It has been a very long time since I\u00a0 talked\/shared an actually menu plan. I can definitely say that we try to complete menu planning at least once a week. This school year\u00a0planning \u00a0has fallen on Sundays or at least on the weekend. After some trial and error, what works best for our family is to plan not only dinners for the week but to also go ahead and stock up snacks in book bags in addition to getting at least a working list of the girls lunches ready, depending on what is actually on the list, we also try to get several of these lunches\u00a0made ahead of time.<\/p>\n
In addition to the “regular” menu planning that I am talking about above, we also try to have at least an idea for what we are going to do on the weekends as well. I have found that if I don’t think ahead and plan for at least one meal on the weekends, we end up going out to eat.\u00a0 We realize that beginning next Saturday, we will be eating out ALOT!\u00a0 At least one meal on Saturday and Sunday, with at least 2 meals eaten out starting on Tuesday due to travelling.\u00a0Combine this reality with the idea that I don’t want to leave food in our refrigerator while we are travelling\u00a0 and menu planning was a must this week.<\/p>\n
A limitation that has played a huge part in the plan for this week is that I have really been trying to eat from our pantry over the last several months (since September).\u00a0 I can honestly say that we have the least amount of food in our house today then we have had in several years. I have purchased only things we are out of\u00a0 and mainly fresh veggies and fruit, for the past several months. This has helped to reduce the grocery budget to under $600 a month however it is also starting to be a little bit challenging for menu planning. I decided last week not to purchase fresh items this week in addition to the other limitations.<\/p>\n
Sunday-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Breakfast\u00a0 choice of leftovers (sausage stuffed crescent rolls, French toast or baked oatmeal.
\nLunch- cowboy beans and cucumber relish. Beans were a left over from the fridge.
\nDinner- Spam (fried) and Mac and cheese deluxe.<\/p>\n
Monday-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Breakfast- egg casserole (Made of Saturday to use up spinach and eggs)
\nDinner- Tomato soup for kids, Broccoli and cheese soup for adults.
\nTuesday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Breakfast-\u00a0 choice of cereal, toast or grits
\nDinner- Breakfast casserole
\nWednesday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Breakfast- leftovers casseroles or choice of cereal, toast or grits.
\nDinner- Kids will be eating at church, Matt and I will find either leftovers or I am thinking of making oyster stew for myself.\u00a0\u00a0 (Will plan to use leftovers for lunch).
\nThursday-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Breakfast-\u00a0 Eggs and sausage
\nDinner- Squash Lasagna
\nFriday-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Breakfast -choice of cereal, toast or grits
\nDinner- Kielbasa with rice (Matt’s dish).
\nSaturday-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Breakfast- French toast- (if enough bread left) or\u00a0finishing up any\u00a0other leftovers\u00a0of breakfast food.
\nLunch-\u00a0Zach is at a birthday party and Girls are going to use Book-it coupons.
\nDinner- Mexican rice and fried apples- if any are left to be used. May also look at leftovers and eat\u00a0up anything that needs to be finished.<\/p>\n
The girls lunches have already been planned out and I have 2 days of Lily’s prepared and 3 days of Kendall’s.<\/p>\n
Because of our date night next week, I have already planned for both snacks and lunches on Monday.\u00a0 Next\u00a0Monday\u00a0night dinner will be Hamburger Helper\u00a0because we don’t have any left-overs from it.<\/p>\n
Sunday, I am planning\u00a0a baked oatmeal for\u00a0breakfast. Lunch most likely at my\u00a0parents and dinner is our night out with\u00a0McDonald’s for the kids.<\/p>\n
As you can tell, nothing fancy is happening but we are continuing to eat very well!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It has been a very long time since I\u00a0 talked\/shared an actually menu plan. I can definitely say that we try to complete menu planning at least once a week. This school year\u00a0planning \u00a0has fallen on Sundays or at least … Continue reading