Meal Planning Made Easy



We all want a meal planning system that makes delicious meals that are quick and easy! There is no perfect way to plan, so be sure to find a process that works best for you. Here are some tips on how to get started:

Plan it out
Make your own menu. Take a blank monthly or weekly calendar and spend 10-20 minutes planning meals and snacks for each day. Planning things out will help you make a grocery list and help reduce stress on busy weeknights. Take some time to also, write down any days when you know you are eating out.

Think BIG
Cook some of your meals beforehand by preparing dishes in larger batches. Casseroles, soups, stews, and one-pot pastas are just some ideas that can stretch to 3-4 days’ worth of meals. Add leafy greens to your reheated leftovers to give an extra nutritional punch. If you want to make your leftovers more exciting, cut the salt and spice amounts in your recipes. Doing this allows you to add sauces to your dish that fit your mood. For example: add hot sauce, pesto, or salsa to your leftover pasta dish.

Stack Neatly
Keep your fridge organized by portioning out food into microwave-safe containers. Now, you can grab a delicious meal while you’re on the way out, quickly heat up a meal after a long day, or eating some leftovers for lunch the next day.


Use our Meal Planning Worksheet to help you get started today!
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© Eat Smart, Be Fit Maryland!Maira Gall