Planning ahead saves time, money, and calories. Here are a few tips to help with meal planning:

• Plan the menu for the week.
• Stay flexible with planning meals.
• Set aside one day to go grocery shopping each week.
• Look at the store circular for weekly specials and clip coupons before shopping.
• Stock up on meat when it is on sale and freeze for later.
• Avoid grocery shopping when hungry or thirsty.
• Prepared meals tend to be more costly. For example, instead of buying pre-portioned snack foods, buy your own and separate them into individual servings.
• Keep your cabinets and refrigerator organized to avoid food waste.