I know you already know that you can save money on food if you cook at home more often and plan your meals so you don't throw so much out. Right?
Then why don't we do that? Time? Energy? What to make?
The key is in the prep work. Here’s how to do it so you can hold onto that hard-earned cash and reduce your food waste:
1. Look at what you already have. Shop your fridge and pantry before planning your meals for the week. That way you won’t end up throwing things out that go bad before you can use them, and you won’t buy things that you didn’t realize you already had. Make sure you have a few basic staples on hand to use in an emergency—frozen produce, cans of tuna or salmon, eggs, etc.
2. Check out the grocery ads and download your coupons before you go shopping. If something is on sale, now may be a good time to stock up on things you use often, like meat or in-season produce that you can freeze.
3. Decide on a meal plan. Look at your schedule for the week, taking into account the nights you may have other events or plan to eat out. You may also plan on a leftovers night, a Breakfast for Dinner night, or even a Fend for Yourself night. Using what you already have and only adding things you need to make full meals, make a meal plan for the week.
Don’t forget about breakfast and lunches. If you always take leftovers for lunch, that’s done. If you want to prep a whole week’s worth of lunches ahead of time, add those to your plan, using the strategies above. Breakfast is one of those things that people often repeat day after day, so again, check what you already have and try to use it before you buy more.
4. Write out your shopping list. This could be a list that you keep on your fridge for when things run out, a list you keep on your phone, or an app that the whole family can use when they want to add to the list. We keep one for Costco and one for our smaller grocery store. We only go to Costco once a week, so everyone understands that if it’s not on the list we won’t get it this week. During the pandemic we got into the habit of only going to the grocery store once a week too, so that forced us to think ahead and make sure the list was as complete as possible. The funny thing is that the less you have to go to the store for last minute items, the less you spend overall. Hmmm…not rocket science. :)
4. Write out your shopping list. This could be a list that you keep on your fridge for when things run out, a list you keep on your phone, or an app that the whole family can use when they want to add to the list. We keep one for Costco and one for our smaller grocery store. We only go to Costco once a week, so everyone understands that if it’s not on the list we won’t get it this week. During the pandemic we got into the habit of only going to the grocery store once a week too, so that forced us to think ahead and make sure the list was as complete as possible. The funny thing is that the less you have to go to the store for last minute items, the less you spend overall. Hmmm…not rocket science. :)
Once you get to the store, stick to your list unless you see an amazing deal that you missed in the flyer. Sometimes there will be a manager’s sale on something that is almost out of date that you can use right away or freeze. The deli and meat sections are great for this!
5. Wash and cut produce as soon as you get home. This ensures that you will use it before it goes bad and you won’t find a pile of mush in the bottom of your veggie drawer at the end of the week.
None of this works if you don’t take the time to do it. Schedule a time each week to do these steps. I like to do all of this on Sunday mornings and then send my husband to Costco on Tuesdays when it’s not terribly busy. Challenge yourself to stay out of the stores except when scheduled or have a “no-spend” day at least a couple times a week.
5. Wash and cut produce as soon as you get home. This ensures that you will use it before it goes bad and you won’t find a pile of mush in the bottom of your veggie drawer at the end of the week.
None of this works if you don’t take the time to do it. Schedule a time each week to do these steps. I like to do all of this on Sunday mornings and then send my husband to Costco on Tuesdays when it’s not terribly busy. Challenge yourself to stay out of the stores except when scheduled or have a “no-spend” day at least a couple times a week.
One of the biggest things I hear from people is that they can't afford nutrition coaching because it costs too much money. If you follow the meal plans and only buy what you need, you'll be surprised at how much money you'll save! And depending on how long your subscription is (and how fancy your favorite restaurant is), you can get a whole month's worth of coaching and meal plans for less than the price of a meal out. And the best part is that you'll enjoy better health, lose weight, and feel great in the process!
If you'd like to talk to me more about creating a nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you! I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life. We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.
I'd love to talk to you about the program, so book a free consultation with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking to you!
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