Buzz
This year has transformed our eating habits in various ways, for better or worse. Stress eating may have taken a toll, but many have also embraced home-cooked meals, avoiding restaurants or fewer social dining events.
Following our focus on evaluating health-related routines, why not assess your meal planning this week? (If you’re unsure about your meals for the upcoming week, it might be time to add some structure.)
Meal planning can be approached in numerous ways, and while some methods sound perfect in theory, they don’t always work in practice. Let’s explore a few options:
Prepare a list of home-cooked meals, purchase the necessary ingredients, and rely solely on those groceries for the entire week.
Select one meal per day, or even just one per week, to prepare meticulously (perhaps Saturday dinner). For the rest, improvise as usual.
Purchase frozen or pre-made meal components that can be combined on the go, such as a frozen burger patty, cheese slice, and a portion of frozen vegetables.
Sign up for a cooking or grocery box subscription and prepare the meals they provide.
Subscribe to a service that delivers fully prepared meals to your door.
I’ve personally been enjoying Imperfect Foods grocery boxes, where I can either choose my items or let them surprise me. I often use recipes from Skillet or Budget Bytes to create simple, fuss-free meals.
Your task: Plan three meals for yourself this week.
Take a moment to consider your eating habits for the upcoming week. I suggest planning at least three meals, though you can plan more if you prefer. Do you want to cook at home or not? Would you like to incorporate more vegetables and lean protein, or simply open a can for something quick, tasty, and satisfying? (Remember, you define what healthy means for you right now—maintaining mental health is just as important as physical health.)
I recommend checking out Claire’s guide to pandemic meal planning, which helps you identify what you love and hate about meal prep while tailoring it to your needs. If you’re struggling, we also have a guide on feeding yourself during depression.
We also offer a guide on what to do when meal planning consistently fails, along with a reflection on why it’s okay to prioritize your own preferences occasionally. You don’t need to push yourself to eat a massive pot of lentil stew if you’d genuinely prefer breakfast for dinner or indulging in your favorite takeout. Create a plan, do your best to follow it, and share your experience with us.
