Tips To Kick Weekly Meal Planning Up A Notch

Pick One Day For Grocery Shopping

When it comes to meal planning, especially when you are trying to stay on a budget, one of the best things you can do is pick one day each week for grocery shopping and only go then, rather than visiting the grocery store each day. Plan your meal schedule for the week and write the list before visiting the grocery store on your scheduled day. Ideally, you should make your list and meal plan the day before and go the next morning, but you may also choose to create your meal plan and grocery list immediately before grocery shopping. Pick a strategy that works for your needs! Your meal plan and budget will thank you for this in the long run. In both cases, picking one day for grocery shopping helps ensure you get what you need and only what you need, thus saving money, and also ensuring you are less likely to forget key ingredients for your planned meals.

Make Use Of The Freezer

Meal planning can be much simpler and cost-effective if an individual makes use of their freezer, especially if they are only cooking for themselves. Using the freezer means you can buy meat in bulk when it's on sale, portion it out, and freeze it. You can also freeze leftovers of most dishes (e.g., pasta, spaghetti, even soup) to defrost on busier days. Furthermore, you can prep vegetables and other ingredients for a meal well in advance and freeze them, so they do not go bad before you have to cook them.