"...through his stomach." We've all heard that expression before, I'm sure. When we decided that I would stay home more often with the kids, we knew we also needed to commit to the lifestyle change of less income coming in as well. I love to cook, but when we're tired or in a hurry, it's the last thing on my mind. Finally, after almost 2 entire weeks of eating out for multiple meals, we decided that our food choices needed an overhaul. So, we all sat down together and created a meal plan for a whole month.
This works for us because 1) I thrive on organization, 2) We don't have to argue or decide what we're eating each night, 3) It's time saving because everything is preplanned and you prep early in the week.
Here's a few tips we came up with when planning out an extended meal plan:
1) Commit to trying 1-2 new recipes each week.
2) Include meals that everyone likes (the kids get to have a meal night of their choosing).
3) No more than 1 night that includes heavy carbs, like pasta.
4) No debating whether or not there will be a fruit or veggie along with the meal. It's gonna be on the table so eat it.
5) Plan leftovers into the meal plan so we cut down on trash and wasted food. Fridge gets cleaned out on Sunday nights before Monday's trash pick-up.
So after making these general "rules", we sat down and made a list of meals that we all liked. After examining the list, I realized that some things were easier than others to make. Those things might be better suited for nights that I work, church nights, etc. So the meal plan to follow is based upon who is working when (and who the cook is for the night), Nathan's call schedule, holidays, etc. I also recommend shopping at Sam's club for chicken and beef. You can cook all your meat at the beginning of the week or portion what you will need for a week of meals. I also purchased a variety of fruits and veggies that I cut and washed on Sunday for a whole week. Convenience is the key in our house,
I will try to post my new recipe(s) for the week. Here you go!
Week One
Monday- Taco Salad
Tuesday- Beef taco ring
Wednesday- Crockpot potato soup
(Crockpot potato soup recipe)
Thursday- Sauteed creole shrimp
Friday- Crockpot buffalo chicken (extra is for freezing)
(Buffalo chicken recipe)
Saturday- Leftovers
Sunday- Grilled chicken and peppers foil pack (grill)
(Foil pack recipe)
Dessert: Crockpot peach cobbler, Lemon icebox pie
Week Two
Monday- Chicken Caesar salad
Tuesday- Broccoli cheddar soup
Wednesday- Holiday cookout
Thursday- Ham and cheese stromboli
Friday- Green beans and sausage
Saturday- Leftovers
Sunday- Chicken and black bean casserole
(Casserole recipe)
Week Three
Monday- Spaghetti
Tuesday- Apple Orange Cashew Salad
Wednesday- Roasted red pepper and tomato soup
Thursday- Fish tacos
Friday- Mac and cheese
Saturday- Leftovers
Sunday-Curry Chicken
Week Four
Monday- Steak and grilled potatoes
Tuesday-Homemade baked chicken strips
Wednesday- Tortilla soup
Thursday- Chicken lettuce wraps
Friday- BBQ pulled pork
Saturday- Leftovers
Sunday- Favorite casserole
Happy cooking!
(By the way, I've already had multiple comments from my husband about the home-cooked meals!)
