Wondering how to stick to a meal plan? It’s 6 p.m. and you’re starting to think about dinner when you realize all you’ve had today was a bagel, some leftover curry, and a bag of prawn crisps from the corner store. That healthy eating plan you were going to start the other day isn’t going so well. But you can do this. You can get back on track because here are five easy ways to keep up with your meal plan.
1. Write it out
Always write out your meal plan, including healthy snacks for the week, then create your shopping list from that plan instead of just writing down a bunch of random items. That shopping list will also keep you from wandering aimlessly through the store because that’s when carts tend to fill up with the unnecessary items. My favorite at the moment are the Meal Plan Agenda Inserts for my Classic Agenda, I use them to plan out my grocery lists and meals for the week I find it so much easier to stay on top of my meals while planning out the rest of my life.
2. Never shop when hungry
Though it might be tempting to hit the grocery store on the way home from work, right before dinner, try to go after you’ve had a full meal. Or have a healthy snack (see below) before you start your shopping. The last thing you want is your stomach growling at you as you walk by all of the prepackaged and processed snacks.
3. Plan healthy snacks into your day
If you’re working from home, like a lot of people right now, make sure that you keep healthy snacks like almonds, fruit, and sliced vegetables stocked in your pantry. If you are going into the office or even just running errands, bring snacks with you so that if you feel that pang of hunger, you’re not hitting the closest bodega for a candy bar.
SHOP THE STORY
Meal Plan Agenda Inserts
SHOP NOW
Fit Is The Sh*t Planner
SHOP NOW
Classic Pink Agenda
SHOP NOW
4. Be prepared for cheat meals and have a plan for eating out
Eating out in the time of COVID has become such a treat, so this may not be as much of an issue as it has in the past. But if you know you’re going out tonight for your best mate’s birthday, plan the rest of your day accordingly. And if the restaurant has an online menu, look it over and see if there is anything that is both delicious and good for you. If an opportunity to go out unexpectedly comes up, take special care the next day to get back on your meal plan. Using the Fit Is The Sh*t planner is a great way to log your meals and jot down any nights out you have planned for the week ahead. If you’re wondering how to stick to a meal plan, writing it all out is a great start!/vc_column_text]
5. Don’t get upset if you stray from the plan
There are many reasons to go off of a meal plan such as social events and changes in schedule. But for many, stress can be a big factor. And if you’re already dealing with stress, adding to that by chastising yourself for straying from your meal plan is only going to make things worse. When you find that you’re no longer sticking with your meal plan, first ask why you’re having that issue, address it, make peace with it, and move on so you can back on track.
Happy meal planning!
By Kate Andrews @fashionablykateandco
