Where to Get Meal Planners

Free Printable Meal Planners

All you need to do is Google "free meal planners" and you will find plenty of choices: PDF's, Word files, image files. The big advantage, of course, is that they are inexpensive.

Meal Planner Templates

Digital PDF Meal Planner Templates

Digital Meal Planner Templates are sold in PDF format. After you download, use a notetaking app, like Goodnotes, to be able to write your plan directly on your device using a pen/stylus and save. 

Until recently, these were predominantly available only for iPads, but with the recent release of Goodnotes for Windows, the PDF can be used on android tablets and on PC's with touchscreens and a pen.

Online Meal Planners

Advantages

Convenience: You can access your meal plan and shopping list from anywhere, as long as you have your phone or computer.

Automation: Some apps can generate shopping lists for you, making it easier to stay organized.

Customization: Many digital meal planners allow you to input your dietary preferences and restrictions, making it easier to find recipes that fit your needs.

Disadvantages

Cost: Many digital meal planners require a subscription fee or in-app purchases.

Learning curve: It can take some time to learn how to use a new app or website.

Screen time: If you're already spending a lot of time on your phone or computer, using a digital meal planner may not be the healthiest option.

Printable Meal Planner Templates

Advantages

Cost: Most printable meal planner templates are available for free online.

Flexibility: You can customize your planner however you like, using your favorite pens and paper.

Minimal screen time: If you're trying to reduce your screen time, using a printable meal planner template can be a good option.

Disadvantages

Limited automation: You'll need to manually generate your shopping list and calculate your calorie intake.

Limited customization: You won't be able to input your dietary preferences and restrictions as easily.

Physical clutter: If you're someone who doesn't like keeping a lot of paper around, using a printable meal planner template may not be the best option.

Save money, save time and eat healthier by using a meal planner. Learn about how to choose the right one for you!

Benefits of meal planners

1. Meet your goals
2. Fit your schedule
3. Organize your life
4. Get all your nutrients
5. Avoid last minute unhealthy decisions
6. No last minute trips to supermarket
7. Buy only what you need

Meet your goals

When you think of meak planning, what goals come to mind?

I know I want to eat healthy food. I want to lose weight and gain muscle. Saving money and decreasing stress are important for me, too.    

What about you? 

Meal planners are tools that help you plan your meals in advance, so you know exactly what you're going to eat and when.

Meal planning can help you avoid last-minute decisions, which often result in unhealthy choices. By planning your meals, you can ensure that you're getting all the nutrients you need, and you can also save money by buying only what you need.

Think about YOUR goals. Write them down. Once you've identified your goals, you can start planning your meals to meet those goals.         

Consider your schedule

Look ahead to your schedule for the week and think about meals that will fit in. Preparation time, cooking time, eating time, clean up time may make a meal difficult to have on a day full of meetings and appointments, but perfect for a different day.

Save Money

Organize

Keep track of important details such as dietary restrictions, cooking time, and serving sizes

Know when you need to replenish pantry and refrigerator items,

Stay organized and reduce stress by planning your meals in advance.

Types of Meal Planners

Weekly Meal Planners

People who want to plan their meals on a week-to-week basis use Weekly Meal Planners.  These planners have a space for each day of the week, and sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. 

You can easily see what you need to buy at the grocery store and avoid last-minute trips to the store.

Monthly Meal Planners

Monthly Meal Planners are for the better organized who know their schedule and store sales far enough in advance.

They include a section for each day of the month and sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack plans for each day.

Dietary Preference Planners

Dietary Preference Planners are intended for  people with specific restrictions. This could include diabetes, weight loss, vegan, vegetarian, sports training, lactose-free, gluten-free and many more.

In addition to the usual sections, sections addressing the area of emphasis are added, e.g., total calories, today's weight, macros, etc

Meal Planning Process

1. Check the pantry and fridge
2. Choose recipes that match your diet, tastes and time available
3. List the ingredients in the recipes
4. Cross off the ones you already have
5. Write your shopping list

Tomorrow: Meal planning templates