Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Joyce's Menu Plan 5/5-5/11

Menu planning is a job.  It is a job I don't like.  But it is a necessary job and if I don't do it, I find myself going quite crazy throughout the week.  Without meal planning, I waste a lot of time trying to figure out what to cook at the last minute and by making extra trips to the grocery store.  I also find that I spend more money without meal planning...those extra trips to the grocery store not only require extra time, they also require extra money.  And there is a far greater chance that we will head out to eat when I don't meal plan, as well.  So, I suppose it is a job that is worth the effort for me...despite my love/hate relationship with it.


I usually meal plan on Wednesdays.  Why?  Because on the weekends, I avoid the stores like the plague.  Not that I like trying to fit one more thing into the work week, but I would rather shop on a Thursday or Friday on the way home from work so as to not have to do it on Saturday or Sunday.  So here I am, planning away, and I thought I might share.  

Saturday: I am running a half marathon on Sunday, so I am planning on a pasta dish.  I have some chicken in the freezer; salsa, sour cream, and peppers are on sale at our local grocery store...Zesty Chicken it is.  (Sort of Cinco de Mayo-ish, right?)

Sunday:  As I am running the race in the morning, I am giving myself the day off of cooking.  And planning.  If that means we eat out, so be it.

Monday:  It has been a while since I have made mini meatloaves, and my kids love them.  I will probably make some potatoes and corn or broccoli to go with them.

Tuesday:  We eat dinner early on Tuesdays because my kids take (and my husband teaches) Taekwondo on Tuesday evenings.  This is the perfect day for a crock pot meal.  I am thinking Salsa Chicken and salad so I can use the rest of the salsa and sour cream from Saturday's meal.  It will be done when we get home.  Love it.

Wednesday:  I always plan at least one day of leftovers and because my son takes gymnastics on Wednesdays until 5 and my husband has meetings every Wednesday and doesn't join us for dinner, usually this is the leftovers day.  The kids and I will be finishing off the mini meatloaves and maybe some mac and cheese and a veggie side.

Thursday:  I still have some Big Batch Bolognese in the freezer.  Sounds good.  And easy...hubs has another meeting.

Friday:  An awesome thing about Salsa Chicken is that we always have leftovers.  We like to eat the leftovers as burritos a few days after having it over rice or quinoa.


So there it is.  We may not stick to it exactly, but at least it is a plan, right?   



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