Plan a Meal Schedule
Planning a meal schedule is great for a variety of people. If you are dieting, knowing what you need to buy ahead of time to stick with your required goals is a must. For people that have to adhere to a tight grocery budget, planning is everything. Here are some things to keep in mind when planning a meal schedule.
Instructions
1. Grab a calendar and plan ahead. Come up with enough meal ideas for the week and a couple of extra "fall back" meals too. Make a grocery list that has the ingredients for everything you will need. Do not forget to include things like spices or dressings.
2. Check over your initial list. Be sure that any special diet requirements are being met, like low fat options, low salt or cholesterol intake considerations. This is also a great time to make sure that there is variety and time to prepare the scheduled meals.
3. Consult the food pyramid. Check off each day as the recommended food requirements are being met. Most people do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, so you will probably have to rethink your meals and revise your plan.
4. Do not forget the snacks. Planning for snacks and desserts is just as important as the main meals. Make sure that you have plenty of good healthy snacks to accompany your meals. Even if you do not plan to eat between meals, be reasonable and adjust for the fact that it will probably happen. Be prepared with smart options.
5. Plan for added liquid calories and carbohydrates. Many people have a great food schedule planned, but forget to include the liquids they consume. Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages alike can pack in calories, carbs and sugars to your meal planning that you may over look initially.
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