One of my best time saving strategies is planning my meals ahead of time. This is a time saver all on its own, but it’s even easier when my meal plan is kept on the computer. When I type my meal plans, I can also easily modify my plan when necessary by cutting and pasting dishes from one day to the other. When I plan my meals for the week, I also add up the points/calories for each meal so that I can use the information to easily track my daily intake throughout the week and insure that my meals are not too calorie laden. I also keep a “notes” section at the top of the page to summarize when I need to cook different things and to remind myself of important information about the meal such as longer cook times, etc.

I also keep my grocery list on the computer. This allows me to move items around on the list so that it is organized according to the location of things in the store where I shop. When I am ready to go to the store, I print out the list to take with me. An example of one of my weekly meal plans is included below. Organize your plan and grocery list in the way that works best for you.

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DINNERS FOR THE COMING WEEK

NOTES:

• Monday: Start slow cooker apple cranberry bread before work. Make salad dressing after work.
• Tuesday: Make manicotti. Combine Spinach Cheese and Vegetable Manicotti recipes.
• Wednesday: Move leftover vegetarian baked beans from freezer to refrigerator to thaw.
• Friday: Look at calorie information for restaurant menu online and choose a low point meal.

MONDAY

Leftover Black bean and Mango salad (1/6 = 2 points)

Apple cranberry bread (1/2 slice = 3 points)

Green beans & Feta with dill (1/4 = 2 points)

Orange glazed carrots (2 points)

Total points = 9

TUESDAY

Spinach Cheese and Vegetable Manicotti (1/12 = 6 points)

Green beans with Feta and dill (1/4 = 2 points)

Side salad (greens, tomato, carrot, radish) with 1 Tbsp of dressing (1 point for dressing, veggies = 0 points)

Total points = 9

WEDNESDAY

Leftover vegetarian baked beans (1/8 = 4 points)

Orange glazed carrots (2 points)

Side salad with 1 Tbsp dressing (1 point)

Total points = 7

THURSDAY

Spinach Cheese and Vegetable Manicotti (1/12 = 6 points)

Apple cranberry bread (1/2 slice = 3 points)

0 pt veggie (0 points)

Total points = 9

FRIDAY

Eat out

SATURDAY

Bean and veggie stew (1/8 = 4 points)

Baked butternut squash with butter, brown sugar and maple syrup (4 points)

Baked asparagus (0 points)

Total points = 8

SUNDAY

Bean and veggie stew (1/8 = 4 points)

Baked butternut squash with butter, brown sugar and maple syrup (4 points)

Baked asparagus (0 points)

Total points = 8

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