Fast food is overly abundant in our society. It is cheap, quick, and easy when you have a house full of impatient and hungry mouths. Cooking for ourselves is a skill that once developed, can benefit many areas of life. Home cooked meals are healthier, tend to be less expensive, and enjoying our creation is a satisfying experience. Here are three steps you can take to start planning your meals:

1. Make a list – Most people probably make a grocery list when going to the store. The list I am talking about is a meal list. I do it once every couple of weeks. In my home we keep it simple, breakfast and lunch are quick and easy things that can be grabbed out of the fridge, then dinner is the focus of the meal list. Save those more complicated recipes for a day when you have more time.
2. Grocery shop – Whether you go once a week or once a month, stick to your grocery list. Impulse buys can lead to those unhealthy snacks in the house and being over budget at the checkout counter. Try to keep healthier quick snacks around the house such as cheese sticks, boiled eggs, and almonds. Kids might complain, but when you give them the snack options in the house and they say, ‘I don’t want that!!’ Stay strong and do not cave, they do not need chicken nuggets and fries to survive. A good response is ‘well I guess you’re not hungry.’
3. Organize ingredients – This is a step many forget in meal planning. You might have the list, the groceries, and a plan in your head…then when the time comes to turn on the stove it seems like such a hassle to pull everything out and start measuring. On your day off is a good time to take a few hours and focus simply on organizing meals. You can separate meats, chop veggies, measure spices, or whatever prep will make the cooking process easier.

Now you have the tools, it is time to execute. If you make it through step three above, the cooking process can be a quick and easy experience. Who knows…maybe even FUN! Let me know in the comments how you plan your meals.