This is a collaborative post: Ah, the never-ending cycle of meal planning. Just as one week finishes, you’ve got to cracking with the next. Who would have thought feeding yourself could require so much work? Not to mention finding food the kids will like, too. It can be hard thinking of healthy meals for the family. If you’ve been struggling recently, here are some ideas on how you can create a healthy meal plan that everyone will enjoy.
Keep it Simple
We all spend so much time in our kitchens, and while the idea of getting creative with new dishes every night might be appealing, in reality it’s going to make you stressed. When you’re planning your meals, keep things simple. You can start by making small, healthy, changes and then build up to tackle new recipes. For instance, try out new vegetables and see if the kids take to any. Try brown rice instead of white. You don’t have to put in hours-worth of prep to create a healthy dish.
Nutrition Knowledge
You are not alone if the kitchen is not in your comfort zone, 1 in 50 Brits don’t know how to cook a single meal. Yes, this includes beans on toast believe it or not. Of 2,000 people surveyed, nearly half of them couldn’t make a pasta bake. So don’t beat yourself up if your culinary knowledge is lacking. Take some time to know and understand the basics of nutrition so you can create well-balanced dishes. Some simple basics to go by are: 5 portions of fruit and veg, whole grain starches, and good sources of protein.
Get Inspired
The more you cook, the more you’ll become comfortable in the kitchen. The survey showed that older generations felt more at ease cooking than younger ones. Give yourself time to practise and learn. When you feel ready, you can begin to look for new recipes to include in your meal planning. Be sure to look at both the prep and cook time. Some meals could take a few minutes to prepare, but hours to cook. There are plenty of healthy recipes that are designed for busy family life.
Theme Nights
Every family has their favourite dishes. That survey showed that us Brits love a roast dinner. It got the number one spot for favourite dishes. What does your family like? Make life easier for yourself and use food you know will go down well. You could have theme nights, like Wrap Wednesday or Fish Friday. It saves you thinking of having to think of a dish and helps set a routine.
Even though meal planning can be a pain, you’ll thank yourself for putting the time in. Do you have any go-to healthy recipes that the little ones enjoy?