Even if you started out with the best of intentions to cook a nice dinner, after a long day at work it is so easy to ditch the plan and just eat out or order take-out. However, with a little bit of planning, you can get back into your meal prep and planning routine. Let's talk about some steps to help you do that. Once you have a good rhythm, you'll probably be surprised by just how much time and money you can save.

Commit Time to Meal Planning 

First, it's important to decide what you are going to eat over the course of the week. Try to choose a combination of meals which are simple to prepare along with ones, if you are interested in doing so, which are going to take a little bit of extra time and energy for days when you have more time to give. If you plan to do take-out one night, go ahead and put this into the schedule as well. Once you have your plan, then start writing out a grocery list. This way at the store you'll be less tempted to buy things not needed that will likely go to waste.

Creating consistent home-cooked meals won’t happen without putting in some prep work; and having a clear system in place will help you to save money, eat healthier and have less stress about weeknight meals. Instead of looking at meal planning as a waste of time, think about how it will actually save you precious minutes in the long-run. Find some time to sit down with your calendar and lay out a plan for when you will shop for groceries, which nights you will have limited time to cook and when you can check out some new recipes to try.

Shopping Lists and Meal Prep

One day each week, set aside a few minutes for yourself to write out a meal plan for the week and your grocery list. Don’t try to cram too many different meals into a single week; it's easier to make bigger portions of a couple of different meals and then have leftovers on a couple of nights. When making your list, think about whether you can buy everything from the same place or if there are any specialty ingredients such as halal chicken that might need to be purchased elsewhere. Check your pantry and fridge to see what items you may already have on hand.

Keep it Simple

Often when starting a new routine, it's easy to lose momentum and fall back into old habits. Don’t be discouraged if you find that you have a couple of very simple meals on your recurring weekly list. All of us have days where we don’t feel up to cooking. Build in some flexibility to your plan so that you can cook more intricate meals on another day and simply switch the meal plan around. 
 

Search for Shortcuts to Learn

There are often shortcuts that you can take advantage of when planning particular meals. You just need to think about what they are and maybe check with a friend or two who have been cooking for a while. You can always look into ordering ingredients online to save yourself a little more time. You can also buy some items pre-cut to save some of the prep work, though the expense of this can start to offset your savings from not eating out. Additionally, keep an eye out for the opportunity to pick up useful techniques, such as the best way to season a cast iron skillet, which can make the cooking experience easier. Also, it's a lot easier to make meals where multiple things can be cooked at once such as roasting the vegetables, potatoes and chicken breasts all at the same time in the oven, or cooking a bunch of ingredients together in a stock pot, slow cooker or large skillet.
 

Invest in Food Storage Containers

Invest in the right food storage containers so you can create big meals and save the extra to enjoy later in the week. These types of containers are also handy for storing pre-prepped food ingredients, such as chopped celery, peppers and carrots. Choose some BPA-free containers that won’t melt in the microwave or dishwasher. You could also consider getting an insulated bag for carrying meals to work or school, so that your meals stay warm no matter when or where you go. 

Just Keep Going

If you get discouraged and think that it would just be easier to go back to ordering take-out meals all the time, take a moment and remember why you are meal planning and prepping in the first place. It could be that you are trying to eat healthier, improve your cooking skills or simply save money. Keeping your focus will help maintain the motivation to keep going. Even better, enlist a few friends or family members to start this new journey with you, and you can share meals, tips, and encouragement along the way. Everything's better when you can share it with others!

Remember that you can keep all your favorite recipes at hand for easy grocery shopping, meal planning, and sharing with friends or family, with your Dish Dish online recipe app.