Getting back into the swing of things I’m going to continue Wednesdays as my healthy eating post day. I’m kicking off August with some thoughts on meal planning.

I have heard a lot of objections to meal planning. I’ve heard everything from “I don’t have time to plan” to “I don’t want to be restricted to my plan”. Neither of those, in my view, are good reasons to not plan ahead – especially if you’re trying to lose weight, get in shape, be healthier, save money – or any combination of the above.

Sure, meal planning can be as complex and structured as planning every single meal and snack down to the detail. But it can also be as flexible as making a list of 4 or 5 entrees for the week and deciding later what you’re in the mood for.

I do, in fact, plan my weeks meals every Sunday. That doesn’t mean my meal plan is carved in stone and I can and often do stray from the plan, but having a plan makes me think about what I’m buying, what I’m cooking, and helps me to manage my budget as well.

Here is what my meal plan spreadsheet looks like. Yes, I use a spreadsheet – we’ve already established my basic geekiness, so I’m not even going to apologize for it!

Because I like to cook, I usually start off by scrolling through food blogs, saved links, magazines, cookbooks, or various other sources. I pick a few things that sound interesting and then see how I can slot them into my plan. I also keep a list of “standby” meals that I can throw into the rotation if I draw a blank or need an uncomplicated day.

Notice that my breakfast and snacks tend to stay the same, which makes it easy to plan. Also notice that much of the time my lunch is leftover from the previous day’s dinner. I also plan in “free” days and meals out with friends. Because I blog food, I also tend to make notes on my plan about meals that will fit in with my blogging schedule.

You can also see my shopping list at the bottom. Once I’ve planned out my week, it makes it easy to go back through and add items to my list so that I’m not shopping on impulse.

Do I always stick to this plan exactly? Not at all. Life sometimes gets in the way and sometimes I look at what I have planned and think “I really don’t want that tonight!” In those instances, having a plan allows me to be flexible and still not blow my entire week’s diet.

Planning isn’t about being rigid or inflexible. It’s about making things easier on yourself so that when life happens, you’re prepared. Give it a try with your own meals – it really does save time and money. (And it stops your spouse and kids from constantly asking you “What’s for dinner today?” – which is a huge benefit in my book!)