Why I’m a Huge Fan of Meal Planning

We’re all living busy lives with schedules that change constantly — balancing work, kids and their activities, cleaning the house, daily chores, taking care of ourselves and our families, spending time with friends…you name it.

Saving time = saving money

And that’s exactly why I am a HUGE fan of meal planning – and why I encourage it as a habit.

Meal planning erases the nightly “What do I make tonight?” question. It helps you stay on a healthier track, saves money, saves time, and honestly, just makes the business of life feel less chaotic.

Benefits of Meal Planning

1. Saves Money - When you know what you’re cooking, you only buy what you actually need

   1. Stick to grocery list – no overbuying or impulse purchases

   2. Stick to budget

   3. Less waste

   4. Combine with coupons for more savings
      

2. Saves Time – the Future You will be grateful

   1. Only one visit to the grocery store vs multiple during the week

   2. Ingredients are prepped and ready to go

   3. Less scrambling at 5:30 PM

3. Less Chaos and Stress - You already know what’s for dinner. Decision made!

   1. No last-minute dinner panic

   2. No more standing in front of the fridge hoping for inspiration

   3. More opportunities to use your slow cooker (which can be a lifesaver!)

A colorful salad with chicken packs protein and lots of vitamins and goodness.

4. Eat Better – Stay on Track

   1. When you know what you’re making, you are more likely to stick to it

   2. Planning avoids the last-minute DoorDash order or random “snack dinner” (we’ve all been there!)

5. More Variety – can try new recipes

   1. Meal planning actually makes it easier to try new recipes - like the Savory Anti-Inflammatory Power Bowl or Amy's Hippy "Fried" Rice

   2. You’re being intentional instead of reactive

Call me a dork, but I find meal planning to be soothing. I actually look forward to it!

How to Start Meal Planning

Decide How Many Meals You Need

Before picking recipes, think through your week. Planning with your actual calendar prevents overcooking and overspending.

• How many dinners and lunches do you need?

• Any special events or nights you’ll be eating out?

• Ask your spouse, partner, roommate, or kids if they have meal requests

• Check your grocery store’s app for weekly deals and coupons

• Think big-batch cooking (soups, casseroles, taco meat) for leftovers or freezer meals

Shop your Kitchen First

• Look through your fridge and pantry

• What ingredients do you already have, and what do you actually need?

• Create your grocery list - you can use the Hippy Crap Ant--Inflammation Grocery List as a guide

Hippy Crap Anti-Inflammatory Grocery List.pdf

Download PDF • 75KB

Prewashed and chopped veggies will save you time during the week

Set a Weekly Shopping Time

For me, it’s typically on Sunday (unless it’s football season, then it’s Saturday 😉).

Having a consistent grocery day builds rhythm and reduces last-minute trips. Trust me.

Prep Right After You Shop

After grocery shopping, set aside about two hours (generally less) to prep for the week ahead

and knock it all out

For example, I know I’ll use onions in almost every meal during the week. So I chop up two full onions right away and store them in a glass container in the fridge. Then I can just grab what I need as I cook. If I run out? I chop more.

Small prep. Big payoff.

Quick Meal Prep Wins

• Wash all fruits and vegetables before storing them

• Shred cheese all at once and store in an airtight glass container (this is the shredder I have and it is FANTASTIC, works for cheese, carrots, zucchini, etc - https://amzn.to/4rqJuJT)

• Chop onions, carrots, celery, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini — whatever you’ll use that week

• Brown ground beef or turkey and store until ready to use

• Move meats to the fridge to thaw early, trim and portion chicken ahead of time

• Make a large batch of taco meat or a Savory Bowl and portion for lunches

• Make chicken breasts in the slow cooker and shred to use in salads or chicken salad, like this one (link to spicy chicken salad recipe)

Little tasks done once save you repeated effort all week!

Hippy Crap Anti-Inflammatory Grocery List

Eating in a way that supports your body doesn’t have to be complicated. This Hippy Crap Anti-Inflammatory Grocery List is a simple guide to the everyday foods I keep stocked in my kitchen that make it easier for me to cook balanced, nourishing meals that support overall wellness.

Whether you’re trying to eat healthier, support joint health, or just simplify your weekly grocery shopping, this list helps take the guesswork out of what to buy.

Hippy Crap Anti-Inflammatory Grocery List.pdf

Download PDF • 75KB

Affiliate Disclosure:

Some of the links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase through them. I only share products I personally use and love and that truly make meal planning and cooking easier in our home. Thank you for supporting my content!