WFL & D

[Stringy]

What are you eating this week? Bonus points if its in my cabinet*!


*Disclaimer - odds of achieving bonus points are slim

[Stringy]

I have trouble figuring out meal planning and shopping.

I usually do a big shop every other week but I may go on a friday, sat or sun - depending on the week. The alternate week I go and get fruit/veg/milk and anything needed for a particular meal.

I haven't tried meal planning out for 2 weeks, which is dumb of me - I should. But that cart every other week is SO FULL AND EXPENSIVE - it seems hard.

Talking to myself here...but does anyone else really shop every weds or something consistent to do this?

[dramaphile]

Just went shopping yesterday and bought a ton of food. Meals we're having this week:

Grilled sausage and veggies
Mushroom Marsala Pasta bake
Chicken tacos.

J and I are finally going out for our anniversary on Thursday night, for sushi and hopefully to catch a showing of the Power Rangers Movie, assuming it hasn't left the theaters.

[sarenu]

Tuesday - Miso Ramen bowls (going to make them for dinner and 2 extra for lunch later this week) I put mushrooms, chicken, hard boiled egg, and scallions in. I did it the first time and it was super easy. The kids also got some of the extra chicken.

Wednesday - Roasted cabbage, potatoes and kielbasa. I may add some broccoli and carrots since I have them in the fridge.
www.budgetbytes.com/2017/04/one-pan-roasted-kielbasa-cabbage-dinner/

I'm going to throw a pesto pasta salad together as well. And we have leftover turkey burgers from Sunday.

Thursday - leftover night

Friday - take out (or leftovers)

For meal planning I try to do it on lunch on Friday. That way Saturday morning I can run out and get things before E has her dance class. Generally I do local shopping and then once every 2 or 3 weeks I run out to Costco to grab bulk items.

I like these threads, because I can look at what other people are cooking and grab some ideas for the next week. I really think I should start using recipe cards. I have a hard time remembering recipes from websites that I like. I think having a big pile to go through would be good to mix in variety.

I also visit Budget Bytes regularly because she is always adding something new.  Plus her recipes are pretty simple.  At least the ones I've tried.

Edit: added a link and extra at the bottom.

[rugger]

I struggle with making lunch. I feel like it needs to be a mini-dinner (read: full balanced meal) but it never ends up happening. So they pick at whatever or I make grilled cheese.

Dinner line up this week:
Mon - homemade ramen (stock made with leftover lamb bones from Easter) topped with baby bok choy, mushrooms, medium-boiled egg, shredded carrots, and fresh basil.

Tues - tilapia, brussels sprouts (for adults), lima beans (for kids), rice. maybe a tomato-mozz salad plate on the side

Wed - crockpot something.. thinking either White Bean Kale soup or Quinoa and Veggies with black beans.

Thurs - Whole Roast Turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans.

Fri - dinner at IL's (if they don't cancel on us again)

[rugger]

regarding shopping trips, I go at least once a week. Aldi has become our best friend for most of our shopping needs. We stock up on fruits and veggies, frozen veggies, eggs, almond milk, and some meat and snack stuff there. But Whole Foods is the only place that sells safe "cheese" for A, so I have to go there for that and the flour we buy for bread making, and WF and Wegman's are the only places we can get Earth's Best "butter", coconut milk, dried beans, dog food, coffee, and a few other specialty items. So I end up splitting my time between the three stores. Which sucks with little kids that hate the grocery store or who like to have potty accidents half-way through shopping.

[rugger]

Apr 18, 2017 13:33:26 GMT -5 @charlotte said:

rugger I have been wanting to try out our Aldi, but have been hesitant for some reason.

So when they first came here, it was definitely marketed as a 'budget' store, and the selection and quality was really lacking. We went once then not again until we needed something quick (and it's the closest to us, minus the crappy Safeway).  They ended up remodeling within months of opening and after that, things have been MUCH better.  I think they figured out the market here and that people are looking for quality products (more organic options, less preservatives, less artificial crap), and they really stepped up.  They have decent wine for super cheap, really nice selection of fresh produce (though it does rotate in/out, so sometimes you can't get certain things), coconut oil, fair trade sugars, organic eggs, grass fed beef, etc.  Again, it is much smaller than the other stores, so we can't get everything there, but it makes up 80-90% of our food now, and I know we're saving money.  If A didn't have her dairy and soy allergies, we'd prob get even more stuff from there.   It's worth checking out (just don't forget your quarter for a cart!)

[TJ]

Sun: turkey meatloaf, cauliflower mash, roasted asparagus
Mon: gluten free Buffalo chicken pizza (mmmmmmm!)
Tues: frito salad, cottage cheese & pineapple
Wed: brat dogs, baked beans, veg
Thurs: Korean beef bowls, broccoli
Fri: fajitas, guacamole, roasted cauliflower
Sat: leftovers or out

Lunch is always leftovers. Or P gets a sandwich and I have an Amy's frozen dinner or burrito. Or quesadillas. Or corn dogs and frozen veggies.

I meal plan whenever I feel like it. Whenever I'm obsessing over food. And keep a running list with meal ideas and grocery needs. I do a major grocery trip every other week, then a little trip in the off weeks to grab more fresh stuff or stuff I forgot.

[Crisco Salad]

Monday - Indian takeout
Tuesday - BBQ grilled chicken and broccoli
Wednesday - lasagna
Thursday - brats and green beans
Friday - chicken teriyaki rice bowls
Saturday - TBD

I plan and shop on Saturday mornings. I usually only get enough for that week. If I try to advance plan more than that, something is always going bad.

[rugger]

Apr 18, 2017 13:53:04 GMT -5 @charlotte said:

rugger you have to bring your own reusable bags, right?

No, they have paper and large, cheapy reusable ones that you can buy, but most people bring their own. You do have to bag yourself, but ours has a long counter away from the registers that you can use. I've seen some people bring boxes like at Costco

[rainbowbridge14]

Monday-we had cauliflower rice jambalaya.

Tuesday- likely salads made with rotisserie chicken.

Wednesday-kale and chicken stew

Thursday- stirfry of some kind.

Friday- haven't gotten there yet.

Lunches I usually do leftovers of dinner. I like having a lot of leftover meat to make salads mostly.

[brandiewine11]

Tonight is leftover spaetzle casserole from Easter with kielbasa and red cabbage

Tomorrow is spaghetti with meat sauce (which is already in the freezer)

Lunches are usually leftovers or sandwiches.

I'll be out of town with R2 and my sister Thursday/Friday so will leave food for R1 and figure out the weekend when we get back.

RE: shopping and planning, I do it weekly because things change and if I don't, we end up wasting food.

[MapleMe]

Tonight we're ordering take out pizza. Major bonus points to you if that is in your cabinet.

[Stringy]

Apr 18, 2017 13:51:21 GMT -5 TJ said:

Sun: turkey meatloaf, cauliflower mash, roasted asparagus
Mon: gluten free Buffalo chicken pizza (mmmmmmm!)
Tues: frito salad, cottage cheese & pineapple
Wed: brat dogs, baked beans, veg
Thurs: Korean beef bowls, broccoli
Fri: fajitas, guacamole, roasted cauliflower
Sat: leftovers or out

Lunch is always leftovers. Or P gets a sandwich and I have an Amy's frozen dinner or burrito. Or quesadillas. Or corn dogs and frozen veggies.

I meal plan whenever I feel like it. Whenever I'm obsessing over food. And keep a running list with meal ideas and grocery needs. I do a major grocery trip every other week, then a little trip in the off weeks to grab more fresh stuff or stuff I forgot.

talk about frito salad - it strikes me as something people will have vast opinions of!

is it frito/taco dip? hmmm...

[Stringy]

Apr 18, 2017 15:00:22 GMT -5 MapleMe said:

Tonight we're ordering take out pizza. Major bonus points to you if that is in your cabinet.

there might be some in my fridge...

[freezorburn]

Lunch: egg salad sandwich, bean salad.

Dinner: pizza and Tuscan chicken salad

[TJ]

Apr 18, 2017 15:04:37 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Apr 18, 2017 13:51:21 GMT -5 TJ said:

Sun: turkey meatloaf, cauliflower mash, roasted asparagus
Mon: gluten free Buffalo chicken pizza (mmmmmmm!)
Tues: frito salad, cottage cheese & pineapple
Wed: brat dogs, baked beans, veg
Thurs: Korean beef bowls, broccoli
Fri: fajitas, guacamole, roasted cauliflower
Sat: leftovers or out

Lunch is always leftovers. Or P gets a sandwich and I have an Amy's frozen dinner or burrito. Or quesadillas. Or corn dogs and frozen veggies.

I meal plan whenever I feel like it. Whenever I'm obsessing over food. And keep a running list with meal ideas and grocery needs. I do a major grocery trip every other week, then a little trip in the off weeks to grab more fresh stuff or stuff I forgot.

talk about frito salad - it strikes me as something people will have vast opinions of!

is it frito/taco dip? hmmm...

It's a total 90's salad. Lettuce, tomato, a drained can of ranch style beans, Fritos, and Catalina dressing. Some people add cheese and onions or other things. I've added cucumbers and rotisserie chicken. It's kind of a guilty pleasure food that reminds me of when I was younger. Mh doesn't care for it, so I make it when he's not home for dinner. It's yum!!

[linewifekat]

We had frito pie with chili and cheese for dinner last night. We'll probably have leftovers because I'm like you and only go grocery shopping on payday weeks (every other week).

We have leftovers for lunch. Or grilled cheese with yogurt or cottage cheese.

Ever since ds2 was born I've been slacking on meal planning. I need to get it together.

[ovenrack]

Gosh I love fritos.

[meesh]

Ramen noodles
Easter candy
Cheese sticks
Generic Cheerios.

We've been living very fancy over here

Also...ILU and miss you<3

[DGM]

Denny's tonight because a family member wants their free birthday meal from there LOL.

Stringy, I struggle too big time with meal planning so no advice. Sorry.

[DGM]

Hi meesh!

[rugger]

Ooh, egg salad. That actually sounds good. Maybe I'll make some tomorrow

[ovenrack]

Tonight was ham steak, rice, and frozen vegetables. Ugh.

I need to get on my crock pot game for days when I work.

I also need to work more so I can get over this initial soreness because owwwwww.

Why can I meal plan for like two weeks and then I drop out of doing it?

I need a designated day/time to do the planning I think.

[Stringy]

Apr 18, 2017 20:21:01 GMT -5 ovenrack said:

Tonight was ham steak, rice, and frozen vegetables. Ugh.

I need to get on my crock pot game for days when I work.

I also need to work more so I can get over this initial soreness because owwwwww.

Why can I meal plan for like two weeks and then I drop out of doing it?

I need a designated day/time to do the planning I think.

What's wrong with frozen veggies? That's a balanced meal in this house.

[ovenrack]

Apr 18, 2017 20:22:17 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Apr 18, 2017 20:21:01 GMT -5 ovenrack said:

Tonight was ham steak, rice, and frozen vegetables. Ugh.

I need to get on my crock pot game for days when I work.

I also need to work more so I can get over this initial soreness because owwwwww.

Why can I meal plan for like two weeks and then I drop out of doing it?

I need a designated day/time to do the planning I think.

What's wrong with frozen veggies? That's a balanced meal in this house.

Nothing, my ugh was in reference to being tired of them.  Not the health factor.  It was actually a good meal!  But, like, boring.  

[sarenu]

Ramen noodle bowl.

[DGM]

Apr 18, 2017 19:53:34 GMT -5 rugger said:

Ooh, egg salad. That actually sounds good. Maybe I'll make some tomorrow

We've been doing deviled egg salad this month. Yum!

[TJ]

Apr 18, 2017 19:31:07 GMT -5 meesh said:

Ramen noodles
Easter candy
Cheese sticks
Generic Cheerios.

We've been living very fancy over here

Also...ILU and miss you<3