Hopefully things are as back to normal as they can be in 2021! Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday so the kids and I are out of school. I am working 5 nights in Guam so we had to keep it nice and simple. My goal is to make it February become heading to Costco.

Breakfast– Saturday-Matt and I had Cracker Barrel, Haley bought the kids Biscuit King.  Sunday- Bagels  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets.

Lunch-  Saturday–Moe’s for Matt and I. Leftovers for everyone else Sunday-Taco Soup.  Monday- Chinese (my treat) Tuesday- Friday Left-overs and wraps.

Dinner-  Saturday-  Frozen Pizza  Sunday-left-overs or Taco Soup Monday-Pork Fried Rice (left-overs from the fridge or find something else you want as left-overs.)  Tuesday-Chick Fil A (free from December) . Wednesday- Tomato Soup and Grilled cheese   Thursday-  Corn Dogs or another frozen sandwich from the freezer .   Friday- Grilled Chicken and baked sweet potatos.

I can already tell you that the menu plan is not going as planned. I like the eat with the weather. The last couple of days I want hearty warm meals. I am trying to stick with easy fast meal but also work on cleaning out the fridge and freezer. My goal is not to go to Costco till the week after Christmas.

Breakfast– Saturday-Biscuit King Sunday- Left-overs or breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets, French toast.  .   Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets.

Lunch-  Saturday–Whatever burger (while shopping)   Sunday-Red Robin  Eating from fridge and salads sounds like a plan for me .

Dinner-  Saturday-  Dinner with Haley Sunday-Left overs  Monday-Ham(left-over)  and macaroni and cheese  Tuesday-Million Dollar Spaghetti Pie . Wednesday- Turkey pot Pie Thursday-  Depending on left over situation or honestly I have no clue.   Friday- Time Square Pizza

Really debating on sharing this for the week as life has thrown us a curve ball and I am not sure where we will end up. But I figured we might as well start with a plan and see what happens from there.  I will share the curve ball later  this week depending on which direction the curve ends up being.

Breakfast– Saturday-Biscuit King Sunday- Bacon eggs and toast .   Monday,  Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets, French toast.  Tuesday- sausage gravy and biscuits Wednesday-Sausage crescent  rolls.

Lunch-  Saturday– left-overs   Sunday-Cracker Barrel.  Eating from fridge and salads sounds like a plan for me .

Dinner-  Saturday-  Wedding for Matt and i  Sunday-Chicken noodle soup in crock pot.  Monday- Philly cheese steak and chips.   Tuesday-New Chicken tator tot casserole. Wednesday- Rice Ceola .  Thursday-Corn dogs and sweet potato fries . .  Friday- insta pot creamiest mac and cheese.

This week is not a normal week. We have a holiday in the middle, Zach is in a baseball tournament and the kids are all going to Durham for the weekend while I attend a wedding.  I know that things may change and shuffle around but starting out with a plan will help.

Breakfast– Saturday-Biscuit King Sunday- Bagels with lots of options.   Monday, Tuesday,  , Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets, French toast. Wednesday- bacon and biscuits.

Lunch-  Saturday– Sushi buffet  Sunday-lunch with friends. Wednesday- Taco Bell( if Zach earns it)

Dinner-  Saturday- rotisserie chicken, scallop potatoes and broccoli  Sunday-Sandwich and chips Monday- Pepper Steak in the crockpot  Tuesday-Gregg’s between piano and ball game?. Wednesday- new recipe.  Thursday-Chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries. .  Friday- left-overs?

Yeap it has been TWO months since I have posted a menu plan. We have been continue to meal plan but really just have not had the time to post. I have been slammed with working in Guam and with ball games. Life has gotten busy. We have been very fortunate that lunches are no longer an issue as the kids are provided free lunches through the end of the school year. We were also given extra food two weeks in a row. I am currently attempting to keep our food bill at under $200 for trips outside of Costco and under $500 with a Costco trip.

Breakfast– Saturday-Sausage patties and eggs Sunday- Breakfast bowls with grave  Monday, Tuesday,  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets, French toast

Lunch-  Saturday– Find your own from the fridge or freezer  Sunday-Lunch Soup (new recipe)

Dinner-  Saturday- Kielbasa and potato soup Sunday-Sandwich and chips Monday- Steak and baked potato  Tuesday-Gregg’s between piano and ball game. Wednesday- Spaghetti and meatballs   Thursday-Sloppy joes and french fries .  Friday- Chicken and dumplings.

How quickly things change and how quickly we all have to learn to adapt. This weekend I was in quarantine waiting on the results from my COVID testing.  It turned out to be a much slower pace weekend and I actually felt like I was able to get things around the house caught up.  The good news is that I received my negative results back today but can’t return to work until October 1st. I am working from home so that is yet another positive. So your question is how does this effect meal planning?  I don’t have to plan my lunches as I am home!  I also gain around an hour each day by not driving to and from work.  The hour is much needed as I am working 4 nights in Guam and we have a baseball game!  We are starting to add some variety from the freezer so everything is actually working out on the positive side! Another positive we have managed to stay ahead of the left-overs with little to no food waste!

Breakfast– Saturday-Biscuits with your choice Sunday- Peanut butter and chocolate oatmeal  Monday- homemade bagels (this is a new and simple recipe that will be repeated!) Tuesday,  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets, French toast

Lunch-  Saturday– Sandwiches or left-overs Sunday-Lunch Soup Sunday has returned with Ham Bone Soup

Dinner-  Saturday- Keilbsa and potato soup Sunday-homemade bagels and left-overs  Monday- Salisbury Steak, rice, broccoli and applesauce Tuesday-Chicken sandwhiches and sweet potato fries Wednesday- Cheese quesadilla and Mexican rice  Thursday- Spaghetti pie and garlic bread .  Friday- Lily is cooking Chicken Florentina Mac and Cheese.

This week it is back to reality and back to menu planning. Zach and Kendall will start in person class two days a week starting next weeks so we are slowing going back to a busy life. Another change this week is that because of a change in funding, the kids are once again receiving free lunches and breakfast delivered via bus. I am not sure how this will look next week when they are in school two day but definitely something to enjoy not stress over!  Guam is three nights this week and today (Labor Day) is my last day off until November.

Breakfast– Saturday-Bacon, eggs and toast Sunday- French toast with extra frozen for another morning. Monday- Breakfast bowls (extra left for the rest of the week). Tuesday,  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets, French toast

Lunch-  Saturday- Pasta salad  Sunday-Greggs with friends  I have tuna salad, and regular salad for lunch not sure about the other day it may be a sandwhich or another salad.

Dinner-  Saturday-left-overs Sunday- more left-overs  Monday- Thin steak and ranch potatoes Tuesday- Pepper steak, rice and egg rolls . Wednesday- Turkey enchiladas( from freezer)  Thursday- Instant Pot Creamy mac and cheese.  Friday- Grilled Chicken

This week is another slower week for us. I have not heard of a plan for starting church related activities yet. Lily started school full time but Zach and Kendall had one day of orientation and have the rest of the week off. I am still trying to get in the swing of things so we are again keeping it simple. I was very excited to come up with this plan with no repeats for dinner from last week! Second most exciting news… no eating out this week!!!!

Breakfast– Saturday-waffles Sunday- Chocolate chip pancakes Monday- grilled cheese sandwiches . Tuesday,  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-choice of breakfast muffins, eggs, sausage, oatmeal, cereal or grits, breakfast burritos, bagels or omelets or tomato sandwich

Lunch-  Saturday- homemade salsa and chips Sunday-homemade personal pan pizza I have tuna salad, chicken salad, pasta salad and left-overs for lunch this week.

Dinner-  Saturday-left-overs Sunday- Buffalo Chicken wings Monday- Pork fried rice using pork chops from last week Tuesday- Chicken sandwiches and sweet potato fries. Wednesday- Matt’s breakfast casserole Thursday- Cowboy beans in the crockpot Friday- Spaghetti pie from freezer.