Okay, so this week I said I would take my pile of Groceries and Make meals from what I purchased! I want to help teach you to understand that Food prep and Meal Planning is not a hassle and it will save on food waste and on the Dolla Bills!!
I am guilty of buying something and using it in one recipe and then it goes bad because I never use it again or I forget about it. I think all of us have thrown something out from the fridge and thought “what a waste!” – and you’re right! It is a waste of money and its also a waste of nutritious food that we are blessed to have access to.
So because I want to stop wasting food and my money – I am trying to prepare for the week or two ahead before I go to the grocery store. With that said…. I spent $210 at the grocery store on Saturday and I have gathered about $150 dollars worth of actual Food that will make me at least 5 breakfast items, 5 lunches and 7 dinners. I say at least because I am going to try and stretch this $150 as far as I can! which means… I figure I can get more dinner plans out of this for sure… the only thing I may need to grab for the second week is a few extra fresh fruit/veggies, maybe some eggs and yogurt!
Now – I will use some items I have in the fridge that I already purchased (like Ketchup, cheese, Granola) but most of these items you will most likely have and I will try and make sure I give you another option! but the majority of these plans are straight from the List of Groceries I got!
Here is what I have planned for this week…
Sunday June 4th
- Dinner: BBQ Chicken Tacos with Pineapple Salsa & Avocado
This is homemade BBQ sauce as well – I will post this recipe — its so good! I was eating the sauce on a piece of bread! - Snack/Dessert: Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle
- *I didn’t really plan a Breakfast or Lunch as I was food prepping so I tend to pick as I make! … which I did! 😛
Monday June 5th
- Breakfast: Blueberry Yogurt Parfait (I had left over Granola still from before)
- Lunch: Leftover BBQ Chicken with Pineapple Salsa over Kale with avocado
- Dinner: Left over BBQ chicken with mashed Potatoes and Corn on the Cob!
- Snack/Dessert:Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle
*Yes I ate that chicken twice today – but its sooo good and I used it in 2 different ways so you can’t even tell)
Tuesday June 6th
- Breakfast:Raspberry Yogurt Parfait
- Lunch: Leftover BBQ Chicken with Pineapple Salsa over Kale with cheese
- Dinner: Apple Chicken Sausage on a Bun with Corn on the Cob & Potatoes
- Snack/Dessert:Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle
Wednesday June 7th
- Breakfast:Raspberry Yogurt Parfait
- Lunch: Summery Sausage Macaroni Salad
- Dinner: Chicken Tostadas (open face crispy Taco)
- Snack/Dessert:Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle
Thursday June 8th
- Breakfast:Blueberry Yogurt Parfait
- Lunch:Summery Sausage Macaroni Salad
- Dinner: Chicken Quesadillas (leftover chicken from Wednesday night)
- Snack/Dessert:Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle
Friday June 9th
- Breakfast:Pineapple Yogurt Parfait
- Lunch:Summery Sausage Macaroni Salad
- Dinner: Steak, Potatoes & Asparagus
- Snack/Dessert:Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle
Saturday June 10th
- Breakfast: Veggie & Cheese Omelette with hash browns
- Lunch: * I’ll be out so if anything I may take some fruit or a quick snack… Big Breakfasts mean small lunches!
- Dinner: Italian sausage on a bun with Corn on the cob & Salad
- Snack/Dessert:Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle
I am sure some of you are sitting there and saying – Brittany that’s great for a one-to-two person household – but we have 4 of us to feed. You may not be getting $150 dollars worth of groceries it may be $250 – but the idea behind it is that you have a menu already planned with what you purchased which will save you money and food waste. You aren’t just buying one item for one recipe – you are stretching it to use it more then once.
I still have a lot left over – some veggies (not a lot) I do try and use my veggies as quick as possible so I will need to grab some more for this up coming week. I buy the family packs of chicken and I get 6-8 chicken breasts , and that gets me 12-16 meals out of. So I have Chicken in the freezer still, sausage and steak! So I don’t need to go out and buy more meat this week! Now I just need to decide on a plan for the upcoming with with whatever leftover from last weeks grocery run and the few things I will pick up this weekend.
Tips for Meal Planning:
- Sit down and schedule out your week – You can get prepared meal planners all over the internet – use a template for the first bit – it really helps!
now – i just list it on the back side of my grocery list - Mark down busy nights or crazy mornings and plan ahead for those days – leftovers are good for those days, quick 5 item recipes or 15 minute meals… things that will be helpful towards your busy day – easier then a car ride to the golden arches!
- As you plan your first meal – mark down your grocery list – what do you need to make this!
- Take that list and start looking at what you won;t use all of for the recipe and that will be part of your next meal 🙂
- Leftovers are not the enemy! use them in a new way the next night. Got left over BBQ chicken – make a salad, make mac & cheese – sue what you can! don’t think Leftovers have to be less appetizing the second go around!
- Use your freezer & crock-pot – this is where you get the biggest bang for your buck! Crock-pot meals are complete time savers because it just cooks while you do whatever else you need. You can make excess of your meals and freeze it for another night!
- Family packs are great for Singles!! buy chicken in bulk – freeze it! I buy buns this way too… (now I package things well before freezing and i try not to let bread stay in the freezer too long!)
- Plan around what you have already! Look in those cupboards – check expiry dates on cans – got some mushroom soup about to expire – no worries – buy some pork chops and make some rice. DELICIOUS! Look in that freezer for those buns – think about using them up too!
- Limit your grocery trips – I try and go once a week! It will help you to not spend unwanted money because something is on sale and you like it – But its not in the PLAN!!!!
- Have Fun and be creative! Taco nights are great for families – quick easy and everyone gets to build their own! Same with mini pizza nights… there is no shame in the easy game!
Stay tuned for some recipes from this weeks meals!!
xoBrittany
BitesbyBrittany 