Meal Planning in the New Year: A Guide

Do you envy those who have the foresight to plan their meals for the week or month? Meanwhile, you’re rushing around from school to home and back again, wondering how you’ll even manage to get tea on the table on time, let alone plan food for the next few days.

Well, no more! Here at My Appliances, we want to help you to look forward to a less stressed you in the new year. With that in mind, here’s some top tips for perfectly smooth and stress-free meal planning. Read on…

Put Aside Some Time

Okay, so the whole idea of planning your meals is meant to save you time. But a little dollop of time is what’s needed to ensure the whole thing works, so allow yourself 10-15 minutes on the weekend to sit down and work out what you’ll be eating as a family – and when. We promise it’ll save you more minutes – and hours – in the longrun! Then, all that’s left to do is shop for the ingredients and cook.

Keep an eye on websites like BBC Good Food, which offer a host of recipe ideas, from family favourites to more elaborate dinner party treats.

It’s also worth creating somewhere to save or keep your recipes, whether that’s in an album on your mobile phone or in a folder you can keep in the kitchen drawer.

Shop Online

Meal planning is supposed to make your life easier, so make it even simpler still by shopping for your ingredients online. Take advantage of the times and days when delivery of your groceries is that bit cheaper; sitting at the kitchen table and finding the right ingredients for the right meal is so much easier than slogging your way around the supermarket, kids in tow.

Remember: Repetition is Fine

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to whip up something different every night. Instead, make clever use of leftovers and dish up the same dinner every few nights, if needs be. Work out which ingredients need to be used up first and make sure you incorporate those into your cooking. If the kids turn their noses up at what you’re serving, get them involved in the kitchen, too – that way, they’ll enjoy the sense of achievement that comes with preparing and plating up their own food.

Consider a Theme Night or Two

One way you can spice up repetitive meal plans is by introducing a theme night once a week. From Mexican night to Spanish night, you can ensure everyone looks forward to the same food by making an evening of it. Sombreros and castanets: optional.

Use Your Freezer Wisely

Your slow cooker will come in very handy when meal planning, while your freezer perfectly aids the process. Use weekends to batch cook meals, before popping them in the freezer for later in the week. The future you will certainly thank the past you.

Enjoy this blog? Keep an eye on the My Appliances site for more of the same. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for all the latest news and offers.

Until next time…