays.
There are many benefits of meal planning, but this one will certainly blow you away: try batch cooking some rice, chicken, or vegetables on the weekend. You can then use them in rice bowls, salads, or even snacks. This will help diversify your palette as well as ensure you have something to eat throughout the week.
Successful Meal Planning Starts Here
Mealing planning is never easy; however, if you purchase quality food containers, practice shopping online, and start batch cooking on the weekends, you’ll be on the right track. Now, it may take some time to get organized and find the right pace for your schedule. However, if you make meal prep a priority, then it’ll become a success in no time.
For more information about successful meal planning, visit our website to get the latest tips and trending hacks. See you there!
