Taking time to plan healthy meals can help you stick to a healthy eating style and save money.  If you are new to planning meals, start with one easy tip and then add more as you get comfortable. 

1)  Start by mapping out your meals for the week.  Be sure to include drinks and snacks.

2)  Next, make a grocery list of ingredients using your meal plan.  This will help you not overspend at the grocery store.  Try this grocery list to keep you organized:  https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/budget/grocery_list_interactive.pdf

3)  Choose different protein foods throughout the week. If you have chicken one day, try seafood, beans, lean meat or eggs on other days.  

4) Try to find balance in your meals throughout the day.   If you have veggies, dairy and protein at one meal, include fruit and grains in the next to cover all 5 food groups over the course of a day. 

Lastly, learn to love your leftovers.  When you go to so much work to prepare a meal, make sure you have extra for another meal later in the week.  This saves on time and money, which we can all get behind. 

To learn more about meal planning on a budget visit:  https://nvsnap-ed.org/eat-healthy/shop-smart/