Meal Planning

Definition

Meal planning is the process of organizing meals ahead of time, which helps ensure nutritional needs are met and can make meal preparation more efficient.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Meal planning is a systematic approach to customizing meal preparations that consider dietary requirements, caloric intake, nutritional needs, and individual health conditions, often applied through calculating and aligning macronutrient and micronutrient distributions over a specified time frame.

Benefits

• Ensures balanced nutrition
• Facilitates dietary adherence to specific health conditions
• Reduces food waste
• Saves time and money
• Promotes healthier eating habits, especially important in aging populations

Examples

• Planning balanced meals with appropriate portions of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats for seniors
• Creating a weekly meal schedule for seniors that includes high-fiber foods to aid digestion
• Organizing meals that are rich in vitamins and minerals to support bone and heart health in seniors

Additional Information

• Importance: Meal planning is crucial for seniors as it helps cater to decreased calorie needs while ensuring adequate nutrient intake to combat age-related health issues like osteoporosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Related Terms

• Nutritional Assessment
• Dietary Guidelines
• Macronutrients
• Micronutrients
• Nutritional Supplements

References

• Meal Planning as a Strategy for Diabetes Management
• The Importance of Dietary Planning in Aging Population