It’s Monday! How is everyone doing? Still eating Ferrero Rocher’s for breakfast and butter tarts for lunch? There are still a few treats here I am working on…I mean THE FAMILY…is eating, but otherwise we are getting back on track and a weeks worth of planned meals is certainly helping. Welcome to Meal Plan Monday.
This time of year there is usually a nice soup on the menu and a slow cooker meal or two. I know in January a lot of people try to watch their spending so now is the time to search what you have in your cupboards and freezer, shop those sale items at the grocery store and plan your menu from there. I’m working on a future post outlining ways to save money on groceries, in January, or any month of the year. Food is one of the most variable lines in your yearly budget, but making a plan, and sticking to it, can help you keep those costs down immensely.
This week’s meal plan is from The Atlantic Superstore. Here’s what we’re having:
Tuna Burgers and Sweet Kale Salad
Roast Chicken Dinner with Baby Potatoes and Red Peppers
Chicken Stir Fry with Rice
Here’s what I bought:
D’Italiano Buns- $2.50
Knorr Vegetable Buillion Cubes- $2.29
Clover Leaf Tuna (3)- $2.64
Unico Diced Tomatoes- $1.25
Unico Lentils- $1.25
Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup- $0.50
4 pack Red Peppers- $3.99
PC Potato Mix- $3.99
3 lb Carrots- $1.49
3 lb bag of Onions- $1.49
2 Sweet Potatoes- $2.41
Ginger root- $1.55
Sweet Kale Salad- $4.99
Pork Loin Chops- $6.37
Club Pack Chicken Breasts- $13.75
Total Spent: $50.46
Here’s what I had:
Olive Oil- soup and roast chicken dinner
Garlic- soup and roast chicken dinner
Cumin- soup
Coriander- soup
Turmeric- soup
Paprika- soup
Cinnamon- soup
Potatoes- pork chop dinner
Liquid Gravy Browner- pork chop dinner
Miracle Whip- tuna burger
Marble Cheese- tuna burgers
1 lemon (or lemon juice)- roast chicken dinner
Basil- roast chicken dinner
Rice- chicken stir fry
Stir Fry Sauce- chicken stir fry
Some notes about this week’s meal plan:
* For the Tuna Burgers I just mix up 3 cans of tuna and a little bit of mayo.(sometimes I add diced celery, a spoonful of relish or even a few cut up pickles) I spread those on the buns and top with some marble cheese. I then wrap them in tin foil and put in a 400F oven for about 15 minutes. I serve these with a salad and this time of year it is sometimes more economical to buy a prepared salad, like the Sweet Kale Salad, which my family loves…and is on sale this week.
*Chicken Breasts are on sale, but you need to buy the club pack size. I roasted 5 breasts with my Roast Chicken Dinner, and will use the remaining three in a stir fry with what is left of the red peppers, and some carrots and onions.
* I’m using whole potatoes this week in the Slow Cooker Pork Chop Dinner, but if you want it easier, you can buy another bag of the mini-potatoes and just dump those right in your slow cooker. They are also on sale this week, so it’s not too bad to pick up an extra bag.
* The Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup is delicious and if I don’t have time to make biscuits, I just toast bagels with it. A perfect Meatless Monday meal.
* Two of this weeks meals contain no meat….Tuna Burgers and Salad and the Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup. Eliminating meat from one or two meals each week is a great way to make an economical meal plan. There’s enough protein in the tuna and lentils, that you won’t even miss it.
With the cost of the groceries I bought and an estimate of what I already had, this weeks meal plan…5 meals for 5….cost me around $55.00.
Good luck to everyone who is committing to meal planning this year. If you haven’t tried it yet, why not? You can save money, time, and peace of mind. Meal planning works. Are you working on meal planning for this year?
If you need more meal plan inspiration, check out OrgJunkie’s link up.
Meal planning makes life so much easier. If I miss a week things get all bent out of shape! LOL. Looks like a great week filled with great food. I have never done chops in the crock pot. I will have to try it 🙂
Pork chops are great in the slow cooker…super easy and always turns out. 🙂 Have a great week!
You’ll be proud, I know what’s for supper tonight and tomorrow and it isn’t even noon!!
I AM proud Lori…good for you! Now just sit down with a pen and paper and jot down what you plan to eat to eat tomorrow….and the next day…and before you know it…you’ll be doing your own Meal Plan Monday posts! 😉
I’m also trying to get rid of the remaining sweet treats in my house as well. I’ve been bringing stuff to my office. That’s the easiest way to get rid of it! Love the meal plan you’ve put together for the week, especially the tuna burgers and slow cooker pork chop dinner. I also have that sweet kale salad on repeat…so good!
Sounds like we’re on the same page…finishing the treats and giving the rest away! Have a great week!
A crockpot is essential to easy home cooking, especially if you’re short on time and want to prepare food ahead of time. I can’t say enough good things about slow cookers!
I agree! They are the ultimate meal planning tool. I use mine a few times each week….love it!
I will be trying your pork chop dinner on Wednesday. Lentil & sweet potato soup has peeked my interest..will try soon. Thks & keep those recipes coming!!! 🙂
Good luck with the recipes Margaret! Thanks for reading.
So awesome! I really need to get back into a good routine with cooking, have been so off my game over Christmas.
The past several years I’ve done what I call “No Buy January”. I allow about $25 a week for dairy and fresh produce but otherwise I just use what I have at home. It saves money and forces me to be creative.
Your menu looks great! I followed you here from I’m an Organizing Junkie and am now following you on all your social media platforms. I’d love for you to visit me at Life With Dee. Here is my menu for the week: http://lifewithdee.com/menu-monday-january-9-2017/
I love the idea of No Buy January! Off to check out your menu…;)
This is great. I am so glad I found you on Facebook.
Thanks Leah!
I’m glad you found me too Leah….:)
So funny you say that, my hunny grabbed a Ferrero Rocher’s on his way out the door this morning. I told him the holidays are over lol I need to get back to meal planning, lately, it seems that whatever I’m making for the blog is what we end up eating. Not always the best timing! Btw, your sweet potato lentil soup sounds delicious!
Yes…the last of our Ferraro Rocher were finished today too…thank goodness! 😉 If you’re looking for a new soup recipe, give the Sweet Potato and Lentil a try. The spices are warming….which is helpful…depending on where you live. 🙂
Yum! This plan sounds amazing! I am particularly loving the sweet potato soup. I am in such a soup mood this month!
The spices really warm you up…and makes the house smell amazing too while cooking. 🙂
January is definitely a perfect month for soups.