Whether you are specifically trying to lose weight or simply want to improve your overall health, what you eat will play a big role in your success. There’s a lot of information about food and nutrition out there to the point that it can become confusing or overwhelming. I want to help you start living healthier as soon as possible, so in this article I’ll be going over three expert tips for healthy meal planning:
- Tip #1: Identify what your already have. One common obstacle for healthy meal planning is neglecting to use what you already have in your kitchen. To overcome this, I recommend taking the time to go through your pantry, cabinets, and fridge and make a list of what you already have on hand. It’s also a good idea to keep an updated inventory in a highly visible spot—for instance, if you have a stainless-steel fridge, you can write directly on it with a dry-erase marker.
- Tip #2: Know (or learn) some go-to healthy recipes. Surveys have shown that most households repeat the same 7-10 recipes again and again. If you’re trying to switch to a healthier diet, I recommend identifying the healthiest recipes already in your rotation, then switching out the ones that don’t make the cut. To make this process easier (and easier to stick to), you can swap out one recipe at a time, becoming comfortable preparing one healthy alternative before moving on to another.
- Tip #3: Stock up on your staples. While you’re taking inventory of your kitchen and your usual menu, look for ingredients that come up in multiple meals and fit well with healthy meal planning. Make a list of these ingredients (try to find 5-10) and make sure to keep a steady supply of them on hand—with these supplies on hand, you’ll be able to put together a meal on short notice, even if you don’t have time to plan each recipe in detail.
*Individual results will vary.