The success of a meal plan can only be judged by the percentage of it that’s consumed. It may sound obvious, but the execution of a good meal plan requires planning meals you are excited to eat. Picking the right proteins, vegetables and sides is important, but picking the right condiments — I’m talking sauces, marinades and pickled things — is even more so.

Eating cheaply isn’t as easy as “cooking it yourself”. Besides the cost of the groceries, cooking takes time, and — if you’re working multiple jobs or long hours to support yourself or your family — you might not have an excess of hours.

I’ve always been a fan of pre-travel planning, to the point that I build a packing grid before every trip. The packing grid includes outfit components for every day of travel (based on predicted weather and activity), as well as a list of essentials that I don’t want to leave behind: Advil, Band-Aids, my Fitbit charger and so on.

The circumstances surrounding death are always a surprise. Even when it isn't sudden, when it has been expected for weeks - months, even - there is always the shock of absence and loss, and the overwhelming feeling that comes with all of the details that need to be tended to while in the throes of grief.

It's in those moments that people tend to neglect their own well being, as self-care often ends up as a last priority after taking care of children and sorting out funeral arrangements.

Like most guys of a certain vintage, I have mixed feelings about my body. Staying lean and not surrendering to the siren’s call of the dreaded 'Dadbod' is a key concern. But then so is building and maintaining enough muscle so that I can keep up with the young bucks on the soccer field or in the gym.

One of the main keys to success is your diet. You need a meal plan that's high in healthy carbs, fats and proteins. More importantly, it needs to be easy to prepare and affordable - so you'll actually stick to it.

January is the month for getting your house in order, and no aspect of one's life gets quite so revamped as the culinary. Meal planning is often seen as the key to it all, but the plan won't accomplish anything if it's not implemented.

I try to eat healthy. I really do. But if I haven't planned ahead and don't have a healthy meal in the fridge, I could end up eating anything. I won't go into detail except to say that one time I had cookies for dinner right before rushing off to teach a nutrition class. I'm not proud.

It's Saturday! Instead of thinking about all the errands we have to run, let's take a look at the Prep Cook menu for this coming week. We've tested a week's worth of meal recipes for you so that you spend your time and money on the most delicious ones. This week's menu includes eggplant caponata, alphabet soup, and more.

Hello, hello, it's time for Prep Cook! We've taken care of the hardest part of meal planning: Actually choosing what to eat. We test a week's worth of recipes so you spend your time and money making the most delicious ones. This week we have jam filled muffins, pizza packed with tasty toppings, and spicy buffalo wraps.

When preparing a "square" meal - you know, the kind with a protein and at least two sides - I rarely struggle with the actual cooking. I can cook a chicken, mash some potatoes, and roast a pan of broccoli without any issue. But timing it all so everything ends up on the table simultaneously - hot and ready - is what gives me trouble.

Happy weekend! This week on Prep Cook, where we plan and test a week's worth of meals so you spend your time and money on the tastiest ones, we have scones, portobellos with avocado chimichurri, and creamy tomato barley risotto.

Welcome back to Prep Cook, where we plan and test a week's worth of meals so you spend your time and money on the tastiest ones! This week's menu includes pineapple cashew stir fry, mini pot pies and cinnamon rolls.

Leftover rice sounds like a pretty boring meal, but it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of creative ways to dress it up, and next time you have a batch of it, try turning it into ochazuke.

Some subscription services are worth it (you can pry Netflix from my cold, dead hands) but for this month's money challenge, we challenged you to save money by ditching the subscriptions you don't use or need. To help you, here are a few ways to get the perks of some popular subscription services, like gym memberships and pay TV, for free.

Eat This Much has moved some of its best premium features to free accounts, so now you can track and plan your meals in addition to getting ideas for what to eat next.

Watermelons come in all shapes and sizes, so knowing how much you need for a barbecue or picnic can be tricky. This simple rule of thumb will make sure you get enough for everyone.

It's easy enough to set up a meal plan, but maintaining it is a different story. Maybe you don't have the patience to dig up recipes every week. Maybe you're busy. Whatever the scenario, if meal planning hasn't clicked with you, here are five alternatives that don't involve eating out.

Meal planning should be simple, but it's not always easy. Ideally, you make a big batch of meals on Sunday that last you the entire week. Maybe you have things to do on Sunday. Maybe you just don't feel like making five to seven days' worth of meals at once. Here's an easier option: Prep marinade instead.

Whether you're on a specific diet or just want to ensure that you have better options than fast food as you head into the great unknown, bringing healthy food with you is always an option. It's easier than it sounds, if you know a few tricks.