Happy Sunday, everyone!
There isn’t much going on around here today except for some last minute cleaning up of Christmas. I always hate when everything is down but, every year, it must be done. At least the sun is shining which always gives my mood a boost! If it were cloudy and rainy?…chances are nothing but napping on the couch would get accomplished! I might even wash my windows today, too. It’s funny how sunshine can make you realize how dirty your windows actually are!
Yesterday was grocery shopping day. It was long overdue since our cupboards and refrigerator were almost completely bare!
No food in the house = grumpy police officer…so that needed to be fixed!
I picked up the basics like milk and bread and then other necessities and extras for our meals for the week. I am usually really bad at meal planning and do not get anything ready before the week starts. I always end up flying by the seat of my pants and making a decision on each day about what to have for dinner. I am so envious of all of you out there that start the week with meals prepared and a plan in order…my life would be so much easier if I would just be like all of you! I have made a promise to myself to simplify my crazy life and meal planning is going to be step one! I needed to start somewhere and there is no time like the present!
The haul:
milk
whole wheat bread
yogurt
cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, goat)
cottage cheese
cereal
pickles
cereal bars
eggs
egg whites
turkey bacon
assorted canned veggies (green beans, corn, carrots)
assorted beans (black, kidney, cannellini, pinto)
tomato sauce & paste
red potatoes
lettuce
broccoli
cucumbers
red, yellow, and green peppers
mushrooms
celery
tomatoes
carrots
apples
bananas
pineapple
applesauce
whole wheat pasta
chicken breasts and tenderloins
turkey tenderloins
tilapia filets
tuna
pretzels
taco shells
whole wheat tortillas
Meals for the week:
chicken enchiladas
chicken stir-fry
turkey tenderloin with red potatoes and veggies
tuna salad wraps
grilled chicken salads
pasta with tomato sauce
I’m not exactly positive what day of the week each of those meals will make an appearance, but at least I have a plan and all of the ingredients to make each one. That’s more than I can say about the meals I have made for the past few years! Baby steps. Baby steps.
Alright, friends, I’m off to finish my coffee while watching Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids and enjoy the sunshine streaming through my windows today!
With much Love and Laughter,
Kelly
Something to share: Do you meal plan at the beginning of each week? Any favorite dinner recipes you want to share? – link them in the comments!
Yay! Great job mapping out a plan for the week! It definitely takes stress out of the rest of the week. Your menu sounds yummy, too!
You had me at Pineapple !! I . love . pineapple.
I’m a basic meal planner too. Anything more than that and it feels like a chore. Meal planning is supposed to help with stress, why complicate and add to it
Great start to menu planning. Stick with it! It gets easier and the benefits are so worth it!
My meal planning generally involves sitting around on Sunday and planning 4-5 dishes for the week. Cooking for myself I tend to have a lot of leftovers so I look for things that will freeze well or I’ll eat 2-3x during the week. I like things where if I buy a jar or can or something I can use it in another dish or at least the following week. Other than that it’s not too formal. I play around on Pinterest to find 1 or 2 special things now and again.
I actually like the idea of buying food and not planning. I just try to buy foods that go together well.
I keep wanting to plan out a whole week, and I can’t make myself do it. This week, we came close: we did 4 days worth of food. It’s a start!
Plus, we live in the middle of our town and don’t have kids, so our schedules let us hit the store way more often if we just need to pick something up to cook.
Earlier this week it was veggie stirfry and tonight was chipotle gouda quiche. I can’t wait for leftover nights!