I'm on my 2nd full week of menu planning with both a $350 budget challenge and weight loss eating plan in my head. Last week I made a lot of changes due to a gift card that needed to be used up as the restaurant, part of a group, has ne w ownership. We wanted to make sure it was used before any changes were made. This changed Sunday. I found a soup mix that needed to be used up-Janaur9th date but was fine. This yield supper one night, and 1/2 for the freezer. Below is the plan and then reality.
Plan
- Sunday: Turkey meatballs in pepper jelly sauce, steamed carrots, rice pilaf
- Monday: Baked chicken, pasta salad with grated carrots, onion, celery, peas, and cheese (this may end up being a warm pasta side instead-depends on mood!)
- Tuesday: Pork loin with baked apples, steamed carrots, mashed potatoes
- Wednesday: Rice hotdish with leftover pork, carrots, celery, and peas
- Thursday: Chicken sliders on biscuits, French fries, baked beans (from freezer)
- Friday: Goulash
- Saturday: Ground beef enchiladas with rice(we'll see if these go over better with DH than the bean and cheese did), black bean and corn salsa
Reality
- Sunday: We used up a gift card and had a massive lunch, so no dinner needed. DH made a grilled cheese later on Sunday.
- Monday: Turkey meatballs in pepper jelly sauce, steamed carrots, rice pilaf
- Tuesday: Pork loin with baked apples, steamed carrots, roasted potatoes
- Wednesday: Broccoli, potato and cheese soup and egg salad sandwiches
- Thursday: Baked chicken, instant mashed, cornbread stuffing, corn
- Friday: Ground beef enchilada casserole, black beans, rice
- Saturday: Chicken sliders on biscuits-simple as I used already cooked chicken from Thursday, yummy and froze 4 for a quick lunch or DH snack, Leftover hodge podge mashed potatoes, corn and stuffing, pork loin pieces in gravy). There's still pork, gravy and corn.
As for limiting my calories and dependence on starches, I did attempted this by eating an extra portion of fruit and veg like an apple, a couple clementine's, or baby carrots and celery late afternoon. I measure my food, write down along with the calorie estimate, and no seconds!
That brings us to this week. It is cold and I really did not want to shop so this is based on what I have in house. At some point I will brave the world and go grocery shopping so this menu is very subject to change.
- Sunday: I'll make brunch/leftovers then later will be Super Bowl foods-frozen pizza, chicken strips etc., but I'm going to also have carrots, celery and hummus, bruschetta (trying this artisan bread recipe) plus fruit, and popcorn
- Monday: Rice crust quiche, blueberry muffins
- Tuesday: Possibly leftovers from all the Super Bowl foods
- Wednesday: Chili and hotdogs
- Thursday: Soup from freezer-probably bean
- Friday: Grilled chicken fajitas with refried beans
- Saturday: Hamburgers with or without buns, baked beans from freezer
I can see why DH felt a need to go rogue on me in the grocery store. Where I look in the pantry and freezer and see loads of meal possibilities, he see's empty shelves! I see 1/2 dozen frozen lunches, and at least four ready to thaw meals. He see's a meaningless collection of plastic containers. I'll need to do a good stock up sometime this week or next weekend.. Until then, rest assured, he will not go hungry. How are you doing with any winter challenges? I know some o you are still on pantry challenges while others did that in January and are using February to restock.
we shan't be doing any Super Bowl eating purposely to avoid the calories of such splendors.
ReplyDeleteWe're doing okay, but M stopped by yesterday to buy a few items we need at a seldom visited grocery store. (He was nearby, & they were on the "buy eventually, we're running low" list.) I hadn't factored those items in, although they will certainly be used. Sesame oil, pad thai sauce, rice vinegar, etc. We use those in several recipes & keep them on hand in the pantry.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the week is either Blue Apron or Hello Fresh. I think it will work well, and we won't need any other dinner ideas. We'll continue to buy things that the boys may need for lunches, salad items, & milk. It will be tight after the pantry stock up - about $50/week for the next three weeks. Which is, frankly, really low for us. Fingers crossed!
For today, I picked up Nick's favorite (frozen) pizza to have on hand for Superbowl Sunday (paid a little extra at Rite Aid, but used rewards, so "cheaper" out of pocket on balance). I also have wings, coconut shrimp, baguette & will make goat cheese crostini. Plus veggies & potentially hummus, if I feel like it.
I posted my super bowl goodies yesterday but we’ll feast on the usual stuff today, repurpose any leftovers into a clean out fridge dinner tomorrow. Tuesday I’ll whip something up since I’ll be home to decide. Wednesday I’m back to work so I’ll put a roast and veg in the crockpot with leftovers Thursday. I usually don’t cook on fridays but possibly will do a pork fried rice just to have on hand. I loaded up on salad stuff for my work meals. Will probably make a soup or chili this week as well. Apparently my diet is out the window today, since a certain player scored a goal for the Penguins yesterday there is a promo for half off his signature milkshake at a local place. It’s a “chocolate shake with hot fudge, crushed cookies & cream, and brownies, topped with whipped cream and chocolate #59.” So yeah, the kids and I are going. It never works out that we are all free to go but today we are. My daughter saw something on Snapchat about getting a free bag of Cheetos if you open snap when the commercial comes in during the super bowl, so that’s something to look forward to. Also really want to see The Weeknd perform. Daughter and boyfriend bought tickets for his tour last year before we knew life was going to change and the show has been postponed multiple times and now until January of 2022. It’s kind of a joke at this point. Hopefully they get to go someday! I love sports in general, and just hope it’s an interesting game. I would love KC to win but I know to not count Brady out. I’m just really excited for it! JoAnn
ReplyDeleteLooks great Sam! It's funny that you mentioned your DH seeing empty shelves, it's the same here. My refrigerator is actually almost empty but still plenty in the veggie drawer. Other than that there's a half a gallon of milk, almond milk and beer chilling for tonight. Still plenty in the freezer but no snack or convenience food, only meats. I still have everything needed for the first half of this week's menu, I won't need to shop until Thursday :)
ReplyDeleteI sometimes look in the fridge and see a load of tupperware containers and think "what the heck?", so I do sympathize with your husband somewhat! For me I think I need to use portion control and I don't really see that happening until my son moves out so I wish you luck!
ReplyDeleteI only just realized yesterday that today is Superbowl Sunday! I've no idea who's playing, where it is or what time. Usually I know this, as it's perfect timing to shop, but I'm not going out today. Still, I don't need the Superbowl to eat poorly! But I'm trying to eat healthy, so I'm making soups today to take to work this week. Easy and filling. Stay warm! Celie
ReplyDeleteNo Super Bowl here. No game food. Don't care. Well, I would like to see Brady win again, just because. Is the food labeled in your Refrig/freezer? We just don't need anything for four days because I have four dying bananas. I will shop when I need a banana.
ReplyDeleteI am failing miserably at my pantry challenge. Since the kids have gotten older, I no longer fix lunches at home. In fact, I refuse to fix lunch or breakfasts, (though I will pack a school lunch, but as we are still virtual, that hasn't happened.) DH loves to eat lunch, and will eat leftovers, but, for some reason, cannot seem to find them when I put them in the refrigerator. Seriously, I can leave the base of the slow cooker on the counter, still plugged in, (but turned off) put the crock of the slow cooker filled with leftover soup from the the previous night smack-dab in the center of the refrigerator, and he cannot seem to find it the next morning. In any case, yesterday it poured all day, so no grilled steak. They won't happen tonight, as DH wants to watch the game, so I'm making risotto, which he can eat in front of the t.v. Steaks will happen tomorrow, slow cooker pork with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes on Tuesday. Also, we went to Costco on Thursday, which means we have a good deal of rotisserie chicken left over, which will become a chicken pot pie at some point. See? The best laid plans. I can't plan for next week, as Friday begins a local event, a quest of sorts, which a neighbor and I take part in every year. I don't plan on being home much, so they are on their own. They know I can't be counted on to fix meals, do laundry, cleaning, driving etc. for the next ten days. When the kids were in school, we'd pull them out for a day to join us, but, again, doesn't quite have the allure for them this year. Happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteOur freezer has some frozen pizzas and pizza rolls for movie nights. There is one pack of Italian Sausage and One pack of hamburger along with several bags of vegetables, so we are doing good in cleaning it out. I also have a bag of blueberries in there.
ReplyDeleteThe bruschetta sounds delicious. I need to think abut making that for us sometime soon.
No shopping this week so the stock up last month is doing us well. I just served up a couple frozen pizzas for the game. I really only need lettuce this week if someone goes to the store. I will peruse the ads on Wednesday for needs if I see a good price.
ReplyDeleteHusbands... Hubs just likes to be waited on and taken care of. He can wrangle a meal. Its called a can of beans, but at least he is good about eating leftovers, just not coming up with something on his own.i
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