Why is Meal Planning Important?

The meal planning helps to make the best use of the material, time and financial resources, to obtain meals that meet the physical, social and psychological needs of the individual and families. It is very important to plan family meals in order to fulfil the nutritional requirement of the family members. This is essential to keep them strong, healthy, and free from any disease and deficiency of any kind.

Meal planning is of utmost importance because it economizes on time, labour and fuel. While planning meals, the methods of working can be carefully thought out, so that there is maximum retention of nutrients and minimum losses.

Meals can be planned according to the budget of the family. There can then be maximum utilization of money, if it is spent in the best possible way. One can have a rich diet without buying expensive foods. Meal planning therefore encourages one to plan within the family means.

Meal planning allows one to select different foods from the same food group and avoid monotony. Besides, use of variety of foodstuffs is important from nutritional point also.

Meal planning determines the adequacy of the diet, the kinds of foods purchased, its quality and cost, the way it is stored, prepared and served.