Dinner Makeover: Kicking the Takeout Habit

Create a Weekly Plan of Attack

One reason Andi is so overwhelmed: She’s been making frantic daily grocery runs. (“The store manager gave me his cell number, because I’m one of his best customers,” she says.) Knowing what you’re going to make ahead of time is half the battle, says Charlyne. She showed Andi how to use Real Simple’s menu planner to make a master shopping list for the week, then helped her order groceries online from the local supermarket for Monday delivery. “The checkout girls might miss me,” says Andi. “But this will save me hours each week.”