• Food and Gastronomy -> Healthy eating and nutrition

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What are some common mistakes people make when meal planning?

Jeryl Marples

Well, as someone who has tried and failed at meal planning many times, I can definitely say that there are some common mistakes that people make. First off, a lot of people make the mistake of trying to plan too far in advance. This might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out. If you plan out all of your meals for the next two weeks, what happens when something comes up and you can't stick to the plan? You end up wasting food, or worse yet, feeling guilty for not being able to stick to your plan. Instead, try planning just a few days ahead at a time. That way, you have some flexibility if plans change.

Another mistake that people make is not taking into account their own preferences and habits. If you hate cooking, then you're not going to stick to a meal plan that involves cooking every night. If you're someone who always craves something sweet after dinner, then a meal plan that doesn't include any dessert is probably not going to work for you. The key here is to be honest with yourself about what you actually enjoy and what you're realistically willing to do.

One thing that I've found helpful is to get my family involved in the meal planning process. Not only does this take some of the burden off of me, but it also ensures that everyone is on board with what we're eating. If my kids aren't excited about a particular meal, then I know that I need to either tweak the recipe or come up with something else entirely. Plus, involving your family in the planning process can make mealtime feel more like a group effort and less like a chore.

Lastly, I think that a lot of people make the mistake of not giving themselves enough variety. It's easy to fall into a rut and make the same meals over and over again, but this can get boring pretty quickly. Try to mix things up by incorporating new recipes or ingredients into your meal plan. You never know, you might discover a new favorite dish.

Overall, I think that the key to successful meal planning is to be flexible, honest, and open to new ideas. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a meal plan that works for you and your family.