With prices on the rise, most of us are looking for the best way to save. But saving money on groceries isn’t hard work and doesn’t always mean skimping on delicious and healthy meals.
Meal prepping is a great way to save and eat healthily at the same time. With a busy schedule, it seems like menu planning takes a lot of time, but, it actually saves you way more time in the long run and the perks are worth the effort.
How to Meal Plan Like a Pro and Save Money on Groceries
The good news is you don’t have to compromise on your favorite recipes to save, and here are easy ways to save money with a weekly meal plan.
Let’s get started!
Build a Food List
Each of us has different recipes enjoy and many have different diets. Properly planning your meals helps you make a master list of the ingredients you’ll need for what you enjoy.
This way, you’ll have a grocery shopping list to stick to and, at the same time, easily mix and match ingredients in your recipes.
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Having a food list on hand also helps you budget your groceries better, as it’s easier to track how much you spend when you know the cost for each item. You can plan for a whole month, starting with the first week.
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Prepare a Shopping List
Not being organized can make you spend more and, in turn, making it harder to stick to your grocery budget.
Make a shopping list from your new meal plan and stick to it. Avoid just walking up and down every aisle browsing, as seeing more variety of food might distract you.
Get in and get out. Make it a chore or job instead of a leisurely activity. Don’t be distracted, because stores live to get you to buy things you don’t need, but make you want them.
Going to the grocery store after meals or a filling snack is also a good idea since the last thing you want is to buy more food than you need because you’re hungry. It’s just like your Mom used to say “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach”, that applies to the grocery store, too.
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Use Simple Recipes
In planning your meals, choose healthy meal prep recipes with readily available and affordable ingredients.
Keep your meal ideas simple and quick. This meal plan idea is supposed to help save you money and time on busy week nights, so avoid fancy long cook time meals with expensive ingredients.
It also helps to search for new recipes with similar ingredients to keep your list short. Mixing and matching your produce and spices for a week’s worth of meals is an easy way to save.
Plan Your Meals According to Seasons And Sales
Produce in season is often sold for less, so stock up on in-season produce and sale items now.
Plan your weekly menu according to what ingredients are in season and are more likely to be on sale to get more value while spending less.
For example, pumpkins are often on sale after Halloween, as turkey meat is after Thanksgiving, so it helps to use recipes with these ingredients while stores sell them for less.
Swap Ingredients
If your perfect recipe asks for pricier ingredients, you can still enjoy your favorite meals and stick to your food budget. Almost every ingredient or spice has alternatives, so it helps to familiarize yourself with what you can swap expensive ingredients out with.
If a cheaper alternative isn’t available, you can still enjoy easy recipes by using a smaller amount to keep your supply as long as possible. Also, check if the recipe can be made with fewer ingredients to shave a few dollars off where you can..
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Store Your Groceries Properly
You’d be surprised how much money you waste when you let greens wilt and whole grains go bad. One of the easiest ways to save is not to waste food.
Store your produce and meats in safe ways that help prolong their freshness in the coming weeks. Food containers, freezer bags, and other storage can help food stay fresh longer, so you’ll buy less with less food waste.
Meal Plan for More Savings
Meal planning keeps your diet healthy for a long time and helps you save more when done properly. Strategizing your shopping and being creative with recipes can help you stick to a healthy lifestyle and stay on budget. Happy cooking!
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