Yes. There is a difference! A meal plan is a document that states specific foods to eat during the day, often specifying timing and portions. The goal is to provide structure to your day, and can be especially helpful to manage specific medical conditions or correct nutrient deficiencies. To increase the chance of a meal plan being effective, it should be customized to you; your schedule, cooking skill, taste and cultural preferences, financial constraints and health or fitness goals. Unlike a meal plan, the action of meal planning involves deciding on meals in advance. The goal of meal planning is to help you with grocery shopping and relieve some of the burden of decision-making during the week. Dietitians are qualified to support you with both, and can co-create a meal plan as well as support you with meal planning tailored to your values, needs and preferences.