The Importance of Meal Planning
Meal planning is a crucial component of maintaining a healthy diet. By planning meals in advance, you can keep things simple and ensure that you are consuming a balanced and diverse array of starches, vegetables and fruits ideal for optimal health. This approach helps you avoid the pitfalls of impulsive eating and the convenience of unhealthy, processed food choices. Additionally, meal planning allows you to make the most of seasonal produce and bulk buying, which can be more cost-effective and reduce food waste. Planning your meals also saves time and stress, as you can prepare ingredients in advance, streamline your grocery shopping and simplify the cooking process.
Keeping meal planning simple is key to sustaining a whole food, plant-based diet. Focusing on easy-to-prepare meals with minimal ingredients can make the process more manageable and enjoyable. Emphasize whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, potatoes and legumes which are naturally nutrient-dense and require minimal preparation. Simple recipes like grain bowls, salads, stir-fries and soups can be versatile and adaptable, allowing you to use whatever produce you have on hand. By keeping your meal plan straightforward, you can maintain consistency in your dietary habits, making it easier to adhere to a starch-based lifestyle and reap its numerous health benefits, such as improved digestion, increased energy levels and reduced risk of chronic diseases.
The secret of the McDougall Program is to make starches the centerpiece of your diet with various fruits and vegetables added to the mix. To make these meals taste great, just add your favorite sauces and seasonings. There are over 2,000 recipes in the McDougall books and on our website; finding new favorites will be an adventure!
Below is a meal planner with a link to our recipes. Unless they contain higher-fat ingredients (avocado, nut butters, etc.) when you find favorite meals, feel free to repeat them as often as you like.
Here are some free downloads to get you started!