Prepare and Eat More Meals At Home

Preparing and eating meals at home is an important step toward healthy eating. Meals you prepare and eat at home don’t have to be fancy! You can have easy, quick, and healthy meals at home. Just keep it simple with these four steps: plan, shop, fix, and eat.


Plan:
• The first and most important step is planning.
• The number one reason people say they can’t eat healthy is lack of time. If you plan meals, you will actually save time and money in the long run.
• Set aside 30 minutes to plan for the next week.
• Make a list of the main dish and the side dishes that you will serve for each day of the week. Select recipes that have few ingredients and that use quick cooking techniques.
• Get input from your family members. Use your list of everyone’s favorite foods.


Shop:
• Shop regularly, whether once a week or once a month.
• In-season fruits and vegetables are less expensive and taste better.
• Stick to the list. You are less likely to overspend and less likely to forget ingredients you may need for your week’s menus.
• Don’t shop hungry.


Fix:
• Stick to your plan.
• Wash and prepare fruits and vegetables in advance.
• Make extra of a main dish for another meal.
• Check your meal plan each evening, and take out frozen meats the night before.
• Get the kids involved.


Eat:
• Eat together: All families are busy. Make eating together a family priority.
• Turn off the TV: Turn off the television, radio, cell phone, and beeper so everyone can focus on the conversation without distraction.
• Share events of the day: Ask each person at the table to talk about a fun activity or something good that happened that day.
• Make healthy choices: It is easier to make healthy choices when meals are prepared at home and families sit at the table together to share that meal. It is a good time to talk about and model healthy eating, portion sizes, and trying new foods.


Source: eXtension