How do you plan your meals?

JennyV2013

One area I have always struggled with when trying to eat better and lose weight is planning. I know I need to do it but so far I have not had the discipline or motivation to actually sit down and plan out my meals for the next day/week. Eating "as I go" is not working for me (hence, 4 lb weight loss after 27 days of effort). I need to start planning and I need to start now. Are there any good tips for doing this? Good websites that you can store your meal plans for the week or grocery lists, etc. Apps? TIA!

theginnyray

I was using a meal planning service (google: e-mealz), but I come across too many new recipes that I want to try, so I make my own list.
I keep a 3-ring binder of recipes (torn from magazines, prints from The Interwebs, etc).
Each week, I create a new word document for the next week's food plans. There are two columns, one is for the meals, the other is the grocery list. I finalize the list on Thursday or Friday, and go shopping over the weekend. It's meticulous and time consuming, but there is nothing I hate more than making more than one trip to the grocery store per week. So this is what works for me.

Fitdiva83

I compile my grocery list the day before I actually go grocery shopping. I usually go grocery shopping Saturday mornings AFTER I have had breakfast. I try to get plenty of salad fixings so if I'am pressed for time I can always just throw a salad together quick versus stopping at Mcdonalds..every evening after work first thing I do is pack my lunch for the next day..weight loss takes a lot of planning and calculation but the longer you stick with the easier it will get....I just take it day to day.

cooter2533

Before bed I plan my next days dinner first, then I plan lunch and breakfast with whatever calories I have left. In terms of planning meals I buy lean meats that are on sale and some fruits and veggies.

Mesha_yy

I kind of plan my meals mentally, but obviously that's not effective...i havent lost any weight in one month!
there should be law against that :P

beccala18

I plan my breakfast and lunch the night before (so I can bring everything to work). Then at work I plan my dinner based on what's at my house/easy to pick up at the grocery store based on the calories I have available. Sometimes I'll plan my entire day the night before.

That works for me, but I don't have children. I would say try to keep basic healthy ingredients in your house and plan each night before what your day will be like tomorrow.

bcattoes

4 lbs in 27 days is 1 lb per week, which is a very healthy weight loss rate. I rarely plan my meals one day in advance. I can't imagine trying to do it a week at a time. I grocery shop once a week usually and just buy whatever looks fresh and affordable, then I build meals around what I bought. We often don't know what we're gong to cook for dinner until we get home from work.