For actress and entrepreneur Sarah Michelle Gellar, eating well has long been a priority.
But, like many of us, she’s struggled to balance her health goals with the demands of a busy career and a packed family schedule.
“As a busy mom who’s always working towards health goals, I was looking for a way to streamline my weekly meal preparation,” she says. That’s when the newly launched MyFitnessPal Meal Planner caught her attention, offering a solution to transform how she—and the rest of us—approach nourishing meals.
“The idea of having a tool that could help me plan balanced meals, create efficient shopping lists, and provide recipes was really appealing,” Gellar says.
“I thought it might help me make the most of my one big shopping trip on Sundays and ensure I had healthy options ready for the week ahead, including lunches to bring to set.”
Her motivation to try the Meal Planner reflects a common challenge. Many people are tired of feeling overwhelmed with diet decision-making. They want meals that are personalized, nutritious, and fit seamlessly into their busy lives.
But did the MyFitnessPal Meal Planner deliver on its promise? Here’s what Gellar discovered after putting the new feature to the test.
1. Reducing Food Waste and Maximizing Grocery Efficiency
One of Gellar’s favorite features is the way Meal Planner now helps her use groceries more efficiently.
“It encourages me to use ingredients in multiple recipes, which is great for items like fresh herbs or scallions that might otherwise go to waste,” she explains.
Why does this matter?
Wasted groceries are bad for budgets and a huge contributor to household food waste (1,2)!
With Meal Planner, ingredient lists are thoughtfully organized so that what you buy on your next grocery shopping trip gets used across multiple recipes.
This is especially important to reduce the waste of fresh produce, like fruits and vegetables, which tend to get tossed the most at home (1).
For example, with Meal Planner, you might buy a bag of peppers and see them pop up in two or three dishes throughout the week.
This efficient use of produce is baked right into the tool. By connecting similar ingredients across recipes, the Meal Planner helps you reduce food spoilage, save money on groceries, and have less unused food to toss out at the end of the week.
It’s a benefit that supports both your wallet and the environment.
You might also like
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Overnight Oats Are the Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast
2. Bringing Structure and Support for Health Goals
“As someone who likes structure when it comes to cooking, I find the Meal Planner incredibly helpful,” says Gellar. “It provides me with recipes and guidance, which is exactly what I need.”
She shares that it also helps her stay on track with her health goals, such as increasing protein intake. That’s become a big priority as she focuses on adding more strength training to her fitness routine.
How does Meal Planner support your nutrition targets?
Meal Planner customizes meal selections to your specific dietary preferences, calorie goals, macro targets, and more.
You can indicate preferences such as higher protein, Mediterranean-style, or vegetarian eating. The Meal Planner provides suggested recipes and detailed nutrition facts for each.
Instead of following broad nutrition guidelines, personalized nutrition and recipe options mean that every meal supports your individual health and fitness plan. This way, you can make better progress toward your goals (3).
The planner also seamlessly syncs to your MyFitnessPal diary. With just a few taps, your meals are logged, making food tracking effortless.
If you’re striving for consistency in making healthy changes to your diet, this structure can mean the difference between frustration and success.
3. Convenience for a Hectic Schedule
“I selected the option that I only wanted recipes that took 30 minutes or less to prepare—and Meal Planner delivered,” Gellar says.
Busy professionals and parents know that a lack of time can make healthy eating and home cooking tough (4).
Meal planning and preparation can be the most time-consuming aspects, especially when you have specific health goals in mind.
Gellar emphasizes, “Meal Planner fits into my busy schedule and time constraints when it comes to home cooking!”
Each week, you receive tailored suggestions that respect your schedule, not just your goals.
If you have just half an hour between soccer practice and work emails, the Meal Planner ensures you won’t waste time searching through endless online recipes or preparing lengthy, complicated meals.
You can batch-cook, use leftovers, and let the grocery list generator speed up your next shopping trip, too.
This time-focused approach makes healthy eating realistic, even when life gets unpredictable.
You might also like
The High-Protein Buddha Bowl Sarah Michelle Gellar Swears By
4. Confidence in Nutritious, Family-Friendly Meals
Eating well is about more than counting calories. It’s about nourishing yourself (and your family) with meals you can be proud of.
“I feel good about the recipes I make from Meal Planner,” says Gellar. “I know I’m putting nutritious meals on the table for myself and my family. That way, it’s that much easier for us to show up our best selves in other areas of life!”
How does Meal Planner boost meal confidence?
The recipes are curated with nutrition and balance in mind, and include detailed descriptions and portion sizes. With Meal Planner, you aren’t left second-guessing whether what you’re cooking is actually a good choice.
Plus, dishes are designed to please a crowd. Say goodbye to special orders!
If you or a family member has a food allergy or simply dislikes certain foods, like seafood or peanuts, you can add these ingredients to the list of foods to avoid in recipes.
This means that you and your family members can enjoy the same delicious meal together while continuing to stay on track with your healthy eating goals.
Meal Planning Supports Health Goals (& Sanity)
“Health became an even bigger priority for me after having kids,” says Gellar. “It’s not just about looking good. I want to live a healthy life and live longer. I want to set a good example for my kids when it comes to a healthy relationship with food. And I want to have more control over what my family eats and how they nourish their bodies.”
She’s not alone. Multiple studies support the advantages of consistent home cooking:
- Better overall nutrition quality, including higher intake of fruits and vegetables (5)
- Reduced risk of obesity and developing diabetes (6)
- Cost savings compared to eating out (7)
- Greater family connection and well-being (8)
Meal planning makes these benefits accessible by creating structure around what you eat and how you grocery shop.
Of course, everyone has off-weeks or the occasional Friday night pizza, but planning ahead makes those meals the exception, not the norm!
The Bottom Line
“Let’s be real: I don’t have all the time in the world,” says Gellar. Still, amid juggling parenting and a demanding career, she’s made meal planning a priority.
“It’s about nurturing my family with home-cooked meals within realistic time constraints,” she says.
“That’s why meal planning is so crucial. It helps me make the most of my limited time and ensure we have healthy options throughout the week, even on crazy busy days or weeks.”
“But it’s not about perfection,” she emphasizes. “I’m not aiming for Instagram-worthy meals every night. Or ever. What I need are nutritious, doable options that fit into real life.”
For Gellar, the MyFitnessPal Meal Planner is now an integral part of maintaining a balanced life. It helps her reduce stress, cut food waste, and serve up meals that she (and her kids) can feel good about.
Her final rating of the Meal Planner? A resounding “10/10,” highly recommended!
Curious about how the new MyFitnessPal Meal Planner can transform your weekly routine? Try the Meal Planner feature now!
The post Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Honest Review of MyFitnessPal Meal Planner appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.
