Must-Have Staples for Easy Meal Planning
The whole point of meal planning is to make your life easier by making this process quicker. So that means using ingredients which can last or create a number of different meals. So, to make your shopping list an easy list to create, we have put together our top 10 ingredients that you can use to make multiple meals.
Extra-virgin olive oil
This is the one of the only cooking oils which is made without the use of chemicals and industrial refining. Due to this, it is one of the healthiest fats you can find. So, if you like making fried goodies like homemade fries make sure you purchase some of this oil.
Cannned Beans
Canned beans are a really helpful and easy way to bulk up a meal. From chickpeas to kidney beans, there are so many you are sure to find one you love. With a load of protein, antioxidants and fiber in them, beans are also inexpensive yet filling.
Eggs
Eggs are super diverse, whether you want them scrambled for a breakfast, boiled to pop into a salad for lunch or fried for a dinner. They are a delicious way to get protein into your diet, and when you bulk buy them they'll last in your fridge for up to 10 weeks.
Sea salt
Sea salt is another easy way to spice up a dish, making them more flavourful.While you shouldn’t overdo your salt intake, excess sodium is usually only a problem in processed foods.
Fresh herbs (or dried)
Herbs are what can make a dish really special. This can be anything from basil in a spaghetti bolognaise sauce to rosemary on top of a roasted lamb joint. If you've got green fingers, then fresh, home-grown herbs are a handy way to make sure you always have your meals taste perfect. If not, then dried herbs do the job just as well.
Garlic
Fresh garlic keeps really well, plus it tastes amazing and is super versatile. Whether you're making home-made garlic bread or want to give your roast potatoes a bit of a kick, then garlic is all you need. Not to mention garlics’ amazing health benefits, which include reducing blood pressure, boosting your immune system, and improving cholesterol levels.
Rice
Another money saver, rice lasts forever in the cupboard, is easy to make, AND is good for you. From providing energy to possibly helping controlling blood pressure, rice is definitely a food you should have in your cupboards.
Wholegrain Pasta
Having pasta handy is a great food to have for those days you forget to get the frozen meat out of the freezer or if you're simply in a rush. Using wholegrain pasta, over regular pasta gives you more fiber and protein, so is a lot healthier. It's also really quick to cook and great to have for lunch or dinner. So, if you need something quick to prepare after a long day, cooking up some pasta is definitely a great choice
Frozen vegetables
Getting vegetables into your diet is a really easy first step to a healthier life style. Having packets of frozen vegetables in your freezer at all times is super cost effective and makes healthy eating really simple. This is a quick way to get your five-a-day veggies.
Dried fruit:
Dried fruits--whether it's banana chips, dried apricots or raisins--are another good handbag/school snack. Simply having a little storage box with a small selection of them in means that where ever you are you have a healthy snack. They are also a tasty extra to put into home-made treats.
When you start meal planning regularly and if you have the money, try and do one big shopping trip for all the dry and canned food essentials we have suggested (or make a listof your own) and you'll be all set. Once a month check what you’re running low on and simply top up your cupboards to make sure you'll always be prepped for those unexpected guests or those days when you haven't been able to get to the grocery store. Keeping your diet as healthy as possible with lots of whole grains, vegetables, fruits etc. will mean it will be easier for you to keep your family’s healthy lifestyle, even in the busiest seasons of life.