The Top 3 Benefits of Meal Planning
OK, I know,
planning out your exact menu for the week might seem a bit tedious. I thought so too at first, and sometimes I
still do! But I know for sure that it is
worth the effort, and it is the only thing that helps me stay on track with my nutrition
goals for the week.
Think of meal
planning as your directions to get you to a destination. You wouldn't just get in your car blindly and
drive with no directions / GPS if you are driving to a new destination,
right? Directions make your trip easier
and it saves you time so you don't get lost... and that is what meal planning can
do!
I always recommend
that our challengers write out their meal plans over the weekend for the upcoming
week. It can feel overwhelming at first
(which is why I provide plenty of sample meal plans for them to use) but
eventually the process gets easier.
Putting in the extra effort ahead of time to plan out a week long meal
plan is totally worth it. And if you ask
any persona who successfully sticks with a healthy nutrition plan, they will
likely agree that they are planning their meals ahead of time! My motto is:
if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!
If you still
aren't on the meal planning bandwagon, here are 3 benefits that just might get
you to hop on!
1) Saves you time and
money in the grocery store.
When you plan out
your meals ahead of time (I recommend planning out all meals and snacks) you
can put together a specific grocery list to ensure that you buy only the items
that you need. I categorize my grocery list by the section / aisles so not only
do I save money by avoiding the unnecessary extras that catch my eye, but I
save time because I am able to zip through the store and grab what I need as I
go through each section. It makes
shopping so much easier! I know my 3
year old certainly likes to get in and out of the store as fast as possible, so
anything I can do to make it out of the store without a meltdown is
welcome!
2) Helps you avoid
unhealthy choices and overeating / undereating.
When you have a
meal plan and all the food is stocked up for you in the house, it's so much
easier to eat healthy! Think about it,
you already have all the food right there waiting for you, and if you avoided
buying the unnecessary stuff (refer to previous item) then there probably aren't
that many other options for you in the house.
After I go grocery shopping I try to prep whatever food I can so I can "grab
and go" with snacks and lunches during the week. I will wash up and portion my fruits and
veggies. I will also prep any meals and
snacks that I can so I can have it ready to toss in my lunch bag when I'm
rushing off to work in the morning. That
extra prep helps me avoid takeout, skipping meals, and wasting food.
3) Helps you stay on
track with your nutrition goals.
When you plan what
you eat, you eat what you plan. Did you
catch that? Let's say it once more: when you plan what you eat, you eat what you
plan. Doesn't that sound lovely? It's just like I mentioned above, your meal
plan should be thought of as the directions that will get you to your
"destination". That
destination is a healthier you!
I hope you found this helpful! If you are looking for a little guidance with meal planning, or need some accountability to stay on track with your nutrition / fitness goals then fill out this super quick application to inquire about my challenge groups!
Are you struggling to stay consistent with your nutrition and fitness? Or are you looking for an extra push to overcome a plateau or break free of boredom with your current routine?
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