Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
If meal planning feels utterly overwhelming, you are not alone! We often avoid or put off doing what feels like an uphill battle that can’t be won. BUT, don’t accept defeat. These simple meal planning strategies will help you get organized, save time and feed your family well.
What if you had an assistant that would run all your errands? I know- glorious! But, that is what Walmart and many grocery stores are offering… an assistant does all your shopping. You simply drive up, grab your groceries, and off you go!
A couple of years ago I led a monthly grocery store tour for patients. We would spend almost 2 hours walking through the grocery store talking about food, nutrition labels, how to use ingredients, better options and every other question you can imagine! One of the most common questions I received was “What do you buy?” Patient’s wanted to know what I placed in my cart and how I filled my pantry and fridge. Today, I wanted to share 7 items I always purchase and have stocked in our kitchen.
“You’re kidding?” That was the response I received the first time I suggested we try following a ‘Meatless Monday’ meal plan. No amount of feminine charms could convince or seduce my husband into getting on board…
With an abundance of options for meal kit delivery services right now, the question is what makes any one stand out? How are these services different and unique? Which one should my family try? Does it deliver quality consistently? Does it accommodate for the nutritional needs and preferences of your family? And of course, everyone wants to know… is it worth the cost? Recently we tried out Sun Basket to see just exactly what makes this one unique and if it lived up to it’s promise…
Only 24% of dinners are made from scratch, although cooking shows are more popular than ever (!!!), according to the Hartman Group, a market research firm that focuses on the food and beverage industry.
The steady decline of family meals is not revelatory, but it is alarming. With over 50% of meals planned within an hour of eating, I would guess that a lot of those meals are comprised of frozen and convenience foods. There is no shame in reaching into the freezer for a quick option when the masses are starving, but the problem is when this turns into a usual routine. We know that…
Meal subscription services are gaining popularity and attention. These trendy services claim to make your life better by doing your meal planning and grocery shopping for you! Essentially, they help you combine fresh, seasonal ingredients into a mouthwatering meal. Each meal subscription service is slightly different, but the general idea is to deliver fresh ingredients to your doorstep each week along with easy-to-follow recipe cards. Many of these services boast super fresh and locally sourced ingredients, reduced consumer food waste, healthy and nutritious recipes and most importantly, flavorful, delicious meals. Recently I had the opportunity to try out Hello Fresh.
Meal planning is one of the most unsexy and unexciting terms in the food and nutrition world but it is also one of the most monumental practices that have the power to transform the way you nourish your body. If someone wants to lose weight- meal plan. If someone wants to lower blood sugar- meal plan. If someone wants to reduce their need for blood pressure medications- meal plan. It is rudimentary and foundational if we want to see any consistent and long term change in our health.
