Meal Planning
I used to be a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ kind of gal when it came to dinners. I rarely decided what to have for dinner until the day we had it. I would look at what we had on hand and what I felt like eating, and then make a decision based on that. Inevitably I didn’t have all the ingredients so I’d have to go out and buy things. I found myself making trips to the grocery store almost every day, which was far too often for my liking. So in an effort to save time and hopefully money, I decided to try planning ahead and only making one weekly trip to the grocery store.
I look at the flyer and find the best deals, then build my meal plan around those items and use them in more than one meal in the week. I also look at what I already have on hand at home (especially perishable items) and incorporate them into the meal plan as well.
It takes a bit of time and thought to plan things out, but you only do it once and then it’s done for a whole week. I’m finding that I’m not only saving time but also money, because I’m sticking to my list and following the sales more closely now. I make sure to shop at Safeway on the first Tuesday of the month, because it’s 10% off that day. I end up saving quite a lot when I do that.
Helpful Sites:
Can I Get the Recipe?: Weekly lists of recipes with grocery lists included.
Gojee: Features recipes from food bloggers (like myself!). Just type in ingredients you have on hand and this site will generate recipes in a beautiful slideshow. It’s great for finding ideas for your menu.
Grocery Server: Type in your grocery list and this handy site will provide you with the best deals in your area This is for US residents only (I’m jealous of you Americans!).
I’m an Organizing Junkie: For a great selection of meal plans, check out this site. She does a fabulous Menu Plan Monday link-up with hundreds of participating bloggers.
Meal Planning Mommies: Great tips on meal-planning, family-friendly recipes, and printable menu-plan templates.
Wednesday: Homemade Pizza (ham & pineapple)
Thursday: Spaghetti
Friday: Lentil Sloppy Joes
Saturday: Potato and Salsa Fritatta
Sunday: Pork Tenderloin With Honey-Glazed Apples and Balsamic Mashed Yams
Monday: Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Week 2:
Tuesday: Mexican Lasagna
Wednesday: Portuguese White Beans
Thursday: Tuna Melts
Friday: Cheesy Ham & Broccoli Casserole
Saturday: At church dinner
Sunday: Jerk Barbecue Pork Steaks
Monday: French Toast
Week 3:
Tuesday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Wednesday: Caldo Verde
Thursday: Tortellini and Salad
Friday: Classy Chicken
Saturday: Perogies and Sausage
Sunday: Roast Beef with yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and broccoli
Monday: Beef Fajitas
Week 4:
Tuesday: Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi with Meat Sauce
Wednesday: Spinach Souffle
Thursday: Spaghetti
Friday: Salmon Patties
Saturday: Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwiches and Potato Wedges
Sunday: Slow-cooked Ribs
Monday: Lentil and Spinach Curry
Week 5:
Tuesday: Pad Thai
Wednesday: Ham & Pineapple Pizza
Thursday: Baked ham and Yam Medallions
Friday: Scrambled Eggs and Toast
Saturday: Buttermilk Chicken Fingers
Sunday: Lemon-Soy Chicken and Rice
Monday: Minestrone Soup
Week 6:
Tuesday: Macaroni and Cheese
Wednesday: Chili
Thursday: Turkey Lasagna
Friday: Fondue
Saturday: Turkey dinner
Sunday: Turkey Rigatoni
Monday: Leftovers
Week 7:
Tuesday: Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Wednesday: Ham and Pineapple Asian Noodles
Thursday: Eating Out
Friday: Turkey and Provolone Pizza
Saturday: Italian Crockpot Meatloaf
Sunday: Meatloaf Sandwiches
Monday: Chicken Fettucine Alfredo
Week 8:
Tuesday: Penne with Rose Sauce
Wednesday: Tortellini Soup
Thursday: Baked Beans and Toast
Friday: Italian Drip Beef
Saturday: Ukrainian Christmas
Sunday: Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas
Monday: Belgian Beef Stew
Week 9:
Tuesday: Pancakes and Maple Breakfast Sausage
Wednesday: Quinoa Chicken Nuggets and Yam Fries
Thursday: Perogies and Smoked Turkey Sausage
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Macaroni and Cheese (using homemade pasta)
Sunday: Roast Chicken and Potatoes
Monday: Chicken Soup and Biscuits
Week 10:
Tuesday: Take-out (gasp!)
Wednesday: Shrimp Stir-Fry
Thursday: Black Bean Burritos
Friday: Turkey Meatball Sliders
Saturday: Tortellini and Vegetables
Sunday: Moroccan Chicken and Rice
Monday: Sweet Potato Coconut Quinoa Soup
Week 11:
Tuesday: Asparagus and Ham Quiche
Wednesday: Cauliflower and Cheese Soup
Thursday: Leftovers (Freezer)
Friday: Pasta Primavera
Saturday: Thai Meatballs
Sunday: Chicken and Wild Rice
Monday: Homemade Pizza
Week 12:
Tuesday: Black Bean Tortilla Soup
Wednesday: Tuna Tetrazzini
Thursday: Tofu Triangles
Friday: 4-Cheese Rigatoni
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Salsa
Monday: Mexican Pizza
Week 13
Tuesday: Potato and Salsa Frittata
Wednesday: Pancakes and Turkey Bacon
Thursday: Indonesian Fried Rice
Friday: Chicken and Vegetable Penne
Saturday: Panzerotti
Sunday: Chicken Mole
Monday: Salmon and Spinach Gratin
Week 14
Tuesday: Thai Chicken Wraps
Wednesday: Chutney Glazed Meatloaf with Baby Potatoes and Broccoli
Thursday: Southern Style BBQ Beef Brisket With Rice and Veggies
Friday: Ricotta and Lentil ‘Meatball’ Sandwiches
Saturday: Probably church dinner, or spaghetti and leftover meatballs (back-up)
Sunday: Mozzarella Sticks with Cauliflower Puree, and Crinkle Fries
Monday: Cauliflower Pizza
Week 15
Tuesday: Soft Tacos
Wednesday: Baked Ziti
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Sweet Potato Packets
Saturday: Eggs, Hashbrowns and Turkey Bacon
Sunday: Salmon Patties
Monday: Drip Beef
Week 16
Tuesday: Oatmeal Applesauce Pancakes
Wednesday: Bacon and Caramelized Onion Pizza
Thursday: Lemon and Clam Pasta
Friday: Chicken Mole Quesadillas
Saturday: Homemade Baked Beans
Sunday: Black Bean Veggie Burgers
Monday: Stoplight Corn Chowder
Week 17
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Lazy Chicken Pot Pie
Thursday: Squaghetti and Meat Sauce
Friday: Perogies and Turkey Kielbasa
Saturday: eating out
Sunday: Fusili with Veggies and Turkey Kielbasa
Monday: Southwest Crockpot Chicken
Week 18
Tuesday: White Chili Casserole (leftovers from the freezer)
Tuesday: Berry Pancakes
Wednesday: Potato Leek Soup and Tuna Melts
Thursday: Chicken, Rice and Edamame Beans
Friday: Ham and Pineapple Noodles
Saturday: Homemade Pizza
Sunday: Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Casserole
Monday: Mexican Lasagna
Week 20
Tuesday: Ukrainian Mac &Cheese
Wednesday: Cashew Chicken
Thursday: Tuna Casserole
Friday: Away
Saturday: Away
Sunday: Easter Dinner
Monday: Away
Week 21
Tuesday: BBQ Chicken and Potato Salad
Wednesday: Vegetable Penne
Thursday: Sundried Tomato Chicken
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Souvlaki, Lemon Rice and Greek Salad
Sunday: Chicken Stir Fry
Monday: Falafels and Pita
Week 22
Tuesday: Classy Chicken
Wednesday: Spaghetti or Pancakes (Cole’s choice)
Thursday: Pumpkin Chili
Friday: Harira
Saturday: Chili Cheese Dogs
Sunday: Ribs, rice and veggies
Monday: Perogie Casserole
Week 23
Tuesday: Mexican Cornbread Strata
Wednesday: Oatmeal Pancakes
Thursday: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Friday: Orange Chicken
Saturday: Chicken Peanut Soup
Sunday: Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas
Monday: Mayo-less Egg Salad sandwiches
Week 24
Tuesday: Hot Dogs and Mac n’ Cheese
Wednesday: Chicken Nuggets and veggies
Thursday: Cole’s Choice (pancakes or pasta)
Friday: Roast Chicken with rice and salad
Saturday: Mexican Pizza
Sunday: Bacon and Bok Choy Chow Mein
Monday: Lord of the Breasts
Week 25
Tuesday: Pad Thai
Wednesday: Italian Drip Beef
Thursday: Spinach and Mushroom Quiche
Friday: Crockpot Ratatouille
Saturday: Sausage Kabobs
Sunday: Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Monday: Chili
My kids like to whine, especially when it comes to the food they eat, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to make tasty and healthy meals for them. Follow along as I share family-friendly recipes and reviews from my picky family members, who I lovingly call “The Whine Critics.” 
