Meal planning is nice in theory, but if you are like us, sometimes there’s just not enough time to make it happen every week. Planning your meals for the next several days requires grocery shopping, cooking, dishwashing, and time - not all Sundays have a spare couple hours, and if they do, sometimes those spare hours are better spent soaking up the last bit of freedom before another busy week.

Some of the benefits of meal planning include saving money, knowing exactly what you’re eating, reduction of wasted food, time saved, and your choice of variety throughout the week. Oh, and of course one healthy looking beard. The nutrients that contribute to your hair and scalp health are niacin, biotin, zinc, Vitamins A, B6, and C, so fill your meal plan with plenty of veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean meats, fish, and poultry, as well as low-fat dairy products for shiny, healthy hair.

These benefits are no secret, of course, but instituting a habit that will yield these benefits is step one.

Below is our favorite weekly fall menu to inspire you to think ahead before next week gets here and reap the rewards of delicious, varied home cooked meals.

Monday

• Breakfast: Avocado, Tomato, and Sunny Side Up Egg on Toast  
• Lunch: Quinoa and Sweet Potato Scramble
• Dinner: No-Noodle Eggplant Lasagna

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Hearty Fruit Salad
• Lunch: Power Bowl (Black Beans, Corn, Tomatoes, Cilantro, and Jalapeños)
• Dinner: Chicken, Arugula & Butternut Squash Salad with Brussels Sprouts

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Apple, Almond, and Honey Cereal
• Lunch: Curried Chicken on a Bed of Rice with a Side of Naan and Hummus
• Dinner: Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Honey-Almond Green Beans

Thursday

• Breakfast: Yogurt with Strawberries and Almonds  
• Lunch: Zucchini Boat
• Dinner: Tacos, Tacos, Tacos with Pulled Pork, Cilantro, and Salsa

Friday

• Breakfast: Breakfast Fried Rice
• Lunch: Shredded Chicken Enchiladas
• Dinner: Homemade Pizza - Make it a Party!  

Saturday

• Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, and Toast (Saturdays are for the goods)
• Lunch: Take it outside (if the weather is nice and grill some portobello mushrooms stuffed with blue cheese, sausage crumbles, and arugula)
• Dinner: Giant Stuffed Cheesy Shells

Sunday

• Breakfast: Spinach, Tomato and Bacon Mini Oven Omelets
• Lunch: Pasta Salad (with your favorite ingredients) - we like this idea.
• Dinner: An Old Classic - Chicken Pot Pie with Green Beans and Butternut Squash

There are so many ways to shake it up and keep things interesting. We encourage you to get creative and design your own meal plan using these ideas as inspiration. What’s your favorite meal plan for the week? Let us know in the comments below!