Home ยป Kitchen Tips ยป The Benefits Of Menu Planning (+ A Free Menu Planner For You)

The Benefits Of Menu Planning (+ A Free Menu Planner For You)

by Cassandra Morris | Mar 3, 2022

Iโ€™m about to share my secret weapon for success (in everything I do). Are you ready for this? Drumroll, pleaseโ€ฆ Organization!

I would be a chicken with my head cut off without my laid out to do lists and schedules. Without taking the time to plan before I do my weekly groceries, I would be reaching for the take-out menu all week!

Menu-planning has transformed my life in so many ways that I want to help you transform yours. Let’s look at all the benefits of menu planning together- and I’m also going to give you a gift to help you thrive in your first week!

YOU WILL BE HEALTHIER
Learning how to cook and menu-planning is how I keep in shape. It’s that simple. When eating home-cooked, balanced meals is a part of your routine; you don’t need to focus on calories or do any fad diets. Restaurants or take-out food usually have more salt, saturated fat, and sugar, whereas the meals you’ll make at home will include more vegetables and fiber, less salt – and you’ll be more aware of the portions. Menu-planning will help you with any of your health goals.

YOU WILL SAVE TIME
Ironically menu-planning might seem like an extra thing you just donโ€™t have time for, but the opposite is true. It saves you time. Yes it might take you up to 30 minutes to plan the meals you’re going to make for the week while you write yourself a shopping list. But, that will shave time off your visit to the grocery store as you won’t be wandering blankly around the grocery store’s aisles. You will be in and out with your shopping list, pronto. Then when it comes to dinner time, you’ll be able to crack straight on with cooking, without wasting time looking for meal inspiration, or raiding your pantry trying to figure out what youโ€™re going to make.

YOU WILL SAVE MONEY
When you’ve planned your menu, you’ll go to the grocery store armed with a list of exactly what you need to buy- meaning you won’t buy items you don’t need (meaning those packs of Oreos or your favorite chips are less likely to fall into your shopping cart). When you stick to your list, you’ll buy items you will actually eat- in the form of healthy, nutritious meals- and you won’t impulse buy stuff either! You’ll also save on not ordering as much take-out and food delivery.

YOU WON’T WASTE FOOD
When it comes to meal planning, you go to the grocery store with a plan, and know how youโ€™re going to use all of the items. When every food has a purpose, you wonโ€™t have to worry about items in your fridge going to waste. Plus, you can plan for leftovers too. Say you’re making a chicken pot-roast Tuesday night; you can make a chicken curry or stir-fry from those leftover chicken pieces come Wednesday. You can also use leftovers for lunches or my favorite Kitchen Pro Tip- double-up your recipe, and then you can save a portion in the freezer for another day. If you check out my recipe page, you’ll find I have a filter for freezer-friendly recipe ideas, which you can check out here. It feels fantastic not to waste food and make the most of what you have in your kitchen.

YOU WILL MINIMIZE STRESS
Want to know what I consider the biggest perk of meal planning for my life? I don’t have that nagging, late-afternoon stress associated with deciding what to do for dinner. When you meal plan, you can go into the week confident and calm, knowing that you’ve taken care of your meals for the next seven days so you can focus your attention on everything else in your busy schedule.

YOU WILL GET CREATIVE & TRY NEW THINGS
There are times when life gets busy and I get stuck in a food rut having the same few dishes throughout the week. When you plan your menu for the week, you can take some time to research some tasty new dishes to try out. How about a One Pan Crispy Parmesan Chicken, Zucchini & Potatoes? Healthy Turkey Burgers With Spinach, Feta & Tzatziki Or Chicken Lettuce Wraps? Menu-planning will get your creative juices flowing and shake things up in the kitchen. Keep your favorite recipes in your menu plan once a week to look forward to. Once you have a bank of 5 or 6 recipes you like, you can constantly rotate them for a few weeks giving you variety, and switch them up by adding a new dish when youโ€™re feeling like something new.

Whether youโ€™re cooking for your entire family or just yourself, taking the time to plan your meals for the week ahead is definitely worth the effort. The key is just to set aside a little bit of time each week to do it. So friends, hop on over to the recipes page, where you can pick out a few new dishes that you want to try this week. To help get you started making amazing menus for your family, download your FREE meal planner that is inside my Free Quick & Easy Dinners E-Cookbook. I do this every week in my notebook, but I designed this to make life a little easier for you. Click here and I will send your gift directly to you. Once it arrives, save it on your desktop so it is easy to find! Print it off and start planning! I hope you enjoy your first week of menu planning! I love hearing when you have tried something you have learned here on Cooking With Cassandra. Please feel free to send a message below or even better take a photo of your Menu Planner and tag me on Instagram @cookwithcassandra so I can see. Cheers, my friends!

Hi, I’m Cassandra!

Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Featured On

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

You Might Also Like

Your Ultimate Holiday Cookie Prep Guide: Tips & Must-Try Recipes

Holiday baking can quickly turn into a whirlwind of flour and frantic timer checks. The secret to keeping your cool? Prepping your cookies ahead of time. Not only does it save you from last-minute stress, but it also means you'll always have a fresh batch ready for unexpected guests or those cozy evenings when a sweet treat calls your name. Plus, some cookie doughs taste even better after a chill in the fridge, letting the flavors develop and deepen. Iโ€™m here to share my tips for freezing cookie dough balls, storing baked cookies, and my favorite holiday cookie recipes to keep the season...

Introducing The Recipe Exchange: Share Your Favorite Family Recipes!

Handwritten recipe card promoting The Recipe Exchange for sharing cherished family recipes.

Food is more than just whatโ€™s on our platesโ€”itโ€™s the stories, memories, and traditions that bring people together. From one generation to the next, family recipes are a testament to our shared history, full of love and flavor. Thatโ€™s why Iโ€™m so excited to introduce a new section in my column: The Recipe Exchange! Hereโ€™s how it works: Iโ€™m inviting you to share your most cherished family recipes. You know that recipe you always come back to, the one that has everyone at the table asking, โ€œCan I get the recipe?โ€ Well, this is your chance to share your secret gem with the world! It could be...

Best Comfort Food Recipes to Warm Up Your Week

spaghetti squash lasagna

Thereโ€™s something truly special about comfort food. Itโ€™s more than just filling our belliesโ€”itโ€™s a little reminder of home, of family memories, and of those warm, familiar flavors we reach for again and again. With the seasons changing, Iโ€™m excited to share three of my all-time favorite comfort food recipes that are perfect for cozy nights in. Each recipe has its own story and flavor, with a few tips and tricks to help you get that perfect, comforting dish every time. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Healthier, lighter, and packed with all the cozy vibes of classic lasagna! If youโ€™re craving...

Halloween Party Inspiration: Snacks, Cocktails, and More!

halloween witches broomstick

Welcome, Sun readers! If youโ€™re here after scanning the QR code in my article in the Winnipeg Sun, youโ€™re in the right place for more festive ideas, creative snacks, and a few fun extras to make your Halloween party a frightfully good time. Today, Iโ€™m excited to share some easy Halloween cocktails, delicious treats, and a crowd-favorite dessert. Whether youโ€™re hosting a big bash or just a small get-together, these ideas will help you create a memorable (and stress-free!) Halloween celebration. Festive Halloween Cocktails You Can Customize You donโ€™t need to be a mixologist to serve spooky...

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cassandra | Cooking With Cassandra

Hi, I'm Cassandra!

ย Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

Jujeh kabab - Eating | cookingwithcassandra.com

Get the Inside

Scoop

Be the first to receive free e-books, recipes, inspiration, and exclusive extras you wonโ€™t want to miss!

We wonโ€™t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.