By planning your meals in advance, you will know exactly what you need to buy, instead of going to the store a few times each week to pick up last-minute ingredients. Everything about grocery shopping is made easier by meal planning – you’ll minimise the amount of time spent wandering aimlessly around the aisles and you’ll save money along with your sanity.
Meal planning helps eliminate unnecessary stress. Weekdays are busy and stressful as it is – no one needs to stress about “what’s for dinner” after a long day!
It is super budget-friendly as you’re less likely to impulse buy and won’t find yourself opting for take-out when you know there is food in the fridge/pantry. You can also bulk buy, portion and freeze when you’ve got a proper meal prep plan in place.
There is less food waste – meal prepping means you’re more likely to use all your ingredients for the week, and it is very unlikely that you will have any unwanted leftovers if you plan correctly.
Here are a few hero products to always keep in stock to make meal planning an absolute breeze:
Mince
You can’t go wrong with keeping a packet of mince in the fridge or freezer as you can plan many a meal around just one packet of mince.
Chicken breasts
Frozen or fresh, we all love a speedy chicken dinner – they defrost quickly and cook in no time at all.
Frozen oven-bake chips
McCain Oven Chips are healthier than fried chips and they bring just about any meal together while being affordable and convenient. You’ll have crispy golden chips ready in a flash.
Try this: Aubergine moussaka in tomato sauce served with McCain Oven Chips
Tinned tomato
It’s a hero pantry staple ingredient – not to mention versatile and inexpensive. The meals you can make with one can alone are endless.
Pasta
Dried pasta is so versatile and an absolute lifesaver! Don’t forget to include a packet or two in your meal-planning grocery list.
Puff pastry
We’re all for some store-bought essentials that make cooking easier, and puff pastry tops that list!
Kassler steaks
They have a lovely smoky flavour that works so well in soups, stews, egg fried rice and pasta, and you can freeze them.
Frozen vegetables
Bulk up on those frozen veggies. Nothing goes bad when everything is frozen and they spruce up just about any dull soup or stew – perfect for winter! McCain Peas, McCain Sweet Corn and McCain Stir Fry mixes are always popular go-to items.
Try this: Roasted cauliflower and potato soup
Eggs
They’re a great, inexpensive source of protein on their own, so make sure you include them in your meal-planning list.
Rice
Starchy pantry staples like rice are a must – they make any curry or stew a real filling meal!
Feta cheese
Elevate even the simplest of meals with a sprinkle of feta.
Oats
A warming bowl of oats is a great way to start a cold winter’s day!