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How Do Meal Plans Help You Eat Healthier?
Do meal plans help you eat healthy? Do meal plans help you eat healthier?
Should I plan meals? Do meal plans help you eat healthier? What’s a good way to eat healthy? Is it worth scheduling my meals? If you have any of these questions, you’ve come to the right place!
Planning your meals comes with many benefits. A set meal plan will definitely help you eat healthier.
Do meal plans work?
Is it worth getting a meal plan? Is it worth it to buy a meal plan?
If you’re like every 21st-century person, your schedule is packed. All around us are fast unhealthy food options that satisfy our anxious need for quick food on the go. And when you do get the chance to cook, you don’t know what to make!
This is where meal planning comes in. Simply put, a meal plan is a set of guidelines for all the meals you’ll consume during the day. Meal plans work better if they are made a week or month in advance.
A good meal plan outlines ingredients, breakfast, lunch, dinner, in-between snacks, and even when you’ll be preparing your food for the week.
Is eating on a schedule healthy?
Health benefits of meal planning | 10 benefits of meal planning
If you’re still not convinced about meal planning, then here are my top 15 benefits of eating on a schedule:
- Saves you money.
- Helps you manage your time.
- Avoids last-minute trips to the grocery store.
- Allows for you to control your portions.
- Can help you gain or lose weight according to your goal.
- Reduces the amount of food that goes to waste.
- Prevents food from expiring in your fridge.
- Reduces the pressure of last-minute cooking.
- Allows you to stay organised.
- Reduces impulsive buying.
- Allows you to reduce unhealthy food.
- Allows for calorie counting.
- Allows you to explore various food options.
- Gives you more variety.
The essence of a meal plan is to help you save time and money. Now you can prepare your ingredients beforehand and know exactly what you’ll be eating next. This can also improve your relationship with food and your body.
Advantages and disadvantages of meal planning
Meal planning comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Although, the pros outweigh the cons. It’s always necessary to consider what is best for you and your health. Here is a fair comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of meal planning.
Advantages of meal planning:
What is the importance of meal management? What is the importance of meal planning?
Here are the 5 main advantages of meal planning:
- Saves time and money
- Control weight
- Improves relationship with food
- Brings organisation and structure
- Promotes healthy eating
Does this sound interesting to you? Here is a link to 5 free meal planning templates so that you can simplify your health and life: https://dailyburn.com/life/health/printable-meal-planning-templates/
1. Saves time and money
The reason we opt for fast food places is that- 1) it is cheap and 2) it is fast. A meal plan is both these things, but healthier and exactly what you need it to be!
When you plan your meals, you allocate the ingredients needed. This saves you money from buying unnecessary ingredients that will expire. It also reduces takeout and restaurant stops.
2. Control weight
When you have a meal plan, food can be researched. That means you’ll be in full control of your weight. Whether you want to lose a few pounds or build some muscle. You can make informed decisions on what you should and shouldn’t eat, and ensure that you aren’t buying foods that will work against your goals.
3. Improves relationship with food
When you spend time with someone, your relationship improves. The same goes for food. When you take time to schedule, plan, and distribute. You get to know what you’re putting into your body. You also can become more excited for the next meal on the list.
4. Brings organisation and structure
A meal plan is perfect for busy individuals. Whether you are solo or run a family. It brings a certain level of structure to everyone’s day.
This structure also strengthens your body’s internal clock and will improve your digestion since your body gets used to consistent eating times.
5. Promotes healthy eating
When you meal plan, you get exposed to a world of healthy eating options. Most meal plans allow you to count calories. It also allows you to consider portion sizes.
Now, you can eat healthy in a fun and exciting way. You can also ensure that your meals include all parts of the food pyramid.
Disadvantages of meal planning
As good as meal planning is, it also has its disadvantages like:
- It’s not easy to adjust to a full meal plan.
- It takes discipline to stay on track.
- You don’t get to mix it up often.
- No room for spontaneity.
- When something runs out, you don’t always have the right alternatives.
- You need some education on food to make your own meal plans.
Meal plans aren’t an easy step for everyone to take. If you think you’ll struggle, then it’s advisable to connect with a professional for help.
I’m a Nutritional Therapist and I can help you meal plan to perfection! If you want a free 30-minute consult with me then follow this link: https://calendly.com/siobhan-swart/30-minute-clarity-session?month=2022-07&%3Bback=1
Which meal plan is the healthiest?
What does a healthy eating plan look like?
Here are the factors that a good meal plan should include:
- Healthy breakfast
- Healthy lunch
- Healthy dinner
- At least 2 healthy snacks
- Calorie count
- Vegetables and fruit
- Healthy carbohydrates
- Fibers
- A small amount of healthy fat
- Lean proteins
- Whole wheat products
- A time for each meal
- Prep days
- Ingredient list
- Specific food for your goal
- Portion sizes
- Food budget
The healthiest meal plans are ones that include all important food groups. These are carbohydrates, fruit and veggies, fats, and protein.
A good meal plan also helps you schedule with time sets, prep days, portion sizes, and budgets. It is supposed to make your life easier.
Finally, the best meal plan is one that fits your specific health needs. Whether you want to lose weight, gain lean muscle, or get more energy to run marathons. A meal plan should be tailored to your personal goals.
Importance of meal planning for family
Meal planning is a great way for families to eat. As a mom myself, with a full-time job, cooking can become overwhelming!
A meal plan can ensure that my kids don’t eat too much junk during the week because I was too disorganised to cook proper healthy meals. It also prevents my family from spending a lot of days eating out at restaurants because my husband and I were too busy to cook that week.
Meal plans are a great way to monitor you and your children’s health, always ensure everyone in the house is well-nourished, and save the family some money!
Do meal plans work for weight loss. Do meal plans help lose weight?
Does meal planning help you lose weight? Benefits of meal planning for weight loss
A lot of my clients ask if a meal plan will help them lose weight. The simple answer is- it depends. If you ask your Nutritional Therapist to generate a meal plan for weight loss then a meal plan can help you lose weight.
However, your weight loss comes with discipline. A meal plan is just a piece of paper or a pdf. You are the one that needs to prepare the meals according to the guidelines, stick to the portion sizes of your meal plan, and live a physically active life to lose weight.
Do meal plans help you lose belly fat?
Meal plans have been used to lose fat. This includes belly fat. Greens, whole wheat, low carb, and healthy fat diets aid in fat loss. A meal plan made by a Gut Expert like myself can also help you debloat and fight off IBS!
Do meal plans help you gain weight?
Meal planning isn’t just for losing weight. A meal plan can help you increase your portion sizes. It can help you add more protein to your diet. Plus if you add a weight gain meal plan with resistance training, then you can gain mass!
It’s important not to fill your weight gain meal plan with junk. There are ways to gain mass in a healthy and controlled manner. Ensure you are clear with your Nutritional Therapist about your exact goal.
Do meal plans help you sleep?
Did you know, that a meal plan can help you sleep better? Here’s how it works.
The quality of your sleep depends largely on the quality of your food. If you eat well-nourished meals, you will have more energy during the day.
A meal plan also helps you to eat sooner in the afternoon so that you will sleep better. It also helps you schedule caffeinated drinks earlier in the day to prevent caffeine surges at night.
Who can give you a meal plan?
Can a nutritionist give me a meal plan? Nutritionist meal plan
I am Siobhan Swart, a registered Nutritional Therapist, and Gut Expert. I can give you a nutritional meal plan, guidance and so much more!
In my practice, I have multiple packages to incorporate your exact needs. Whether you are available in Ireland or you would like to meet online. I will meet your needs.
Our sessions will include dietary changes, necessary supplements, and easy lifestyle changes. With my meal plans and other specialised services, I will help you live a life that you were meant to have, one that is enjoyable and one that you can’t wait to get to each day.
If you are someone who is ready to make the changes, do the work and take back control, then I would love to work with you. Click the link to learn more about my services: https://www.healthconcepts.ie/services/