Weekly Meal Plan 10/27/23 to 11/2/23: Feeding The Family

 Even though I haven't been putting my meal plans on the blog, I have still been doing them.  I don't know how to plan dinner any other way.  And if you know me, have read any of my blog posts, or have just looked at the "About Me' on my side bar, you probably know that I am constantly trying to lose weight or eat healthy.  Trying being the operative word.  Maybe "failing" would be a better fit here.  Last week I decided to go back to basics.  I know that they say that once you hit perimenopause/menopause the things that worked in the past no longer work, but for me, nothing seems to work.  I have tried it all.  So I decided to go back to what did work for me in the past which was Weight Watchers.  So for now, future menu plans will take on that theme. Will this work? I'm praying so.  The only other variable is that the first time I did Weight Watchers I was in my 20's and I was a pretty heavy smoker and I drank Diet Coke all day.  I'm now in my 50's and I no longer smoke or drink Diet Coke.   But in my 20's, I didn't exercise AT ALL and now I do.  So stay tuned to see what happens.

Friday:  Pasta Puttanesca, Salad, and Bread (for the guys)

Saturday:  Lemony Chicken Francaise, Potato, Veg (from the WW app)

Sunday:  It's our neighborhood Trick or Treat and weather permitting, we bring the fire pit to the bottom of the drive to hand out candy.  Hot Dogs and Turkey Dogs over the fire and low fat cole slaw.

Monday: Chicken Fried Rice

Tuesday: Egg Roll In A Bowl

Wednesday:  Baked Chicken Thighs, Rice, and Veg

Thursday:  Clean Up Day

In an earlier post, I said I was going to shop my freezer for next weeks meals.  The good news with WW is that everything is on plan, I just have to make sure my daily points don't go over.  I really don't want to cook one meal for me and one meal for the family.  Ain't nobody got time for that.

Menu Plan 2-3 to 2-9-23: Feeding the Family

 This week's menu plan has already been altered.  Friday was so busy that I ended up picking up Chinese take out for dinner.  And they gave us so much, that we ended up having left overs for Saturday's dinner.  Those two days were very easy on me cooking wise.  The oldest turned 21 on Sunday, and our original plan was to go to his college and take him out to eat to celebrate.  But he had already made plans with his high school friends (the guys were coming to visit him and to celebrate).  We did not want him to change his plans, so we said we would celebrate at a later date.  But in anticipation of that trip, we scheduled the dog at the kennel for the weekend.  We kept that plan, because she's going to need to get used to the kennel for when we go on vacation this summer.  I missed her very much, but I used Saturday and Sunday to get caught up on all the cleaning I can't get done when she is here.  Having the take out/left overs really gave me extra time to get more cleaning done.  I felt slightly organized - lol.  But I do have a menu this week.

Friday:  Chinese take out (meatless Friday)

Saturday:  Left over take out

Sunday:  Roasted Chicken thighs, fried potatoes, and lima beans

Monday:  Breakfast for dinner:  Pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and turkey bacon

Tuesday:  Turkey Tacos

Wednesday:  Chicken Double Fried Rice (THM recipe).  It's Chicken fried  rice with half rice/cauli rice

Thursday:  I have this down as "clean up day", but if we don't have left overs, we will have Weight Watchers Crock Pot Potato Soup (except that I make my own "cream of chicken soup". It's so easy, and better than the canned).

Have a blessed week ahead!!

Menu Plan 1/27/23 to 2/2/23: Feeding the Family

 

This week I had a Walmart pick up scheduled for the groceries.  I love me a Walmart pickup.  I love ordering my things online and just showing up and having it put in my car.  It's easy and convenient.  Until it isn't.  I scheduled my pick up for 8-9 am Friday morning. This would be after school drop off.  Well, Thursday morning, it started snowing.  And it just didn't stop.  The Walmart that I used was close to the school, but not close to our house (our Walmart is 40 minutes round trip from our house.  The school Walmart is 45-50 minutes from our house and smack dab in the heart of snow belt).  Since I was worried about school getting cancelled, I cancelled my pick up Thursday afternoon.  The road Thursday night were TERRIBLE. I thought for sure that school would be cancelled.  But the roads were fine Friday morning.  So I cancelled for nothing.  But better to safe, than sorry.  So I shopped at my favorite local grocery store instead.  The prices are not as good.  But it's 5 minutes from the house, and the food is such great quality.  So I saved no money this week, but we have delicious, healthy food and I didn't have to stress about school possibly getting cancelled.  I put streaks on this weeks menu, and I normally don't do that because of how expensive they are.  But we eat so much chicken, that I thought the guys could use something a little different.  And the big boys aren't here, otherwise steaks only happen for special occasions. 

This weeks menu:

Friday:  Baked Salmon and Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Saturday:  Lemon Chicken with Capers, Brussel Sprouts

Sunday:  Steak, Baked Potato, and Salad

Monday: Cheeseburgers and Veggies

Tuesday:  Chicken Tacos/Chicken Tacos

Wednesday:  Pizza Soup

Thursday:  Clean Up Day Rice and Beans with Chicken Breast (we didn't have leftovers)

Have a blessed week ahead!!

Meal Plan 10/14 to 10/20/22: Feeding the Family

 Hi all!  Happy mid-October!  Football ended last Sunday.  Unfortunately, the boys lost their final game and that took them out of any playoff contention.  We have no sporting events this week.  But basketball will be starting the beginning of November, so the reprieve will be a short one.  Such is life with kids.  

My goal right now is to stock up our freezer while trying to get our grocery budget in check. This is not an easy task, but I'm working on it.  I'm trying to get an organized database of our favorite, most used recipes and a grocery list to go along with them.  This is something that will take time, but I think it will help me be more organized.  Stay tuned for progress updates.  

This Sunday is trunk or treat at the school.  But that's all we have scheduled right now.  I would like to take the young one to get his pumpkin to carve, so maybe we will do that on Saturday after trunk or treat.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here.  I know it won't stay that way, but I'm soaking up every last bit of it.  

This week's menu plan:

Friday:  Clam Chowder (moved from last week's menu plan):  I had a lot of left-over lunch meat, so I changed last week's menu plan around.  I also had an unfortunate incident with the stew meat (you cannot leave meat on the counter all night and use it the next day.  Oy.  I can't believe I did that).  

Saturday:  Sausage and pepper bake.  I need to use the rest of the peppers from the garden.  

Sunday:  Salisbury Steak, potato, and veg

Monday:  Food Nanny's Chicken Soup, rolls (from the Food Nanny Saves Dinner Again Cookbook)

Tuesday:  Low Carb Mexican Casserole with coconut lime rice

Wednesday:  Quiche and hashbrowns

Thursday:  Clean-up Day

Baking:  The Ultimate Healthy Banana Muffins from The Ambitious Kitchen

We are trying to cut sugar out of the young one's diet.  He's been on a cookie and milk kick and eating too much Halloween candy.  The muffin recipe above is low in sugar.  It uses honey instead of regular sugar.  I have recipes that use alternative sugars (like Stevia) but I'm just not sure I want to use that with him.  I've read conflicting data on safety, so I prefer to stick with honey, maple syrup, or low amounts of sugar.  

Speaking of too much Halloween candy, the school had Trunk or Treat on Saturday.  He cleaned up.  I will have to dole this out.  

Have a blessed week!!