Meal planning anyone?

[britta]

I've forgotten to start this thread lately. 🙊 I'm going to assume everyone's meals/planning were as affected by the holidays as mine. 😉

So, now that the holidays are behind us...what's on the menu this coming week?

QOTW: What's your favorite meal of the day?

[britta]

I'm going to attempt to change how I meal plan in the new year, which will hopefully translate to less grocery shopping trips and less time in the kitchen in the evenings. For one, I'm going to try meal planning two weeks out, instead of one. I'm also going to try and do more meal PREPPING on the weekends when I have H's help, whether to actually assist or to wrangle the kids. So...does anyone do this? I need to google tips and tricks to make this the most efficient.

For this week, in no particular order:
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo w/ carrots and broccoli
Venison steaks w/ veggie, baked potatoes
Venison stew
Lasagna w/ a veggie
Thai Pork Pizza

QOTW: Lunch. I heart lunch.

[erien22846]

britta I don't meal prep on the weekends yet but it's a goal for 2017. I think it'll be essential to survive with three kids, especially while nursing.

Tips I've heard include cutting veggies, cooking rice, and shredding chicken ahead for quick lunch or dinner prep. Salads are also an easy lunch idea but I don't really care for salad so I won't be doing that:)

Hopefully we can share tips and tricks and make this work!

[iwantbacon]

Here's my plan for the week.

Su: crockpot balsamic Pork, sauerkraut, brussels sprouts and egg noodles
Mo: leftover pork
Tu: pesto pasta w/brussels and chicken sausage
We: couscous salad (butternut squash, cranberries, spinach, pecans and goat cheese)
Th: pasta with sausage and peppers
Fr: Grilled chicken salads

Ive also tried to think ahead about my breakfasts and lunches once I'm back to work on Tuesday to save money and calories.

I love brunch. Love love love.

[sanibel21]

Not a meal planner per se, but based on our food shopping trip:

Leftover chili
Chicken salad sandwiches
Salad, kielbasa and rice
Salad, steak tips, fries
Creamy chicken noodle soup

[sanibel21]

I make big meals on weekends sometimes to have leftovers for a couple days. I've recently started prepping dinner during DDs nap sometimes too.

[sanibel21]

I love breakfast out

[britta]

@holachica I'm definitely planning to chop veggies and meat (into chunks/strips depending on recipe) for the week ahead. Question: have you ever chopped veggies and then frozen them? I'm trying to get away from needing to grocery shop every. single. week., so I'm planning 2 weeks out. If I chop say, peppers, and freeze them with the FoodSaver, do you think they'd be good? I feel like produce is going to be what keeps me from being able to shop 2 weeks out. 😕

[britta]

Jan 2, 2017 11:41:36 GMT -5 @holachica said:

Jan 2, 2017 11:38:30 GMT -5 britta said:

@holachica I'm definitely planning to chop veggies and meat (into chunks/strips depending on recipe) for the week ahead. Question: have you ever chopped veggies and then frozen them? I'm trying to get away from needing to grocery shop every. single. week., so I'm planning 2 weeks out. If I chop say, peppers, and freeze them with the FoodSaver, do you think they'd be good? I feel like produce is going to be what keeps me from being able to shop 2 weeks out. 😕

I've done it before. The veggies get more soft, so I'd only do it for recipes like soups, sauces or chili. If you want the veggies to still have that bite, don't freeze. To make it even easier, Trader Joe's has frozen chopped bell peppers and stuff that I've used. Reasonably priced and does the job.

Yeah I would probably only do it for recipes like you mentioned. I'm also thinking that veggies with a high water content won't do as well (like the zucchini and summ squash I need).

Frozen may be the way to go. I just really like buying fresh when I can, but if I'm going to freeze it anyway it's moot I think.