Meal Planning Tips That Save Time Every Single Week (TPS580)

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Sep 29, 2025

Discover how much time you waste thinking about meals and learn strategies to reclaim those hours. Meal planning doesn't just mean cooking; it includes delivery options too. Find out how to effortlessly integrate meal planning into your routine. Enjoy go-to recipes and pre-cooked meal delivery for convenience. Batching ingredients and using mix-and-match basics keeps meals fresh without the boredom. Flexibility is key—plan tightly during the week but preserve spontaneity for weekends!

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INSIGHT

Meal Planning Multiplies Your Weekly Time

Meal planning saves time, reduces decision fatigue, and protects health by preventing default takeout choices.
Planning the week ahead can recover many hours and mental energy for other priorities.

ADVICE

Plan Beyond Cooking

Do not equate meal planning with cooking; planning can include delivery or pre-made options.
Choose approaches that save time while matching your health and lifestyle goals.

ADVICE

Schedule A Weekly Planning Habit

Pick a regular time (e.g., Sunday) to plan meals so it becomes a habit tied to your weekly review.
Use that routine to align meals with your schedule and energy for the week.

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How much time do you really spend thinking about what to eat, cooking, and cleaning up? For most people, it adds up to more than 10 hours a week — time that could be used for work, family, or simply recharging. The problem is that when your energy is low, the easiest option becomes takeout or delivery, and those choices usually don’t align with your health or productivity goals.

In this encore episode, you’ll learn practical meal planning strategies that eliminate decision fatigue, cut down on wasted hours, and still leave room for flexibility and enjoyment.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:

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Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:02].
Our definition of “meal planning” (it’s not what you think) [04:26].
Hate cooking? Here’s how to still eat well without it [05:44].
The simple step that sets your meals—and your week—up for success [06:53].
How to make meal planning so easy it becomes automatic [14:33].
The secret power of having a few go-to meals [15:19].
Why pre-cooked meal delivery might change everything [21:18].
How a little batching upfront saves you hours later [27:22].
Mix-and-match basics to keep meals fresh (without more work) [29:58].
Why flexibility and family input make all the difference [33:47].

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