We've all been to the grocery store without a shopping list and ended up impulse-buying anything that looked enticing. A lack of planning often results in spending too much, having only unhealthy foods on hand, and forgetting the one item for which we went to the store in the first place. Meal planning saves time, money, calories, and hassle. The tips below will help you succeed in planning healthy, budget-friendly, delicious meals for your family.

Start With Your Budget

Determine how much you can afford to spend on groceries and make it a hard cutoff. As you prepare your menu for the week, look at your favorite store's website for prices. You should also check the circulars many stores mail with their weekly specials—and don't forget to clip coupons.

Use What You Have

Along with budgeting, ensure you're not buying things you already have—or wasting money you already spent. Before writing your menu for the week, dig through your fridge and cabinets to see what you've previously purchased. If you see something with an upcoming expiration date, plan a meal around that item. It's also an opportunity to find what needs replenishing.

Using what you have doesn't just apply to food. Stick to menus that use appliances you own, like that versatile pressure cooker or air fryer.

Create the Menu with Your Family

Few things are more obnoxious than preparing a meal only to have a family member say, "I'm not eating that!" Resistance can be minimized by collaborating with your family, including children, when planning the week's menu. When all meals are finalized, make sure everyone understands that it’s definite, not optional.

Don't forget to factor snacks when creating your plan. Not only do healthy snacks stave off hunger between meals, but they're an easy way to include children's favorites without making them the central focus of each meal.

Keep It Simple

If you're new to meal planning, start by planning one meal per day and having something easy and consistent for the other two, especially if you’re currently working and schooling from home amid COVID-19. If your family is all about dinner, choose a variety of cereals for breakfast, a couple of sandwich options for lunch, and focus your energy on the evening meal. If your family is more into breakfast—and you have the time and energy to cook in the morning—focus on elaborate breakfasts and keep things basic for lunch and dinner. As you get more comfortable with meal planning, you can branch out into other mealtimes.

Know How Much Time You Have

Meal planning isn't useful if you don't have time to make the meals you have planned. Look at your schedule for the week and determine which days need meals that can be cooked quickly or can have something in a slow cooker all day, and which ones allow you to devote more time to cooking. When you sit down with your family to collaborate on the menu, verify that no one has an upcoming event they've forgotten.

Stay Focused at the Store—and Don't Go Back

Consider your list a rule, not a guideline, and stick to it. The easiest way to do this is to order your groceries online for delivery or pickup, but if a shopping trip is necessary, don't be tempted by that checkout chocolate bar.

Lowering the number of trips to the store is one of the perks of meal planning, so make sure you get everything you need in one trip during this pandemic. Don't assume you have ingredients. Always check your kitchen first. If you discover that you forgot something, don't go back to the store. Instead, take this opportunity to be creative and don't be afraid of substituting aromatics or proteins with what you already have. Give it your own spin!

Stick to Your Plan, But Budget for Takeout and Leftovers

Let's face it. Some days, you just don't feel like cooking. If you're unlikely to follow-through on cooking daily, plan to order in or eat out for a certain number of meals. Online food ordering services like Menufy enable you to order days in advance.

Your restaurant meals can also double as leftovers. That extra bowl of white rice from your favorite Chinese takeout can quickly be turned into delicious fried rice the next day!

Save time and effort by ordering online from a restaurant in your neighborhood!