I wanted to start meal planning to save money and to be healthier. I was always waiting until the last minute to decide what was for dinner and often ended up eating takeout. That was not healthy for me or my family. Plus, nowadays, take out is expensive and the quality of the food has gone down significantly. I wanted to regain control of my health and save money so I started researching meal plan apps. I came across Plan to Eat, and let’s say I am very impressed. I thought meal planning was going to be frustrating and time-consuming, but this app made things much easier than I thought it would be. I genuinely like this app because it incorporates two of my favorite things: technology and Pinterest. But don’t be alarmed. You do not have to be a tech whiz to understand how to use Plan to Eat. They have a great FAQ page on their website to answer questions about how to use the app. Plus, they have a YouTube channel where they upload tips on using the app and meal planning. They call it “Two Minute Tuesday.” The YouTube posts are about two minutes long and they get straight to the point.
Key Takeaways
- Plan to Eat app streamlines recipe management, shopping lists, and meal planning
- The app offers customizable features to suit individual preferences and dietary restrictions
- Enhanced sharing and collaboration options enable meal planning for the whole family
How I use Plan to Eat
I like importing recipes that I find on Pinterest into the website. Once I find a recipe, I click the title of the pin to go to their website. From there I just copy the URL link, then come back to the website under the Plan tab, and then select the orange plus sign next to Filter Recipes. Then select Import from Web and paste the link. Select Import or Search, and there you have it. The recipe gets imported and all you have to do is select Save. If Pinterest is not your thing, you can simply search for a recipe on the web and copy and paste the link without going on Pinterest. And technically that saves you the extra step of going on Pinterest. But if you like getting recipes from Pinterest, like me, then follow the steps above. It is pretty much the same way on the app. You would click on the pin and then open the recipe in your browser. From there you would use the share extension to import the recipe. Being able to import recipes from the web is my favorite feature of this app. It saves me lots of time. I don’t have to type in every ingredient because the app does it for me.
Please note that I am using the words app and website interchangeably. Plan to Eat is an app and a website. I like using both. Plan to Eat does a great job of explaining how to use the app and the website when giving instructions. The app is available for both Android and iOS. I have it on my iPhone, desktop, and iPad. The information syncs across all of my devices so I can access my meal plans and grocery list anywhere and at any time.
Features of the App
Addition and Customization
One cool feature of Plan to Eat is that you can change the recipe serving size. You know how to find a recipe that feeds 12 people but there are only four of you. This app will do the math for you and adjust the measurements in your recipe. Yes, you could just do the math yourself, but if you are busy like the rest of us, every shortcut helps. Also, if you are a super planner or if you are into batch cooking, you can prep recipes for the Freezer. Yes, this site gets that detailed. The good thing about the Freezer option is that you will get a reminder the day before to defrost the food.
Using the Recipe Clipper
Another option is to use the Recipe Clipper tool inside of the Plan to Eat app. This helps make the process of saving and organizing recipes even easier. This browser extension lets you quickly save recipes from your favorite websites with just a few clicks. Simply browse for a desired recipe, click the Recipe Clipper, and the app will save the ingredients, instructions, and any relevant images automatically.
Creating and Managing a Shopping List
Segregation By Categories
The Plan to Eat app allows users to create and manage shopping lists with ease. One of the features it offers is the ability to segregate items by categories. This helps you to quickly find items on your list and makes for a more organized shopping experience. The app automatically sorts groceries into categories like produce, dairy, and meats for greater clarity.
Another cool feature of this app is the Shopping List section which creates a shopping list based on the recipes added to the planner. You can adjust the date range for the list. You can also add Stores to your Shopping List. Your ingredients will default to your Favorite Store, but you can set preferences for ingredients and the app will automatically remember when you add them again in the future. You can print, export, or share the Shopping List. This is good for when it’s your husband’s turn to go to the grocery store. Or you need one of your older kids to go for you. If you use your phone, the app can send a text to the person with a link to the grocery list.
I would just like to say that one of my favorite features of Plan to Eat is the Shopping List feature. There’s nothing like planning a meal and now you have to write a list of all of the ingredients you need to complete the meal. Plan to Eat arranges this for you. You can log into Plan to Eat on your desktop or you can access it on the phone. That makes the shopping list feature that much greater. No dragging a sheet of paper into the store. If you like me, you already have your phone with you at the store. I think this app is great for moms who not only need help meal prepping but also need help staying organized with the groceries. In addition to adding ingredients from your recipes to the shopping list, you can also add other staples to the list as well as toiletries, etc.
Grocery Delivery BETA
Currently, there is a Beta feature using Wisk for Grocery Delivery. You can select your Favorite Store or other stores nearby. The app does warn of possible issues with deliveries of over 100 items, so maybe try it out with a small grocery list for a couple of meals first.
Some key features of the Plan to Eat app:
- Recipe Import: The app allows users to import recipes from various sources, including popular recipe websites and personal recipe collections. Users can also manually enter recipes into the app.
- Drag and Drop Meal Planning: Users can drag and drop recipes onto a calendar to create a meal plan for the week. The app also allows users to customize serving sizes and add notes to each recipe.
- Shopping List: The app generates a shopping list based on the ingredients needed for each recipe. Users can also customize the shopping list by adding or removing items and can categorize items by store or aisle to make shopping more efficient.
- Nutritional Information: The app provides nutritional information for each recipe, making it easy for users to make informed decisions about what they are eating.
- Sharing: Users can share recipes and meal plans with friends and family, making it easy to collaborate on meal planning and grocery shopping.
- Mobile App: The Plan to Eat app is available on iOS and Android, allowing users to access their meal plans and shopping lists on the go.
Overall, Plan to Eat is a comprehensive meal planning app that streamlines the meal planning and grocery shopping process, making it easier for users to eat healthy and save time in the kitchen. It is a great tool for moms who want to simplify meal planning, reduce stress, promote healthy eating habits, and save time and money. Also, Plan to Eat offers a comprehensive set of features that make meal planning and grocery shopping more efficient and enjoyable.
Family and Sharing Features
There are some social aspects to Plan to Eat as well. They have cooking challenges you can join and they even had a cookie swap. They partner with others to share recipes and you can see where others have commented on the recipes. You can also swipe recipes with your friends and family members who use the app as well. By inviting others via email, you can collaborate on meal planning, share recipes, and even synchronize shopping lists. This is particularly useful for family members living apart or friends planning a potluck dinner.
The app incorporates a variety of sharing settings, allowing you to choose what you want to share and with whom to share it. For instance, you can choose to share only specific recipes or shopping lists—granting different access levels based on the recipient’s needs.
In addition, Plan to Eat promotes a sense of community through its shared recipe library. You can browse and search for new recipes by exploring the collection of fellow users, as well as rate and comment on these shared recipes. By exchanging culinary ideas, families and friends can expand their meal options and try out new recipes together.
To sum up, Plan to Eat app is an excellent resource if you want to collaborate on meal planning, share recipes and shopping lists, and create a sense of community via meal planning. By offering these features, the app helps you to simplify your meal planning process and make it more efficient and enjoyable.
Some reasons why the Plan to Eat app is good for moms:
- Saves time: Meal planning can be a time-consuming task, especially for busy moms. Plan to Eat simplifies the process by allowing users to quickly import recipes and drag and drop them onto a calendar. This saves moms time and energy that can be used for other important tasks.
- Reduces stress: Meal planning can be stressful, especially when trying to accommodate different dietary needs and preferences. Plan to Eat makes it easy to organize and plan meals, reducing stress and making mealtime more enjoyable for moms and their families.
- Encourages healthy eating: Plan to Eat allows users to easily plan healthy meals by providing nutritional information for each recipe. This helps moms make informed decisions about what they are feeding their families and encourages healthy eating habits.
- Simplifies grocery shopping: Plan to Eat generates a shopping list based on the ingredients needed for each recipe. This makes grocery shopping more efficient and saves moms time and money by preventing unnecessary trips to the grocery store.
- Promotes collaboration: Plan to Eat allows users to share recipes and meal plans with friends and family. This promotes collaboration and makes meal planning and grocery shopping a fun and social activity for moms and their loved ones.
Subscription and Pricing Details
Now let’s talk about price. The Plan to Eat app offers a 14-day free trial so you can try out the app and explore its features. What I like about the trial period is that you don’t have to give any credit card information so if you don’t like the app, then you don’t have to worry about it anymore. However, if you like the app after the trial period, you have the option to subscribe. . You can pay $49 for a year which comes to about $4.08 per month. Or you can pay a little more and pay monthly for $5.95.
As a busy mom, you need an app that saves you time and helps you stay organized. Plan to Eat does just that, making meal planning a breeze and allowing you to focus on what matters – spending quality time with your family. If you are looking for an app that can help streamline the meal-planning process, then I recommend Plan to Eat. The subscription price is affordable and you can get 20% off of your first annual subscription payment when you purchase using my affiliate link. Using this link does not obligate you to purchase, nor does it cost you anything. I do make a small commission when you use the link, but I truly do believe in this app. You can see for yourself with the 14-day free trial period.
Conclusion
With Plan to Eat, you can easily plan your meals, create a grocery list, and even automate your shopping. The app allows you to save your favorite recipes, drag and drop them into your meal planner, and generate a shopping list with just one click. You can also customize your meal plan to fit your dietary needs and even share recipes and meal plans with friends and family.