Prospre: Meal Planner
Meal plans based on macros
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September 20, 2023
The best way to stay on track when adopting a new nutritional direction is to plan your meals for the week ahead and then make a grocery list based on your meal plan. Keeping ingredients and meal components in the house relegated to meals or planned snacks helps limit snacking or eating off-plan. However, some items are also more practical to buy in bulk. Learn the ins and outs of making a macro friendly shopping list and how to decide whether heading to the grocery store yourself is the right choice for you.
Just like Santa, you may not get everything you need or get it right without a list. The benefit of planning meals ahead of time is that you know exactly what you are eating, and then you can create your shopping list based on your needs. Without a shopping list, you are limited in more than one way.
One, grocery stores can be crowded, chaotic places. Depending on the time you go, your desire to get what you need and get out fast may cause you to forget things on a list loosely held in your mind. Winging it in the grocery is for amateurs.
Two, shopping in the tamest grocery store, even with Enya playing over the loudspeaker, can still cause you trouble. Leaving out ingredients can necessitate a second trip back. Not having a shopping list for a macro based diet to begin with may be the impetus for purchasing extra foods not used for specific meal planning. Going in with a list is the best way to ensure you get everything you need for a successful week of nutrition and nothing more.
Buying extra is not recommended for people beginning their journey on macros-based nutrition or any other new nutritional journey. Some habits are hard to break, and hunger pangs from transitioning patterns may cause mindless eating or wayward snacking that can harm your master plan. For best results, buy only what you need, if at all possible.
For more experienced shoppers, some items are more practical when purchased in bulk amounts. There certainly is nothing wrong with saving a little time and money. As you progress on your journey, you can buy larger quantities of items that you know are a regular staple in your rotations and store them appropriately.
Many people have a dedicated dry storage area or a pantry to keep bulk purchases fresh and secure for use. Tubs and canisters with vacuum seals help keep unwanted pests out and freshness locked in. Other people who purchase meat in bulk quantities, whether from a local farmer or the grocery store, have a separate cold storage or freezer area to keep those items ready for use. Planning and good storage help save you money while letting you stick to your macros meal plans.
Meal planning is the linchpin in making your grocery list and having the items you need on hand for your meal prep day. As the rest of the week gets busier and your energy levels start to drop, you can rely on your prior work to keep things orderly and on track.
Single-macro foods are those high in a single macro category. These foods can be used to meet your goals at the end of the day if you lack one or more areas and need to balance your macros quickly.
High-volume foods are low in calories but high in fiber and water, which helps keep you full for longer. A high-volume food can keep you satiated until your next meal without going off-plan. Adding these items to your list as planned snacks is an intelligent choice:
As you plan your meals for the week and make your shopping list for a macro-based diet, consider your options for grocery shopping. You are not the only one who can select items for your macro grocery list. Many shopping and delivery services can go to the grocery for you and then deliver the items back to your home.
These services are especially beneficial if you are in the beginning stages of your macros journey. Going to the supermarket and choosing new foods while avoiding bad choices may be challenging. Rather than spend a stressful hour at the store, select your items online and have them delivered to you. It may be worth the extra few dollars to save yourself the frustration and potential mishaps. Once you are more familiar with your meal planning, you can take the trip yourself or continue to benefit from the time you save from someone else completing the job.
Plan delicious meals that are easy to make and aren’t the same every week with the Prospre macro meal planning app. Download Prospre to help plan your meals, make a list for the grocery store, and monitor your progress throughout the week.