WHY IT PAYS TO PLAN YOUR MEALS

MEAL planning helps you eat a healthier and more varied diet, rather than grabbing whatever comes to hand — and people who plan their meals are less likely to be overweight, according to a study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

There are two main reasons for this; a study in the International Journal of Obesity found that meal planners tend to eat less at meals because they’re mentally prepared for what to expect at mealtimes.

Experts say they’re also less likely to reach for unhealthy foods when hunger strikes because they feel in control of their eating goals and have ave taken time to ensure that hat meals are balanced as well ell as satisfying.

And those who plan are re also more likely to eat a more varied and betterquality diet — and are less likely to be obese — according to a French NutriNet- Santé study in 2014 that involved more than 40,000 people.

The new WW is also there to help out with meal planning — you can choose from numerous ready-made meal plans and it will also help you to adapt d t th them based on your own preferences — or draw up a personalised planner.

Meal planning doesn’t just help with your weight loss, however. Your wallet will also feel the benefits because planning in advance enables you to buy staples in bulk and only purchase ingredients you know you will use. This means that you’ll save money — and reduce the amount of food waste, which is good for the planet. You’ll save time, in the long-run, too, because although you’ll have to invest some effort in planning and prepping your meals, you won’t spend ages agonising over what to cook in the middle of the week or end up ordering takeaways if all else fails. If you’re preparing a meal planner for the first time, WW’s nutritional experts will advise you to bear in mind the following tips: CONSIDER how many people you’re planning to feed, so you can calculate the quantities q and ingredients needed more exactly. BE REALISTIC about how busy your life is and how much time you really have to devote to preparing food. BE HONEST about your own cooking skills and willingness to prepare food. Not everyone loves cooking — so be ready to make your own life e easier by taking advanta tage of pre-prepared fo foods such as cooked ch chicken, tinned ingredien ents or even a bag of froze zen, chopped onions. DON’T worry about it. A meal plan is there to help you organise your life not to add an extra burden. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate meal — and you’re welcome to make use of the odd takeaway, too, just so long as you log all your SmartPoints to ensure you don’t go over your daily or weekly Budget.