• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Diabetic Kitchen

Diabetic Kitchen

  • Home
  • Products
    • Cinnamon Pecan Granola Cereal
    • Almond Butter Granola Cereal
    • Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread
    • Gourmet Drinking Chocolate
    • Cheesy Bread Mix
    • Gourmet Chocolate Brownie Mix
    • Pancake & Waffle Mix
    • Cinnamon Donut Mix
    • Gourmet Banana Muffin Mix
    • Sugar4Diabetics
    • Gourmet Chocolate Cake & Cupcake Mix
    • Nut Butter Cookie Mix
  • Resources
  • Health
  • Recipes
  • Food Tips
  • Lifestyle
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • News From The Kitchen
  • Contact Us
  • Shop

Plan Your Meals to Benefit Your Waistline and Your Wallet

According to WebMD, who was quoting Benjamin Franklin, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

In that particular instance, the article is discussing strategies for more healthful eating habits. However, planning your meals doesn’t just help you get fit, it can also save you time and big bucks!

The Huffington Post found that by planning your meals for one week, you benefit in several ways. Firstly, you know exactly which recipes you are going to prepare and when, which saves the stress of putting together a meal on the fly. Also, you make one trip to the grocery store instead of multiple trips for an item or two here and there.

Thirdly, you save money in the store because you are only buying the ingredients that you need. You are also helping to reduce food waste because everything you buy has a specific purpose. Lastly, you save your health by cooking real food at home rather than getting dinner from a drive-thru or ordering delivery.

So how can you begin reaping these benefits? Check out the following tips!

Dedicate time each week to choose your recipes for the following week. Maybe every Friday evening you choose your recipes for the next week before going to the grocery store on Saturday.

Make a list of the ingredients you will need for each of your chosen recipes. Don’t forget to check your fridge and pantry for ingredients you may already have. This saves food and money! You can even choose your recipes based on foods you have that need to be utilized.

Also, don’t forget to check your grocery store circulars, and coupon websites to see which ingredients are on sale. You can do this before selecting your recipes and maximize your savings by choosing to prepare ingredients that are on sale.

Designate a place where you keep all of your recipes. Whether you print them out and keep them in a binder, write them down in a journal, or break out the old Rolodex, keep them all together and easily accessible.

After you prepare the recipes for the first time, scribble a little review in the margins. For example, “next time add a little more oregano to the sauce.” You can also mark your family’s favorites with a star or heart, so you remember which ones were real winners.

Speaking of family, ask your dining companions for help with choosing the next week’s recipes. This not only spreads the responsibility around, it makes the chooser more likely to favor their recipe. For example, give your picky eaters the task of choosing two meals for the next week (they will be much more willing to try something they chose themselves!)

For easy accessibility, log your recipes in a calendar. You can keep the calendar electronically and share it over email with family, or write it down and put it on the fridge. This prevents the old “What are we having for dinner?” interrogation you face each evening.

Try assigning one type of recipe for each night of the week to get you started. For example, Meaty Mondays (Beef Stew one week and Sloppy Joes the next) and Taco Tuesdays (beef tacos one week and chicken or shrimp the next.) For salad night, buy a variety of fresh vegetables and let everyone make their own Mason Jar Salad. This way you get used to choosing a type of recipe for each day of the week, and can branch out from there.

Buying ingredients in bulk and cooking large portions is also a budget-saver. For example, if you are cooking for only 2 people, but double your recipe, you will have a ready-to go meal for the future. Stash these extra portions in the freezer and if the budget becomes especially tight one week, it’s freezer leftovers to the rescue!

Do as much preparation for your meals as you can. Wash your vegetables upon returning home from the grocery store. If you only plan to use half of that pound of ground beef this week, go ahead and put the other half in the freezer. Roast that whole chicken today, have it for dinner tomorrow, then use leftovers for chicken salad lunches later this week.

As you can see, planning your meals not only benefits your health and your budget, but your stress levels, as well. By investing a few minutes of your time, you will reap the savings many times over. Happy planning!

 

 

Sources:

http://www.thekitchn.com/10-tips-for-better-weekly-meal-planning-reader-intelligence-report-177252

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/02/meal-planning-will-make-your-life-better_n_7484278.html

http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/top-10-habits-that-can-help-you-lose-weight#1

Share

Filed Under: Food Tips, Lifestyle Tagged With: budget, healthier lifestyle, ideas, meal plan

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Type II Diabetes- A Growing Crisis For Children & Teens says:
    April 30, 2017 at 2:31 PM

    […] fast food and prepare the majority of meals and snacks at home. Plan your meals each week and have the whole family participate. Would everyone rather have steaks and salad for […]

    Reply
  2. Dieting With Diabetes - Do's & Don'ts says:
    May 10, 2017 at 4:33 PM

    […] of your meals and snacks should contain a balance of protein, good fats, and fiber. Try planning your meals to help you make smarter food choices, and save some […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join Our Community on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

More to See

Three different sugar free toppings for donuts and muffins.

Pumpkin Spice Icing THREE Ways

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Low Carb Pumpkin Spice Latte

Secondary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • Ethel Rucker on If You’re Looking To Prevent Weight Gain – Go Nuts!
  • Duane Klindworth on About Us
  • Best Low Carb Breakfast Cereal | Read the Latest World News - News World on Have A Slice — Or Two
  • Fresh Start Omaha | Breaking News, Latest News, Headlines & Videos on Ribeye with Mayonnaise Marinade
  • URL on Yes, Diabetics Can Enjoy Eating Out!

Archives

Footer

Resources

Research Finds Connection Between Diabetes & Eating Disorders

Type II Diabetes- A Growing Crisis For Children & Teens

Do You Know The Difference Between Carbs & Sugars?

Headache Pain? Fight Back With These Tips

Can Your Smartphone Be The Key To Better Blood Sugar?

Health

Top 10 Reasons to Eat Fat

50% Of American Adults Have Heart Disease – Improve Your Heart Health Now!

Probiotics, Prebiotics… What’s the Difference?

Don’t Let Fake Sugar Fool You – it’s Dangerous, Too!

Discover the Power of Fiber – A Diabetic’s Ultimate BFF!

Food Tips

Pumpkin Spice Icing THREE Ways

If You’re Looking To Prevent Weight Gain – Go Nuts!

These Colorful Foods Improve Immunity

Simple Snacks To Stabilize Blood Sugar

Which Fats Are Good & Which Should Be Avoided

© Copyright 2022 Diabetic Kitchen. All Rights Reserved. | Our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Medical Disclaimer | Return Policy | Contact Us

Where Would You Like To Purchase Your Brownie Mix From?

 

Amazon.com

 

Diabetic Kitchen Store

Where Would You Like To Purchase Your Bars From?

 

Amazon.com

 

Diabetic Kitchen Store