Meal Planning

6 Easy Meal Planning Tips to get you started

Meal Planning is not complicated. Learn how to grocery shop, create easy meal ideas, dinner planning ideas, and more, right here.

Follow these 6 easy steps below to get started.

Step 1 - Decide what to cook

Obviously the first thing to do to get started is to decide what you're going to cook. But here is where many of us can get stumped and need inspiration. If you're out of ideas or don't want to cook the same old recipes that you make week in and week out, inspiration can be found in many places.

I collect cookbooks as a hobby, so I often leaf through some of my favorites when I need a little inspiration. The web is also full of meal ideas. This site even has plenty of quick and easy dinner recipes you can add to your plan.

Also think about what your family members like to eat. If chicken is a favorite, research new ways to prepare it and have a meal night for each of your family members.

You may also want to cook only a few days in the week. Think about what you can cook, say on a Sunday that can stretch over the week. Casseroles or one pot dishes are great for this type of weekly meal plan, for example.

Once you've made a few decisions about what you'll cook, step 1 is done! On to step 2.

Step 2 - Write a Grocery List

Once you've decided what to cook and have the recipes you'll need for your plan, start your grocery list. Have a look in your fridge, cabinets and pantry to see what you already have on hand and then only add the ingredients you'll need to complete your recipes on your plan.

I always keep a stocked pantry of staples for those days when my plan doesn't go as planned and I have to improvise. It happens! So remember to also include other items on your grocery list that are running low in your pantry.

Not sure what should be in your pantry, check out the pantry list on this site.

Also remember to include those incidentals you need (soap, dish washing liquid, paper towel, etc) so that you don't have to make unwanted trips to the grocery store during the week.

Grocery list done. Now on to step 3.

Step 3 - Shop

With grocery list in hand you're ready to have a relaxing and stress free experience at the grocery store.

I love shopping for groceries almost as much as I love shopping for shoes, so I look forward to my weekly excursion to Lindo's market here in Bermuda.

grocery bag But the experience can be a bit stressful and tiring even for a seasoned shopper like me. Having a well thought out grocery list is the key to smooth, successful shopping at the store.

Here are some tips for how to get in and out of there as quickly as you can.

Take a pen. I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but what a time saver it can be. I can't tell you the number of times that I've gone shopping without a pen and had to keep checking my grocery list to make sure I've got everything in the cart, only to return home to see that I've missed one very important ingredient.

With a pen, you can check off the items on your list as you put them in your cart.

Once your items are checked off, you're done. Head to the checkout and resist the temptation to pick up that truffle oil you've been dying to try or that new brand of cookies that look so yummy. If it’s not on the list you don’t need it.

For more tips on grocery shopping check out our grocery shopping tips section.

Step 3 is done. Now on to step 4 - Easy Meal Planning.