Have you ever come home from work stressed, exhausted, and hungry only to decide that tonight might be a great night to order in? Do you find yourself doing this two or three times a week simply because your life is so busy? These questions aren’t meant to shame, we have all been there. Life doesn’t stop just because your day has been crazy busy. The kids still need to eat, the laundry still needs to get done and you still have a night of balancing your checkbook ahead of you. Let’s be honest, who would have time to even think about cooking with a schedule like that?
This is where the importance of planning comes in. When you are able to plan your meals ahead of time you won’t need to hit that drive thru window because you will already have your dinner ready, all you need to do is heat it. Even better, because everything is already set in place you can focus on other things while your food is cooking.
Taking one or two hours a week to plan your meals might seem like a hassle, and honesty in the beginning it might be a bit of a hassle. But this can save you hours throughout the week. Doing something once a week is a lot easier than doing it multiple times a week. One good trip to the grocery store and one afternoon in the kitchen is all you need to make an entire week of meals for your family.
But planning your meals is just the beginning, you can also plan your trip to the grocery store. What was once a headache can be a breeze when you have a categorized list in front of you. Make an Excel spreadsheet and list your grocery categories in bold, (frozen, produce, meats, etc.).Then put each item under the appropriate category and print it out. Not only do you have a focused list that will easily keep you on track, but your excel sheet can be a template for your future grocery lists.
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