Menu Planning

Somehow, with the rising costs of fuel, energy, and food, it becomes a little trickier to feed all the mouths in this household in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

Menu planning is vital in these cases. Not only does menu planning allow one to see at a glance what meals need advance preparation, it helps to stretch the already scant grocery dollar by allowing one to plan multiple servings of similar ingredients.

When one also takes into consideration the amount of couponing I tend to do, we do end up with a nice surplus of pantry items that aid in meal planning.

Menu for 6/29-7/10

6/29
B: Cold cereal, fruit, chocolate soy milk
L: Grilled cheese, fruit, punch
D: roasted chicken with mustard glaze, cranberries, green beans, rolls, tea/milk

6/30
B: Cold cereal, fruit, milk
L: PB Shimmers, yogurt, fruit, water
D: Chicken enchiladas, corn on the cob, spanish rice, salad, tea/milk

7/1
B: scrambled eggs, toast, ham, milk
L: Ramen w/ octopi and veggie flowers*
D: Beef Stroganoff, salad, broccoli, tea/milk

7/2
B: cold cereal, fruit, milk
L: diced hot dogs in baked beans, carrot sticks, milk
D: Spaghetti w/ meat sauce, salad, garlic toast

7/3
B: Oatmeal topped w/ fruit yogurt, milk
L: PB shimmers, carrot sticks, water
D: Chicken Kabobs, couscous, salad, tea/milk

7/4
B: cold cereal, milk, fruit
L: Hot dogs, carrot sticks, milk
D: Grilled Burgers w/ cheese, potato salad, baked beans, tea/milk

7/5
B: cold cereal, fruit, milk
L: PB shimmers, fruit, milk
D: Pork Stir Fry, rice, tea/milk

7/6
B: Oatmeal, fruit yogurt, milk
L: Ramen w/ octopi and fruit blossoms
D: Pork chops w/ baked potato wedges, broccoli, tea

7/7 Em's BDay
B: French Toast, Sausage Patties, Chocolate milk
L: Homemade pita pizzas, carrot sticks, milk
D: BBQ Sausage, Mac and Cheese, Green beans, cake, sparkling juice

7/8
B: cold cereal, fruit, milk
L: PB shimmers, yogurt, water
D: Monkey Ball Soup (pho w/ meatballs), tea

7/9
B: cold cereal, fruit, milk
L: grilled cheese, tomato soup cups, water
D: Saulisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn on the cob, tea

7/10
B: Hard boiled eggs, ham, gravy and biscuits
L: PB shimmers, carrot sticks, milk
D: Tacos, tea

Thanks to a good weeks of sales and savings, I had close to two dozen boxes of cold cereal in the cupboard that I paid nothing for. Another good sale combined with a coupon allowed me to buy flavored soy milks for the kid's at only .50 cents per half gallon. Most desserts and snacks will be taken care of by my tendency to make cookie dough and freeze it and only bake them out as the cookie jar gets empty. I also have the habit of making triple batches of biscuits and rolls and freezing the uncooked extras. This meal plan primarily will take advantage of the upcoming 4th of July meat sales, specifically for ground beef, chicken, and pork ribs. I'm optimistically hoping that I can do all my shopping for $125 for the two weeks- including putting some aside on a gas card.