Meal planning made easy

(Fresh 20 members get free meal planning — including grocery lists with 20 fresh ingredients — every week).

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” That’s a famous quote from French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery that we can certainly apply to so many aspects of life—including healthy eating.

Sunday evening you resolve to eat healthy throughout the week. By mid-week, though, life has gotten in the way: You’re the express shuttle for little league practices and the homework helper. And, who planned that 4:30 p.m. meeting at work that inevitably runs late? There are so many weekday scheduling culprits that can distract us from healthy eating. Next thing you know, your speed-dialing the nearest pizza delivery joint or swinging through the drive-thru.

At the center of every good diet or healthy living lifestyle is a plan. (And, trust us, “plan” doesn’t have to mean plain chicken-rice-and-veggies every night).

Here are a few meal-planning tips and tricks we’re loving for weeknight cooking.

• The Fresh 20 takes all the stress out of “what’s for dinner?” and meal planning. Here’s how it works: Subscribe to the site (prices range from $18 for 3 months or save 25 percent by paying $54 for a year). Every Friday, a meal plan with 5 meals is posted for subscribers. You buy 20 fresh, local and organic ingredients. (Find grocery coupons here). Most subscribers knock out their grocery shopping in just 20 minutes. Nothing on your list will be processed or frozen, making sure that your family gets healthy, preservative-free meals. To save you time, The Fresh 20 gives you a guide to prep the entire week’s meals. Plan about one hour at the start of your week to save you time throughout those hectic weeks.  Cook throughout the week with easy, simple recipes and have your kids help. You can choose from different meal plans to fit into your lifestyle including vegetarian, kosher, dairy-free and gluten-free plans. You’ll also find classic meal plans, tips for picky eaters and lunch ideas.
• Pre-order the Skinnytaste cookbook. Popular food blogger Gina Homolka has her first cookbook coming out and we’re counting down the days. Gina’s Skinnytaste blog is full of good eats and she creatively finds ways to trim down fat and calories from meals all while adding to their flavor. If you pre-order her cookbook, you can get a four-week meal plan, extra recipes and a 19-page bonus pack. You can find the Skinnytaste cookbook beginning Sept. 30 at Target.
• Invest in a good set of Tupperware. Stop wasting money on disposable Tupperware that stains easily, and, instead, invest in a good set of glass Tupperware. (It’s easier on the environment, too). When you always have Tupperware on had, it makes it easy to set aside leftovers and prep dinners in advance. Find the ProGlass Food Storage sets at Bed, Bath and Beyond.