What are the advantages of meal planning?

Question

What are the advantages of meal planning?

Answer 1

You save money.

Sometimes you can prepare it early.

It can be healthier.

You have something to look forward too.

Answer 2

+ you save money because you don't impulse buy, you only buy what you need on your shopping list.

+ healthier, because you know how many calories and what kind of foods you are consuming

+ less stressful because you plan ahead of time

+ gives you some thing to look forward to

+ good for big families or busy workers

Answer 3

I do this and I find that one of the biggest advantages is that you can make sure that your meals are balanced and varied, without worrying about these things at the last minute.

Sometimes I plan family dinners several days in advance, for example:

Monday - lentil dhal mixed with spinach and tomatoes, with brown rice

Tuesday - adzuki bean and pumpkin stew with a green salad

Wednesday - mushroom soup and quinoa

I often also make double quantities so that I can have the leftovers for lunch the next day - two birds with one stone!

It takes adjustments to your daily planning, but I think the pay-off is worth it ten times over, in terms of looking forward to and enjoying your meals, and avoiding last-minute worries of shopping and "knocking up" something.

Answer 4

Meal planning is a great way to feel organized. Also, you can get in and out of a grocery store faster because you know what you need for the week and that way you save money because you don't buy stuff you don't need that will probably go to waste. Another good thing about it is if you are keeping track of nutrition facts by meal planning, you can make sure you are getting all your vitamins and minerals.