Most people nowadays are not able to control what they eat. They gain extra pounds due to eating out too much, and with it are some spending issues. But when you have an extremely hectic schedule, no one can blame you for having such eating lifestyle. Or is it really the case?

There’s still hope for you and your family to have a healthier lifestyle, even if there isn’t much time for you to plan about it. Here are six suggestions that can help you:

1. If you don’t have any budget to go out to eat, the next best thing you can do is do an online search for “top secret recipes” or “copy cat recipes”. Doing some brand-name foods at home with the use of common ingredients will save you a lot of money and your cravings will always be met.
2. If there are dishes you can do on your own, then you shouldn’t be tempted to buy entire meals of take-out. You can prepare an inexpensive homemade dish and then stop by your local restaurant and order something you may not be able to prepare at home. It’s a great way to save some money and time to enjoy a great meal.
3. Look for a family in your neighborhood who would agree for a weekly meal exchange. It’s a fun way to save some extra cash and at the same time to get to know your neighbors better. Give it a try for a couple of months. You will eventually see the time and energy you are able to save, only that you have to prepare more than what you used to. Just make sure to plan about the expenses first before starting.
4. Ever heard of meal preparation services? It’s a new trend right now, where you are able to prepare a meal someplace else, and not at your home. Dream Dinners, which is now in 37 states, claims to eliminate your menu planning, prep-work, shopping and cleanup. Although it may cost more compared to preparing meals at home, it is still significantly cheaper compared to eating out. The cost shouldn’t worry you too much though, as the meals are much more nutritious.
5. Meal planning may be something you can hardly squeeze in your schedule, but getting organized can be of great help. Find out if you can possibly prepare a double batch of something and freeze half of it for another evening. You may find weekly meal plan print outs handy, or a dinner menu planning software system. Whatever that suites your schedule and your meal preferences, the only way to find out is to keep on trying new stuff until you find the right one. For example, if your meals are starting to get boring, then try breaking down dinners by style of foods.
6. Get your hands on some magazines, old cookbooks, and take note of your family members’ most favorite meals. Then you can finally do some planning and create a grocery list. In a week or so, you will likely be able to have twenty or more recipes that can probably get you through about six or more weeks of meals. And don’t take full responsibility for the meal preparations. Get your family involved, most especially your kids. If you do things right, then in no time, all your dinner worries and blues will disappear and will leave you feeling accomplished, relaxed, and relieved!