Is Meal Planning as important as everyone says & will it help my autoimmune disease?
After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I went through a difficult period accepting what that might mean for my life & my family’s life. I was angry that I would need to modify many of my lifestyle habits. Afterall…who likes to change our comforts?? Making more changes to my diet became my priority. I knew how to eat well, but I realized even with that, I would need to step up my game. I quickly realized that doing a better job of meal planning was the key to eating better for my MS. I started to use some of the tools I used with clients in my own life. I became my own patient. I planned meals that now included more nutrient rich vegetables, healthy fats, & good quality protein than ever before. I found that I was able to not only manage my autoimmune symptoms better, but also felt more satiated, prepared, less stressed, & improvement in my metabolism (BONUS).
Meal planning doesn’t have to be fancy & overwhelming. It can be done in your daily calendar, on an app, or even a back of a napkin! It is the foundation of what you will mostly be putting into your body for the following week which will save you both time & money in the long run. Here are 5 tips to get you started:
1. Take a quick inventory of your pantry & freezer to determine what you have. This is how you can save money since you have already purchased these items. Choose meals that work with these first.
2. Look at your family’s schedule for the week. Determine which days you may want to have leftovers available & which days are good cooking days.
3. Use your own daily calendar or dedicate an inexpensive calendar to your meal planning that you can keep in your kitchen or pantry to do your planning.
4. Focus on including as many anti-inflammatory foods as your focus including deep leafy greens, colorful vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, healthy fats & oils, lean proteins & some whole grains.
5. If you like dessert, make it part of your meal plan instead of an impulse decision to finish a carton of ice cream. Buy or prepare just enough for the week.
If you need more help getting started with meal planning & would like to learn more about simple recipes that can incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods, I can help you get started. I provide a full 7-day Custom meal plan, recipes, & shopping list for all new clients as part of your visit. My clients learn quickly how to make meal planning work for them & recognize even sooner the benefits of making these changes. If you would like to learn more about working with me, click here. To schedule a Discovery call with me, click here.