becoming a planner

I plan our family menu from payday to payday.. so 2 weeks at a time. If we have something higher in sodium, we have it a day or two after our weekly weigh in so that we can get rid of the sodium before we weigh next.

Daily, I plug in my meals and snacks I know I am having (usually I know snacks in advance on days I work) first thing in the morning so I know how many calories are left if I want to have an additional snack or another serving at a meal, etc. It works for me to plan ahead so I don't forget anything and keeps me on track to pick the right high or low calorie snack later on depending on how many calories I still need.

I do this. I'm really into organization and schedules so this method works best for me.

Normally I plan out meals in groups of three. I input my recipes and add them to my diary ahead of time. I also try to input breakfast and lunch ahead of time as well, but allow myself some flexibility in case I'm not in the mood for what I had specifically planned. I do try to plan all the main meals so I can see what I have leftover for snacks. I also input exercise in the morning before I've done it all, I find it really motivating.

I've always been a planner, so hopefully some of my strategies will work for you.

I plan at least 4 of our 7 dinners for each week. Since I do a big grocery shopping run every 2 weeks, I actually do 2 weeks at a time. I used to try to do all 14 meals, but I found that unexpected things come up that derail a couple days a week. For the other days, I have my standard stuff available- chicken breasts, pasta, beans, fish, brown rice, veggies, turkey burger. I can always come up with a couple meals from those staples. Also, there are usually leftovers that need to be eaten. I also have spaghetti sauce, soup, chili, in the freezer that can be zapped and eaten quickly.

My lunches are either hummus, veggies in a pita with a yogurt and fruit, or leftovers with the yogurt and fruit. I switch up the veggies and hummus.

I plan which supper idea will be made a day or two in advance. The decision is based on what my lunch will be that day, what the activities of the kids are (time management), what the weather will be like (can we grill or not), that kind of thing. We eat very little beef, so I'm rotating chicken, fish, turkey burger, and meatless meals. Try to keep that in mind so we don't have chicken breast 2 days in a row.

I can then plug my calories in for the day right away in the morning. I know my lunch, I know my dinner, and I've had breakfast. I don't usually do it, but on occasion I have just to be certain I'll be ok.

I'm trying to become a planner I feel it helps to plan out my day using the food diary here at MFP first thing in the morning or sometimes even the night before and then packing my lunch or dinner accordingly for work. Then, there are no surprises at the end of the day. I would definitely like to be a few days or even a week ahead planner, so if any of you have helpful hints, would love to hear about them!

I dp it a day at a time at night I plan the next days meals then I know what I have left for the in between snacks