April in our family for the last 3 years has meant we’re running around every weekend with soccer games. But I’m so happy to report that this April that is simply not the case! My standing rule for each of the kids and their extra curricular activities has been one outside of school activity {ie, paid for} as long as they keep their grades up. They can get so bogged down with the activities they do in school – like marching band – that it can get really hard for me to keep up with multiple activities for one kid. Let alone 3.
So this spring, they’ve all decided to stick with their theater and dance classes, which I am perfectly fine with! No more running around 2 times a week per kid, not including the games. Oh… the games… Saturdays are for gardening again!!
We still have a lot going on this April. My middle has SongFest rehearsals, and the concert at the end of the month. There are two practice performances for my theatre boys, and a few doctors appointments. There are also some late starts for my clan because it’s standardized testing season in PA. To top it off, Lady Bug is scheduled to get her adenoids out at the end of this week, so we’ll be laid up at the beginning of April. You can bet that there are lots of quick meals that are simple and palatable on an uneasy stomach are on the list!
Beyond basing our meals off our schedule for the month, here are some other things to consider while reviewing our monthly meal plan:
I plan only our dinners. 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. You can check out my 30+ frugal pantry staples to see what I always have on hand without going over budget.
We try to have one big meal each week, and it’s usually a roast. Throughout the rest of the week I use the leftovers as ingredients for the week’s remaining meals. For instance, a roast beef then becomes ingredients for beef stroganoff, beef quesadillas, vegetable beef soup and so on.
Breakfasts are usually oatmeal, cereal, toast or bagel with peanut butter and fruit, cottage cheese and fruit, or yogurt with granola. It may seem limited and boring, but keeping breakfast choices as simple as possible makes it much easier during our hectic morning routine. Hubs is out the door at 6:30 and the kids and I are out the door at 7.
Lunches are packed each day for Hubs and the kids, while I currently 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, pretzels and Nilla cookies, are also divided out at home and sent to school in smaller snack containers. While packing lunches every day does raise our grocery bill a little bit, it saves us well over $250 every month, making it well worth it. To see what supplies I rely on for our packed lunches, you can check out my 7 must haves for packed lunches.
I don’t stock pile shop –we simply don’t have the pantry space– but I do shop for weekly sales, mostly for snack items like crackers, pretzels, and so on. While this may not be the best of healthiest option for snacks, and I far prefer fruit for their snacks, I have found that dry snacks are easiest when divvying out snacks. And they’re also is the least messy/sticky for in the classrooms and backpacks.
During the summer and fall, I preserve what we are able to grow and get cheap from local you-pick farms and farmer’s markets. It helps me keep what we eat fresh and local, but also limits our preservative and additive intake {I have allergies to multiple things, including preservatives, and my middle gets migraines with certain food additives like MSG}.
Sloppy Joes & Fries
Pizza
Roast Beef & Baked Potatoes
Cheese Steaks
Roast Chicken Dinner x2
Tacos
Chicken Sammies
Beef Stroganoff, Green Beans
Ham & Gnocchi
Shepherd’s Pie
Chicken & Broccoli Stuffed Shells
Chicken & Rice
Vegetable Beef Soup
Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans
Pierogies
Holiday Meatballs
Meatball Subs & Chips
Tuna Noodles
Patty Melts & Fries
French Toast, Bacon & Eggs
Ham Potato Soup
Pancakes & Eggs
Monteray Chicken & Rice
Cast Iron Chicken & Orzo
Salisbury Steaks, Mashed Potatoes & Peas
Cheesy Chicken Shells
Meatloaf, Garlic Potatoes & Corn
Need some more inspiration for your meal plans? You can check out our past meal plans here! Also don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, where I have a whole board dedicated to meal planning, as well as boards for soups, chicken recipes, and so on.
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