Practical Planning

Planning ahead before you go grocery shopping can help you save time and money and prevent you from buying things that your household doesn’t need or could go bad before eating. Meal planning, checking your fridge and pantry before you go shopping, and making (and sticking to!) a shopping list can help you save money, eat healthier, and reduce food waste.

Practical Planning Tips

Tip #1

Get Started with Meal Planning

Meal planning is associated with a healthier diet and less obesity. Watch this video to learn family-friendly ways to plan your meals for the week.

Watch Video

Practical Planning Tips

Tip #2

Try the Guestimator

In addition to knowing what you will buy, knowing how much food to buy is important. Try out the “Guestimator,” a tool to help you figure out how to buy the right amount of food.

Try Out The Guestimator!

Practical Planning Tips

Tip #3

Find a Meal Plan

No time to meal plan? Check out an already made meal-plan that tells you exactly how much of each ingredient you’ll need!

Try Meal Prep Mate

Practical Planning Tips

Tip #4

Portion Size Matters!

Knowing the approximate size of different portions in a recipe, such as 3 oz or a cup, can also help you figure out how much to buy. Use your hand as a “handy” guide!

Watch Video

Practical Planning Tips

Tip #5

Check and Organize Your Fridge/Pantry

  • Organize your food storage spaces like the fridge and pantry. Keeping this organized can help you see what you already have and take note of which foods need to be eaten first so they don’t spoil.
  • Check your food inventory before going shopping to coordinate leftovers with new groceries.

Practical Planning Tips

Tip #6

Make a “Smart Shopping” List

Making a shopping list is an easy way to support healthier food purchasing habits and limit impulse purchases. Use a smart shopping list to note what you’ll need, how much you’ll need to buy, and what you already have. To do so, check out the AnyList app:

Visit AnyList

Summary of Key Points

  1. Plan your meals for the week. Be realistic about the number of at home meals you will prepare and get your family involved in meal planning!
  2. Prep ingredients or meals ahead of the week to save time.
  3. Inventory and organize your fridge and pantry before going shopping, making note of what you already have.
  4. Make a shopping list that includes quantities on your shopping list so that you buy only what you need.

Practical Planning

Knowledge Check

Select your answers to these questions:

Question 1

3 ounces of meat is about the size of your:

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a key step to take while creating a shopping list?

Practical Planning

Knowledge Check

Question 1

3 ounces of meat is about the size of your:

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a key step to take while creating a shopping list?

Goals for Practical Planning

Plan and cook 5 dinners for the next week.

Organize your pantry/fridge by category so it is easier to see what you have and what you need.

Involve others in the family, especially children, in meal planning.

Check the perishables you have on hand when making your shopping list.

What’s Next?

Homepage Planning Resources
The Next Stage of Food Waste