Meal planning is a burden or a blessing. It’s like studying; many people never take it seriously until college. Like studying, it sucks and it’d be easier to just blow it off, but in the long run, it doesn’t work that way. So, like many things, you’ll have to find what works best for you. But, some of these ideas will help.
The simplest idea is planning meals out. Schedule out what you want to have so that way you’re not left wondering what to have at the last minute and settling for ramen or a Hot Pocket. This can help when budgeting so you only buy what you need when you need it, instead of leaving that head of lettuce that you were “totally going to use,” at the back of the fridge. Of course, this has the issue of requiring more planning than most people are willing to put into their future. Start out big and work your way down. If planning is easy, then keep doing it. But if it proves too difficult, scale it down and keep trying until something fits.
Interchange ingredients and bases. Bases like potatoes, pasta, rice or bread are just that: bases. Don’t rely on them solely for meals, as that gets boring and fattening. Add something; it doesn’t have to be a lot. Rice and beans, pasta and sauce, potatoes and cheese, bread and, well, anything. They’re often put together because they’re easy and they work. You don’t have to be master chef to cook for yourself or others.
Mix up the ingredients, just like too much of a base can be boring, too many of peas or corn can make you dread eating the meals more than making them. Check out what’s on sale in your store and experiment. Maybe peppers and onions were on sale, so try making curry. Look up recipes based on the ingredients you have, even for foods you know how to make.
Variety is the spice of life and spice can add variety to your life. Try adding new spices to old recipes. Maybe lime juice in a soup so it gives that extra zing. Maybe chili powder brings those old leftovers to life. Spices in recipes aren’t a rule, but a guideline.
Leftovers used to be your parents get out of jail free card and now they can be yours. Whether intentionally or accidentally, making extra can be a nice easy meal. But keep in mind that not all foods work well as leftovers.
Crockpots are another way for go-to meals. They don’t make the most glamorous meals, but simplicity is unbeatable. Sauté onions or anything that requires an extra touch and throw it in the crockpot with everything else. Noodles, vegetables, beans and meats can be thrown in, and two to eight hours later, a nice meal is awaiting you, or up to eight people, depending on the size. Crockpots can be picked up for less than fifty dollars new for basic models and probably even cheaper at second-hand stores.
Don’t think that you must cook for each meal. Have a fall-back for when you run out of ideas or tired. That PB&J can still be a part of your diet. Like most things, don’t strain yourself needlessly. After all, meal planning is to help you.
