6 Strategies to Take the Stress Out of Healthy Meal Planning

If you surveyed people on the street, reality-show style, and asked whether they’d like to plan and eat healthy meals throughout the week, the overwhelming majority would likely answer yes. Most of us, whether or not we feel we have the time, at least want to plan to eat well. Yet research shows that 53 percent of American dinners are planned within just an hour of eating, and only 24 percent of them are made from scratch. Clearly, our desires and our reality don’t always match up.

Planning a week’s worth of good-for-you meals (and actually sticking to your plan) isn’t some unattainable health unicorn. Though it may require some effort, this practice is possible — and totally worth it! Here are our top recommendations for tweaks to work it into a busy lifestyle.

1. Follow foodies. Use your feed for food! Following health-conscious food bloggers on social media puts gorgeous images of healthy meals in front of your eyes every day. It may inspire you to try recipes you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. When something healthy appeals to you, take note by bookmarking it or adding it to a Pinterest board to try in the near future.

2. Work with what you’ve got. Begin meal planning by taking inventory of whatever’s in your pantry or fridge. Got some canned tuna, a bag of frozen mangoes, and a half cup of chicken broth? Then you have a starting point! (Just maybe not all those things together.) Alternatively, if your pantry’s so empty tumbleweeds are basically blowing through it, start by browsing local grocery stores’ weekly ads online. Identify some healthy ingredients, whether from your own stock or from what’s on sale, that you want to create meals around. Black beans. Barley. Tilapia. Asparagus. If you don’t already have a go-to recipe for each one, sleuth around the healthy food blogs you’ve begun following or cookbooks you have on hand. Once you’ve identified practical, doable recipes and listed ingredients, it’s time to shop! (And when you do, make a commitment to stick to your list, avoiding unhealthy impulse buys.)

3. Weekend prep is where it’s at. Turning healthy meal planning — and eating — into reality is all about finding the time, since even the best-laid meal plans can go awry when busy schedules butt in. Take advantage of an extra hour or two on a Saturday to not only plan, but also prep as much as possible. Chop some cauliflower to store in the fridge for roasted veggies. Pre-cook a lean meat like chicken or turkey in the crockpot. Small steps like these go a long way toward lightening your load on a Thursday night when dinner gets squeezed between meetings and your kid’s ballet lessons.

4. Live by the mantra, “something borrowed, something new.” It’s easy to get stuck in a cooking rut, keeping to familiar, tried-and-true recipes. What would happen if you resolved to try one new healthy recipe a week? Some culinary flops might be inevitable, but new favorites would likely emerge too. Especially with picky palates, a gradual transition of one new healthy meal per week may go over better than more dramatic dietary changes.

5. Do double duty dinners. No need to “reinvent the meal” every night of the week. Do yourself a favor by cooking a double (or triple) batch of one versatile, healthy item one evening, repurposing it later in the week. A side of rice with fish on Monday doubles as fried rice on Wednesday. Herbed chicken shines as the main dish at dinner and finds its way into lunch wraps for work the next day. Pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, quiches, and Mexican dishes all make great leftovers.

6. Build a healthy pantry. Even if you’re not much of a planner, one strategy for putting healthy meals within reach is to stock your home with better-for-you staples. This way, when you go to start dinner, regardless of whether you’ve planned an actual recipe, you have the right building blocks at your fingertips.

When grocery shopping without a list, load your cart with healthy, long-lasting choices like whole grain pastas, rice, and quinoa; frozen fish and lean meats; and canned tomatoes, beans, and broth. For shorter-term fresh items, opt for colorful fruits and veggies and local dairy, if possible. Keep an arsenal of dried herbs and spices at the ready too. These almost never expire and can add flavor to whatever you’re cooking on the fly.

Got a healthy meal planning hack to share? Tweet us @BritandCo!

(Photo via Getty)

We can't wait to see Florence Pugh's performance tug at our heartstrings in We Live In Time — especially given all the talk about how spicy her chemistry is with Andrew Garfield. However, all this talk about chemistry has us wondering...who IS Florence dating these days, if not Andrew?

As of late, it seems like Florence is linked to fellow actor, Finn Cole. Here's everything we know so far about the alleged new couple!

Who has Florence Pugh dated before?

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Prior to now, Florence dated Zach Braff and Charlie Gooch before those relationships ultimately ended. She recently spoke to British Vogue about how much "bullying" impacted her relationship with Zach, acknowledging that during the three years they were together were "quite private" for a while. She said, "I think any relationship in this limelight is going to be stressed.”

Now all that matters is the rumored bond she's building with Finn.

A Quick Timeline Of Florence Pugh And Finn Cole's Relationship

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2017 — Fans Take Notice Of Florence And Finn's Friendship

Florence and Pugh have known each other for a while, but attentive fans noticed the actress began frequently supporting whatever Finn shared on Instagram beginning in 2017. Any post — from personal updates to his time on Peaky Blinders — received a like from Florence (via Cosmopolitan).

September 3, 2024 — Florence And Finn Attend The Premiere Of The Perfect Couple In London

The two showed up to the East London premiere of The Perfect Couple, and were even seen at the party following the event (via The Sun). They apparently were comfortable in each other's as they seemed to be "having a great time." At the same time, a source noticed the pair seemed to be intentional about not being "pictured or seen" together. Prior to this, Florence and Finn were seen having a good time at the Glastonbury Festival (via Daily Mail).

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

September 18, 2024 — Florence Cheekily Admits She's Seeing Someone New

Finn Cole's kept quiet about anything pertaining his relationship status, but Florence has offered a unique insight into hers without naming who she's dating. "We are figuring what we actually are. And I think for the first time, I’m not allowing myself to go on a roller-coaster," she said (via British Vogue).

Admitting she's prone to falling head over heels in love, the actress further explained her reasoning for taking things slow. "I’m allowing myself to take time to let something evolve and let it be completely real to its core, as opposed to racing into that," she said.

What else has Florence Pugh starred in?

Marleen Moise/Getty Images

Florence Pugh has starred in a few groundbreaking films that have aided in her burgeoning acting career. She stunned audiences with her roles as Dani in Midsommar, Amy March in Little Women, Yelena Belova in Black Widow, Alice in Don't Worry Darling, Jean Tatlock Oppenheimer, and as Princess Irulan in Dune 2.

Where else have we seen Finn Cole?

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

In addition to starring in Peaky Blinders as Michael Grey, Finn Cole is also known for Animal Kingdom as Joshua 'J' Cody, Slaughterhouse Rulez as Don Wallace, and F9: The Fast Saga as Young Jakob.

Clearly Florence Pugh isn't ready to spill the beans about her rumored new boyfriend Finn Cole just yet, and that's okay! We'll be here waiting for the joyous day she decides to let everyone in that part of her world again.

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We all know Taylor Swift is the QUEEN of squads, but it's clear that she also loves a good one-on-one BFF date. Whether she's attending Emma Stone's movie premiere or joining Selena Gomez for dinner, Taylor loves spending time with her friends just as much as she loves getting cozy with Travis Kelce. And at a recent Kansas City Chiefs game, the Reputation singer was seen posing with Brittany Holmes — and Brittany's baby bump! We love our WAGs literally so much, so here are all their best BFF moments.

Taylor Swift & Brittany Mahomes Full Friendship Timeline

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

September 30, 2023 — Brittany Mahomes and Taylor Swift Have Dinner

After the first Kansas City Chiefs game Taylor showed up to support her beau, Taylor and Brittany grabbed dinner with the rest of their friends in New York City. Sophie Turner and Blake Lively were also in attendance, and this is one dinner party I'd love to join.

"They dined in a private room. Everyone had a blast,” a source told PEOPLE. “They all got along and were just laughing all night over drinks and delicious food."

October 1, 2023 — Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Watch A Chiefs Game Together

The celeb friend group continues as Brittany Mahomes, Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman watch the Chiefs V. New York Jets. I've never been so interested in football.

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October 13, 2023 — Brittany Mahomes Is "Thrilled" To Join Taylor's Friend Group

After Taylor and Brittany watched another game together on the 12th, a source told US Weekly just how much Brittany has enjoyed spending time with the popstar.

“Brittany is thrilled to be building a genuine friendship with Taylor. They’ve hung out a couple of times and have grown fairly close in a short period of time," the source says. "Brittany thinks Taylor is so sweet and down-to-earth, and they get along really great. The fact that Patrick and Travis are best friends makes things even better. They’re having a blast and love cheering on their men together.”

October 22, 2023 — Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Show Off Their New Handshake

We group up with the iconic Parent Trap handshake (which was also kind of a dance?), so it only makes since we should hyper fixate on another handshake during our adult years.

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November 4, 2023 — It's Girls' Night Out!

Taylor Swift has always taken GNO seriously, and in November, she was joined by Brittany, Sophie Turner, Selena Gomez, Cara Delevingne, and Gigi Hadid. Don't mind me, I'm just daydreaming about this group chat.

“Brittany is having a blast hanging out with Taylor and her friends," another source told US Weekly. "She loves making new friends and loves how down-to-earth Sophie, Gigi, Selena and Cara all are.”

December 1, 2023 — Brittany & Patrick Mahomes Join Taylor & Travis At A Holiday Bar

Remember the holiday bar that had us convinced Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were living an IRL rom-com? Brittany and Patrick Mahomes were also there! Brittany and her hubby wore matching reindeer onesies and rumor has it Taylor and Travis wore matching holiday sweaters.

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December 25, 2023 — Brittany Mahomes and Taylor Swift Spend Christmas Together

Spending any major holiday together is a pretty big deal, which is why I was floored when Taylor Swift showed up to the Chiefs' Christmas Day game. She wore an adorable Santa hat with 87 (Travis' number) on it, along with a red sweater and red lipstick. Brittany rocked a Santa hat with Patrick's number 15 and a tweed coat. Ho ho ho!

January 13, 2024 — Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Twin

Showing up to support your SO's? Fun. Showing up in matching jackets? Extra fun.

February 11, 2024 — Brittany Mahomes and Taylor Swift Share a Super Bowl Moment

We have no doubt Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes have full confidence in their guys. And after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl (and beat the San Francisco 49ers), Brittany Mahomes was reportedly seen pointing to Taylor and shouting "I told you!"

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July 6, 2024 — Brittany Mahomes Attends The Eras Tour

Brittany decided to work smarter not harder when she booked a trip to Amsterdam, and showed up at Taylor's Eras Tour. She won the lottery in the surprise song department — Taylor Swift played a “Sweeter Than Fiction” & ”Holy Ground” mash-up, and a “Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)," ”So High School,” & ”Everything Has Changed” mash-up.

September 8, 2024 — Brittany Mahomes and Taylor Swift Attend The US Open

After Brittany and Taylor partied in Rhode Island together, squashing rumors of a feud when Brittany liked one of Donald Trump's social media posts, the BFFs showed up to the US Open with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. They both looked classy chic, with Taylor wearing a gingham dress and Brittany wearing a white polo dress.

Brittany Mahomes/Instagram

October 7, 2024 — Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Hang Out At The Chiefs Game

The WAGs are back at it for the 2024 season, and I'm not mad about it one bit. Not only did Taylor go viral for her metallic faux freckles at the Kansas City Chiefs V. New Orleans Saints, but the BFFs, along with Lyndsay Bell, were also seen cradling Brittany's baby bump! "Same girls, new bump🥹❤️," Brittany said on Instagram.

What's your favorite moment from Brittany Mahomes and Taylor Swift's friendship? Follow us on Facebook for more news on your favorite BFFs and stay tuned for more news!

Pizza night is nothing to play around with — you like your plain, deep dish pizza and that's it. But, what if there's a creative pizza recipe that you haven't tried and is destined to be your fave? It's time to branch out and experiment with unusual toppings and buttery naan crust. Naan bread is *so* easy to use as a base for your pies, and you can top it with anything you like. To get major dinner inspo (and beyond), check out the naan pizza recipes below.

Easy Naan Recipe

Alanna Taylor-Tobin for Masala & Meatballs

Master the recipe for a simple naan bread, and you will have the base to any pizza you can dream of.

Air-Fryer Squash and Goat Cheese Naan Pizza

The Creative Bite

Naan cooks up to a nice crispy crust when you make it in the air fryer.

Smoked Salmon Naan Pizza

Laughing Spatula

You can make this smoked salmon naan bread for an impressive brunch.

Fig, Brie, Prosciutto, and Walnut Naan Pizza

Sidewalk Shoes

Fig jam brings a little sweetness to this naan pizza, helping to smooth out the gamey saltiness of prosciutto. Sprinkle on some walnuts for crunch, and you’ve got a textural masterpiece for dinner.

Artichoke Olive Naan Pizza

The Last Food Blog

If you're vegetarian but miss the flavor kick of pepperoni, try loading your naan pizza with bold toppings like olives, pesto, red pepper flakes, and grilled artichokes. Toasted pine nuts, chopped parsley, and a spritz of lemon juice finish the whole thing off.

Fig, Arugula, and Blue Cheese Naan

What Should I Make For

Blue cheese has a strong flavor that can overwhelm other ingredients, but it’s well met here by sweet figs and peppery arugula. A drizzle of vinaigrette on top makes every last bite pop.

Roasted Tomato Flatbread Naan Pizzas

Peas and Crayons

Roasting cherry tomatoes amplifies their flavor. They’re the star of this pizza, joined by spinach, milky mozzarella, and garlic.

10-Minute Grilled Pepperoni Naan Pizza

Averie Cooks

Putting raw dough on the grill can lead to a huge mess. Get that char you love without having to worry about fire hazards by using naan as your pizza base, which will stay firm while your ingredients cook instead of dripping through your grill grates.

Margherita Naan Pizza

Peas and Crayons

Fresh tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella top these pizzas. A thin layer of tomato sauce keeps the naan base from drying out, and a balsamic drizzle ties all of the flavors together.

Peach Caprese Naan Pizza

Hello Veggie

Swap tomatoes for peaches to make a unique naan margherita pizza that celebrates sunshine. Pair with a bottle of rosé and you’ll get total staycation vibes.

Grilled Cobb Naan Pizza

Foxes Love Lemons

Two surefire ways to make eating salad for lunch more exciting: Go with a Cobb, and serve it on grilled naan.

Tandoori Chicken Naan Flatbread Pizza

Recipe Runner

Smoky, spicy tandoori chicken tops this pizza, accentuated by the crunch of vegetable ribbons and toasted cashews.

No-Cook Mediterranean Hummus Naan Pizza

She Likes Food

When it’s too hot to turn on the oven (or you just don’t feel like cooking), throwing together this hummus pizza is your best bet. A soft naan base topped with a creamy chickpea spread and crunchy, colorful veggies is a refreshing, nourishing meal.

Roasted Veggie Naan Pizza

The Rustic Foodie

We can’t think of a better way to get in our daily veggies than roasting them and using them to top a naan pizza. Well, a little mozzarella doesn’t hurt either.

Sautéed Vegetable and Goat Cheese Naan Pizza

Bowl of Delicious

No sauce? No problem! Make a white pizza that showcases the beauty of a simple sautéed vegetable topping.

Mini Cuban Naan Pizzas

Show Me The Yummy

Their salty, smoky flavor can stand up to any cocktail or beer, so if you want leftovers, you should probably double this recipe.

Thai Chicken Flatbread Pizza

The Recipe Critic

Be prepared for a flavor explosion that will blow your mind. From the tangy peanut sauce base to the rich coconut cream that’s drizzled on top, this Thai pizza has a delicious surprise in every bite.

Tandoori Chicken Naan Pizza

Host the Toast

So, you can't decide between ordering pizza and your favorite Indian takeout? Combine the two at a fraction of the cost by making this tandoori chicken naan pizza at home. We especially love how the mango and fresh herbs brighten up the flavors of the spicy chicken.

Naan Cheeseburger Pizza

The Blond Cook

Word to the wise… once you try this pizza your standards for all others will be very high. To make it extra special, try drizzling the top with homemade Thousand Island dressing.

Grilled Chicken Margherita Pizza

Joyful Healthy Eats

If you’ve never had a sauceless pizza, now is the opportunity to change that. When that first juicy cherry tomato bursts in your mouth, you’ll experience a level of flavor that’s low-key mind blowing.

Easy BBQ Chicken Naan Pizza

Bowl of Delicious

We dare you to find a better way to use up your leftover BBQ chicken. Just be sure you don’t add too much sauce to the pizza so that your crust doesn’t get soggy.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mini Pizzas

Smile Sandwich

Don't be a pizza hog. Pick up some mini naan flatbreads, and suddenly your go-to individual pizza becomes a tantalizing dinner for everyone.

Follow us on Pinterest for more recipe inspo!

This post has been updated.