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Meal planning. . . do you struggle with it? I know I do at times. Yet, when I do sit down and make out a menu plan the benefits are huge. Healthier meals, less food waste, and it’s easier on the budget. That’s why I’m always pleased when I find a resource that helps me plan my family’s meals. It’s also why I was excited to receive a review copy of a new book by a colleague of mine. Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN is a culinary nutrition expert and a pro at meal planning. She shares her meal planning knowledge and methods in her new book 52 Week Meal Planner: The Complete Guide to Planning Menus, Groceries, Recipes, and More.
About the Book:
Jessica’s book comes in a user-friendly workbook format. It’s meant for you to use it, to write in it. Write down your meal plans, recipes, ideas, and more. Included are 55 weekly meal plan templates (enough for a full year of menus and then some), a section for recipe notes, price comparison sheets, and grocery shopping lists. She also provides valuable information on how to balance your meals, a seasonal produce guide, and a number of helpful meal prep tips. In a clear and friendly style, Jessica explains how to use her workbook and includes a sample menu to help you get started with your own meal planning.
One of the best things about this book is how she encourages you to meal plan at your own pace. That looks different for everyone. It might be planning out three meals plus snacks for the week or simply writing out your evening meal for a few days each week. In other words, do what works for you. Start small and don’t overwhelm yourself. I’ve already made use of the menu templates in the book and plan to continue that. I think you’ll find meal planning is easier when you have the right tools to make it successful – like this workbook.
Though the 52 Week Meal Planner doesn’t come with a set of recipes, there are pages where you can write down your favorite recipes so they’re close at hand. And if you need ideas for your menu, you can always go to Jessica’s blog or look around here on Healthy Ideas Place for new recipes. If you’re a Pinterest user, take a look at my Healthy Meal Plans Pinterest board for more recipes and ideas.
How to Enter the Giveaway:
The 52 Week Meal Planner officially releases on July 31st, but you can pre-order it. And to help Jessica celebrate the release of her book, I’m also giving away a copy of her book. To enter the giveaway, you need only do one of the following:
- Leave a comment below and tell me your main struggle with meal planning
- Go to my Facebook page and like or leave a comment on the giveaway post and follow me and Jessica on Facebook
- Go to my Instagram page and tag one person in the giveaway post and follow me and Jessica
This giveaway is open only to legal U.S. residents 18 years of age or older. The giveaway ends Wednesday, August 1 at 12 PM central time. A winner will be chosen at random and will receive a copy of the 52 Week Meal Planner direct from the publisher.
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