Planning ahead (or meal prep) is the single best ally of a balanced diet in the long run.

The benefits

• You save time during the week.
• You avoid improvised meals, which are often less balanced.
• You cut waste and spending.

How to go about it

Pick a moment in the week to: draw up a menu for a few days, write a precise shopping list, then prepare some basics in advance (washed vegetables, cooked grains). A few airtight containers are all you need.

Key takeaway: planning once a week makes every meal that follows easier. A little organisation saves a lot of improvising.