When it comes to your diet, it’s definitely possible to have too much of a good thing. Whether you’re talking about your favorite NY strip steak or an Omega-3 rich piece of fish, eating the same thing day-in and day-out is a fast way to an unbalanced diet. One of the simplest ways to ensure you’re getting the most out of what you’re eating is to use a weekly menu plan to ensure you’re getting a diverse mix of foods day-to-day.
The first great thing about creating a weekly menu plan is that it lets you plan out when you’re going to be good and when you’re going to indulge so you can create balance. If you know that you have a dinner party on Friday night, you can plan to eat a little healthier on Wednesday and Thursday night to balance it out. Or if you know you’re having a really healthy menu for the week, you can even plan to indulge for a meal or two over the weekend.
This idea of staggering your healthy and not-so-healthy meals works especially well with kids, since you can appease them into eating that healthy chicken and veggie dinner tonight since they know they’re getting burgers or hot dogs tomorrow. It’s also a good way of getting in new menu ideas and dishes, letting you experiment in the kitchen without driving your family crazy with a whole week of weird foods they’re not used to eating.
The other great thing about a weekly menu plan is it lets you more easily balance requirements for vitamins and minerals in your diet. By incorporating more foods into your weekly mix, you’re getting more of the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy naturally. This way, you can get the benefits of a variety of proteins and different kinds produce through your food, leading to a healthier lifestyle, overall. In addition, the more balanced your menu, the less vitamins and supplements you may have to take to get your daily requirements. All the good is coming from the good mix of foods you have in your menu.
By creating this weekly menu plan, you’re simply making it easier to eat healthier. You have a plan, so you know you’re not eating red meat 5 days back-to-back or a full week of fish that may have high mercury levels. A weekly menu plan also gives you a bit of freedom from indulgence, since you know your diet is balanced overall. This way, you can keep your comfort food and your balanced diet, too!