One of those lists happens to be a weekly meal plan. It's a handy little tool which I highly recommend! It assists me with everything from making my grocery list to staying on track when I'm trying to eat healthier. I also try to post the meal plan on the fridge to help reduce the endless question "Mom, what's for dinner?"
Every week, I sit down on the day before grocery shopping day and make my plan. Here's a sample (this week's actual plan)
Sunday:
Breakfast: 2 whole grain waffles, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 sliced nectarine
Lunch:
Lunch:
Dinner: Eat out
Monday:
Breakfast: 2 eggs, whole grain toast
Lunch: Deli style tuna sandwich
Dinner: Spinach Lasagna
Snack: 2 graham crackers w/ 1 tbsp nut butter
Tuesday:
Breakfast: Whole grain English muffin w/ 2 tbsp nut butter, banana, 1 cup almond milk
Lunch: Turkey taco salad
Dinner: Sirloin Tacos
Snack: 1/4 cup homemade trail mix
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Chia seed pumpkin muffin, 1 cup grapefruit, 1 cup almond milk
Lunch: Chinese chicken salad
Dinner: seared tuna, steamed broccoli, brown rice
Lunch: Chinese chicken salad
Dinner: seared tuna, steamed broccoli, brown rice
Thursday:
Breakfast: breakfast burrito
Lunch: Minestrone soup, 1 whole grain pita
Dinner: Spaghetti squash w/ tomato sauce and ground turkey
Snack: 2 oatmeal raisin cookies, 1 cup almond milk
Friday:
Breakfast: Strawberry, banana, cocoa smoothie
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Veggie burger with whole grain bun, sweet potato "fries"
Snack: 1 orange, 1 oz dark chocolate
I then make my shopping list based on the meals I have planned. It certainly helps keep me focused when I'm shopping so I don't fill up the cart with junk food!
Until recently my meal plans only included dinners. But I have found that by including lunches and dinners I do a much better job of making good choices about lunches and snacks instead of just grabbing what's quick or whatever junk I'm craving.
Do you make a meal plan?
