This is the first time I’m posting my meal plans after we’ve gone through the month. I decided to start doing this because I do create our meal plan at the beginning of the month, but I will improvise as the month goes on. It all depends on what we have on hand, what we’ve recently eaten, and honestly, what everyone feels in the mood for. There have been some nights this month, where a quick batch of chicken noodle soup has really hit the spot, and it wasn’t on the menu plan. It has felt weird, but it’s given me more accountability on what we really eat throughout the month.
Since I started planning meals once a month, I’ve saved a lot of time and money each month! If you’d like to start making your own meal plans, you can follow these 5 easy steps I take to create our monthly meal plans.
Now before we get to what we ate throughout the month, here’s what I take into consideration when I plan our meals.
We’re a family of 5. Hubs and I eat smaller adult portions, Bookworm {11} usually eats a slightly smaller portion than Hubs and I. Then there’s Monkey {7} and Lady Bug {4}. When you combine their portions, it’s about a portion size for Hubs or I.
I try plan from what I have on hand in the freezer or pantry first, but I don’t specifically do stockpile shopping. After I check our pantry & freezer, I buy items that we need for the week and combine with coupons when possible.
I plan out dinner only. Unless it’s noted, sides consist of a fruit or veggie, possibly a grain, and is based on what I have in my fridge and pantry.
We have one big meal each week. If I make a roast, we’ll use it for our big weekend meal, and then use the leftovers as ingredients for the week’s remaining meals. If there’s extras leftover, we’ll stick them in a labelled ziploc bag in the freezer to use at a later date. I try to plan one meal of leftovers throughout the week, sometimes more. It helps us clean out what’s in the fridge so we have less food going to waste.
Breakfasts are usually oatmeal, cereal, toast and peanut butter with fruit, cottage cheese and a fruit, or yogurt with granola. It may seem limited and boring, but keeping breakfast choices simple makes it much easier on our hectic morning routine since Hubs is out the door at 6:30 and the boys are on the bus at 6:50.
Lunches are packed each day for Hubs and the boys, while Lady Bug and I eat at home. Lunches are either sandwiches, salads, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, or leftovers as the main course. It’s served with a fruit/veg, yogurt or cheese, a drink and a “treat” {gummies, chips, etc}. Snacks, such as crackers and Nilla cookies, are also divided out at home and sent in to school in snack containers.
During the summer and fall, I freeze and can what I am able to grow and get cheap from local you-pick farms and farmer’s markets. It enables me to keep what we eat fresh and local, but also limit our preservative and additive intake.
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Cheddar Corn Chowder
Leftover Turkey & Noodles
Leftover Cheddar Corn Chowder
Dinner Out – With Hubs’ family
Tacos
Ham, Gnocchi & Peas
Cheddar Broccoli Soup
Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans
Pizza
Dinner Out – Company Christmas Party
French Toast & Eggs {Denver ommlettes for adults, scrambled for kids}
Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken & Rice
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Nachos
Ate Out – Olive Garden with my sisters after graduation
Roast Chicken, Sweet Potatoes & Oranges
Chicken Noodle Soup {with leftover roast chicken}
Holiday Meatballs, Green Beans & leftover Sweet Potatoes
Leftover Chicken Noodle Soup – Kids are leftover Holiday Meatballs
Snacks – Bolonga, Cheese & Crackers
Pizza
Ham dinner with my family
Christmas Dinner at in-laws
Ham & Potato Chowder {with leftover ham}
Dinner Date with Hubs – Texas Roadhouse {used gift card}
Nachos
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Ham, Potato & Green Bean Soup {with leftover ham}
Dinner at in-laws
Overall, I think we did really well on our spending for the month. We had quite a few office parties, family get-togethers, and school holiday concerts come up throughout December, and it didn’t stress our meal plan budget too much. The total we spent was $571.45, which made it under the $600 I really like to keep it under each month.
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