10 Tips for Planning Balanced, Budget-Friendly Family Meals

As we all know, meal planning can quickly become a real challenge; satisfying everyone's food preferences, sticking to a budget, cooking nutritious meals... The task is often quite a headache! That's why we offer you in this article 10 practical tips that will help you effectively plan your family meals so that they are not only good for your health, but also for your wallet!

Establish a monthly food budget

Setting a monthly food budget for your family will first and foremost help you plan your meals according to the financial resources you have available. Want some sound advice on how to create a realistic budget that will truly meet your family's needs? Check out the " Consumption " section of our Magazine now!

Plan meals in advance

Taking a few minutes of your time each week to plan meals for the week ahead will not only help you buy only the ingredients you need and avoid impulse purchases, but it will also save you time and energy on a daily basis! Use our weekly planner to write down your chosen meals so that everyone in the family can easily get involved.

Favor seasonal foods

Of course, seasonal foods are often cheaper and fresher. Incorporate them into your meals to save money, of course, but also to enjoy the optimal flavors that foods grown in Quebec offer us.

Use economical proteins

When possible, try to opt for less expensive proteins like legumes, eggs, chicken, tofu or canned fish. In addition to being nutritious and affordable, they often contribute more to saving the environment.

Reduce food waste

Planning your meals around leftovers from other dishes and incorporating foods that can be used in multiple dishes will help you reduce food waste and save you money.

Buy in bulk

When possible, try to buy your food in bulk, which will help reduce food costs in the long run and make it easier to control the amount of food you buy.

Cooking in large quantities

To save time and money, there's nothing better than cooking in bulk! Whether it's with our batch cooking recipes or with your grandmother's spaghetti sauce or stew recipe, cooking in bulk allows you to freeze extra portions, ideal for evenings when you don't feel like cooking.

Incorporate vegetarian meals into the menu

Just as tasty and nutritious as their carnivorous version, meatless meals are often less expensive, in addition to making a concrete contribution to protecting our planet and adding a nice variety to your menus.

Keep it simple

Make sure to keep a list of quick and easy meal recipes handy, perfect for those nights when you're short on time or energy to prepare dinner.

Involve the whole family

Encouraging children to collaborate in planning and preparing meals will allow you to spend quality time as a family, in addition to contributing to the development of their autonomy and allowing you to calmly delegate to them some of the tasks associated with preparing meals.

For more practical tips and tricks related to meal planning, discover now our Mealtime Survival Kit , a complete tool for simplified meal planning, less cacophonous moments at the table and children who learn to taste everything!

Would you like to have the chance to consult all the content published in the Magazine each month in preview, and to have access to our Toolbox including among other things free downloads as practical as they are fun? Subscribe to the Belles Combines Magazine now!