Meal Planning - The Economical Thing To Do
Posted: Monday, June 04, 2007
by Christine Steendahl
Dine Without Whine
Meal planning is an awesome to conserve time, energy and money when feeding your family. For those thinking about meal planning, it is important to note that you don’t have to sacrifice a yummy, healthful meal for a busy schedule or a limited budget. If you are searching for an awesome way to make meals for your family, following are some useful suggestions.
The key to meal planning is obviously planning your meals ahead of time. Unfortunately, many parents come home every night, eager to cook a easy dinner and have absolutely no idea what to make. With your family getting hungry and a little cranky, most families give up and drive to the nearest fast food or casual dining establishment. If you want to make sure that you stay home for dinner and that you and your family are all eating healthy, you must plan ahead.
Generally, the best way to organize your meals is to plan them out a week ahead of time. Determine a budget, decide what foods you and your family should eat, throw in some of your family’s favorites and then prepare a shopping list. One of the easiest ways to meal plan is to make a calendar. Start out with a main dish for every night and then throw in a side dish, desert and soup/salad.
Main Dish
Main dishes are obviously a great place to start. Generally the majority of main dishes include protein such as poultry, beef, pork or fish. Any one of these make a great option and by changing it around during the week, your family won’t be bored and you can satisfy almost everyone’s taste preference. For families that are trying to lose weight or have a history of disease such as heart disease and diabetes, the main dish is the main area you should focus on creating meals that fit your dietary requirements and lifestyle. You can simply choose lean meats, opt to consume more fish and for vegetarian eaters, substitute meat dishes with soy and main vegetable dishes.
Side Dishes
Side dishes are very important to planning meals. This is your best opportunity to introduce vegetables into your loved ones' diet. Be sure you have at least one vegetable in the menu each night. For best results two or more types of vegetables each meal is ideal.
Soup & Salad
For those watching your weight, a soup or salad is an ideal way to fill up in the beginning of the meal and enjoy smaller main dish portions later on. Soups are great during the winter time when the weather is cooler and salads are an awesome way to get a healthy fill of fresh seasonal fruits or vegetables.
Desserts
If you are trying to get everyone to stay till the end of the meal, desserts are your best bet. Delicious desserts are very popular; you can also choose healthy alternatives such as fruit salads, fruit smoothies, and Jell-o.
For those seeking to reduce time and money throughout the month on meals, your best option is through meal planning.
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For a free meal planning worksheet and shopping list go to http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/ShoppingList.pdf
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