Meal planning is a great way to compliment your plant-based journey. Whether you’re by yourself or planning for a whole family, there are so many ways to get creative in the kitchen and ensure that you’ll be satiated day by day.

Meal planning involves planning out your meals for a period of time. Let’s say you’re planning your meals for the week. This means you’re taking into consideration your schedule (are you going out to eat this week?), what sounds good, and what ingredients you already have at home. From there, you create a detailed grocery list with what you need for the week.

If you’re still not sure whether meal planning is right for you, I’ve collected six surprising benefits that might be the final push you need to get plannin’ right away.

1. Meal planning helps you eat intuitively

With meal planning, you can take one step closer to become the intuitive eater you were always meant to be. It gives you a few choices that you have made from a mindful point of view ahead of time, but you still get to choose what you eat in the moment. It gives you gentle structure throughout the week so you’ll be less likely to fall back into some old habits based on diet culture. 

2. Meal planning saves you loads of money

When you plan ahead, you can buy produce that is in season. You buy only what you need. You’re also less likely to go out to eat or use a meal delivery service, which, as great as they are, tend to be on the pricier side. 

3. You don’t have to ask: “What’s for dinner?”

It can be such a hassle when you have to plan and think about what you want to eat every single day. But when you start meal planning, you already know the answer to that question. Even if you don’t meal prep, it can usually be made pretty quickly because you already have a plan. If you feel like having something completely different or want to go out to dinner instead, then be flexible with it and eat what makes you happy.   

4. Meal planning saves you time

Yes, if you start meal planning, let’s say once a week, you may spend a little bit more time at the grocery or planning out your meals. But, if you divide that by seven days, it will be a lot less time than if you went to the grocery store several times a week or ask yourself every day, “What am I going to eat today?”

5. Meal planning reduces food waste

If you start planning your meals strategically and go grocery shopping with a list, you won’t be seduced by all those special offers or impulsive purchases. And even though there is nothing wrong with that in general, usually we end up buying more than we can use. And often some of that food ends up in the trash, which is bad for your wallet and the planet.

6. Meal planning reduces stress

Once you have planned your week and know what you’re going to eat, you’ll likely feel a lot less stressed out during the week. Because you know what you’re having to eat and all of the ingredients are in your home. This allows you to direct your energy and focus towards other things, such as going for walks or spending some time with loved ones.