If you are someone who is interested in planning your meals for the work week ahead of time, this article is for you. Before meal planning, be sure to talk to your doctor about what foods are right for you and fit your lifestyle and health condition.

• Build Your Menu Ahead of Time – Knowing what meals you are going to make beforehand can make shopping faster and more efficient. Determine what ingredients you will need before doing your grocery shopping for the week.

• Save Your Favorite Menu Options – Found a meal that you love? Save your recipes all in one place so you can easily access what ingredients are needed to recreate it for future weeks. There are multiple apps to help you save recipes, OR you can write them down the old-fashioned way and save them in an index-card box.

• Block Out Time Each Week – Set aside designated times on your calendar for building your menu, grocery shopping, cooking your meals, etc. It doesn't have to happen all at once, but having the time reserved on your schedule will help ensure that you don't forget or double book yourself.

• Buy Reusable and Resealable Containers – Menu planned? Check. Groceries bought? Check. Meals cooked? Check. Now what to store your food in? Purchase containers that are easy to wash and reuse to simplify your meal planning experience. Look for containers that can easily reseal to be stored in your fridge or freezer until you're ready to use them!

• Purchase a Lunch Bag – A nice, zip-up lunch bag can make it easy to set aside your meal container and any other loose items that go along with it, such as silverware or condiments. Put everything together in the bag before you go to bed to make the next morning quicker and easier on your way out the door.

What are some of your favorite meal planning tips? We want to hear from you! Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.

The Paragon Pantry is all about sharing fun recipes, dinner ideas, and kitchen tips that encourage living a healthy and balanced life, not providing medical or nutritional advice. For more information about The Paragon Pantry, visit https://paragonhealthcare.com/the-paragon-pantry/.