Menu Planning - DEAD

I forgot to post about this the last two weeks but I've decided to forgo the whole Menu Planning thing. That worked great for me a few years ago when I had a whole family at home to feed. But now that it's just the three of us and my husband never knows when he is coming home for dinner or when he is going to have to entertain out-of-town clients, menu planning wasn't working for me.

When Greg calls and tells me he isn't going to be home for dinner, Dakota and I can get by with a sandwich or cereal and yogurt. Not the healthiest...but it's what we do.

One thing I am trying to get better at is using my leftovers for more than one purpose - something I have never done before. For instance, I like to buy whole roasting chickens (because they are inexpensive...normally $3.25-$4.00 price range) and Greg loves roasted chicken. In the past I would also boil the whole chicken and use all the meat in a casserole or something else...but that makes a big casserole for just us and we get tired of eating it before it's all gone.

Recently I roasted one of those chickens and then pulled some of the meat off before serving it and put that meat aside (into the refrigerator.) Two days later I shredded the meat, added some shredded cheese and spices and made chicken quesadillas from that same chicken. This is something new I have never before and I am trying to train myself to think ahead and re-do leftovers instead of just sticking it in the refrigerator.

What about you? Any helpful suggestions?

Menu 6/23-6/27

Went to the bread store a couple weeks ago and I still have plenty of English Muffins, bagels, flour tortillas, and wheat bread from that shopping trip. We use that stuff mostly for breakfasts and lunches.

From all my CVS/Walgreen's shopping deals over the last month or so I have plenty of cereal (more than 10 boxes in a large storage crate) for breakfasts or snacks at night (that's when Dakota likes to eat cereal.)

Since Dakota and I are the only ones eating lunch at home during the day it's pretty easy to throw together something. We'll either eat sandwiches or I'll heat up some of the frozen meals I've picked up on sale. This week we have our choice of Bertolli Ravioli Dinner, Barber's Chicken, or Hamburger Helper. Greg doesn't like any of that stuff and Dakota does so I save that stuff for lunches.

Dinners:
Monday - Tacos, Fiesta Rice, Salad
Tuesday - Oven Fried Parmesan Chicken
Wednesday - London Broil, new potatoes, veggies
Thursday - Rice, Jambalaya
Friday - Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf (new recipe...hubby is picky about meatloaf so we'll have to see about this one?! LOL), mashed potatoes, going to mix shredded carrots & other veggies in the meatloaf so may not serve any veggies with the meal.

Menu 6/9-6/14

This week is an easy week! We have VBS every night so we eat at the church. No dinners to prepare...whooohoooo!!

Breakfasts: cereal, yogurt, Hot Pockets, eggs/bacon
Lunches: sandwiches, homemade pizza, soup

Menu: 6/2 - 6/8

Baby steps...that's the best way I have found to conquer any large task such as debt reduction, spring cleaning, weight reduction, etc. Since we got the new Wii Fit Dakota has realized he needs to lose some weight. I've talked to him about his weight but I guess seeing his weight/BMI splashed across a large television screen in front of his eyes made a bigger impact.

Baby Step 1
I set a goal along with him to lose 5 lbs over the next month. This is a small, easily attainable goal we can both meet while altering our eating habits and continuing to work out daily.

Baby Step 2
When I was going through my weight loss (of 40 lbs) a couple of years ago I planned out our meals on a weekly basis. I've gotten lazy about that and gotten away from doing it. In our household it is absolutely vital for me to plan out a week's worth of menus so we all know well in advance what we are eating or else we'll be heading to a fast food drive through or restaurant in no time. Beginning today and throughout June I am going to post our weekly meal plans. If you have any great recipes you want to share leave me a comment...would love to see them.

Breakfasts
Mon - cereal w/ skim milk, handful of almonds
Tues - blueberry muffins, smoothie
Wed - eggs, bacon, grits
Thurs - cereal w/ skim milk, wheat toast
Fri - yogurt (for me) & banana, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Hot Pockets (for Greg & Dakota) - these are already in the freezer - need to use them up.
Saturday - we always go to Cracker Barrel (not giving this up)
Sunday - Breakfast Pizza (see below)

Breakfast Pizza recipe

1 pkg. McCormick sausage flavor country gravy mix, or make your own

ready made pizza crust, refrigerated pizza crust or tube of crescent rolls

tube of mild pork Sausage

1 8oz. pkg. shredded cheese

Brown the tube of sausage and remove from pan. If using the McCormick's Gravy Mix - then mix gravy together in pan with sausage drippings and follow directions on back of package. If preparing your own white gravy, follow the recipe.

Pizza crust....If using pre-made pizza crust I take a little olive oil and rub on the crust before spreading ingredients on there. If using refrigerated pizza crust or crescent rolls, spread this out on one cookie sheet and pat out until it reaches sides. Cook it for 1/2 recommended cooking time before spreading ingredients on there.

Spread the gravy on pizza crust, then spread sausage over gravy and top with cheese. Bake at 375 until cheese is melted and crust is light brown.

Lunches

Mon - Grilled ham & cheese sandwich, (ham wrapped around cheese sticks for me - I limit my bread) carrot sticks
Tues - Veggie Pizza
Wed - Chicken & Cheese quesadillas w/spinach tortilla wraps
Thurs - probably go out to eat since we are picking Greg up from airport around lunchtime
Friday - Sandwiches, fruit

Dinners

Mon - fish, mac & cheese, frozen veggies
Tues - baked chicken w/veggies
Wed - Easy Quiche
Thurs - crockpot pork chops
Friday - Homemade pizza
Saturday - Grilled tilapia w/ mango salsa, rice and beans
Sunday - roast in smoker, baked potatoes in smoker