If you're anything like me, the mere thought of meal planning can induce a migraine. I'd rather do just about anything else: fold laundry, scrub toilets, even sit in traffic. But here's the thing: meal planning is important. Like, really important. It can save you time, money, and your sanity. Still not convinced?
Read on for the top six reasons for meal planning.
1. Meal planning saves time.
If you're constantly running to the store for last-minute ingredients or scouring the internet for easy weeknight dinners, meal planning can save you a ton of time. By taking an hour or two on the weekend to plan out your meals and make a grocery list, you can avoid those last-minute trips to the store and cut down on your overall cook time during the week.
2. Meal planning saves money.
Eating out is expensive, and those impulse purchases at the grocery store add up fast. By meal planning and sticking to your grocery list, you can save a significant amount of money each month.
3. Meal planning reduces food waste.
One in eight Americans struggles with food insecurity, yet 40% of the food in this country is never eaten. Meal planning can help reduce food waste by ensuring that you only buy what you need and that you use up all of your ingredients before they go bad.
4. Meal planning is healthy for you and your family.
When you meal plan, you have complete control over what goes into your body and that of your family. You can choose wholesome ingredients and cook nutritious meals without having to rely on processed convenience foods.
5. Meal planning makes life easier on busy weeknights.
If you have a hectic schedule, coming home to cook dinner after a long day can feel like a daunting task. But if you've already planned and prepped your meals ahead of time, all you'll have to do is heat it up and eat! This will give you more time to relax or spend with your family instead of slaving over a stove after a long day.
6. Meal planning takes the stress out of decision fatigue .
We live in a world of constant choices—what to wear, what to eat, what to watch on TV—and by the end of the day, we're depleted from making so many decisions . When you meal plan, you take away some of those choices and Decision Fatigue sets in . This leaves us more energy to make better decisions in other areas of our lives .
Meal planning might not be everyone's favorite pastime, but it's definitely worth doing (even if it means staring down some migraines). It can save you time, money, stress—and it might even make you healthier in the process! So next time someone asks why meal planning is important , show them this blog post . Who knows? You might just convert them into a fellow meal planner!
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