Menu Planning: #229

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Meal planning is essential to eating healthy, keeping the grocery bill down, and maintaining your sanity throughout a workweek.   In addition to meal planning, I try to prepare meals as much as possible over the weekend.   This helps to lower my stress during the week.    However, if we have a busy weekend, I try to plan simple or crockpot meals.      


Our grocery bill has been reaching or surpassing $200 a week for a while and this month, I am going to try to bring that price tag down.  In addition to spending so much money on groceries, we have also been eating out more often.    It is time to change our ways.  Our goal is $150 per week and only eating out 1 time in the month of November.     


Week 1 = 193.10


Week 2 = $277.84


Week 3 =$138.26


Week 4 = 

  • $101.98 (Eating out Replacement, Stock Up Items, Christmas Gifts)

  • $109.02


Stock Up Items include: Since we went to a specialty store that has great prices on some of our holiday and pantry favorites at rock bottom prices, we picked up some extras. 

  • 10 Mama Pad Thai Bricks (These are great for adding a few ingredients and replacing a takeout meal.)

  • 1 Coffee Flavoring Syrup 

  • 5 Small boxes of Belgium Candy for Gifts

  • 3 Noodle Bowls (Authentic Options for my son to try as a replacement for Bowls that are at least $1.00 in the grocery store.)

  • Stroopwafels for Christmas Treat (We selected the smaller version which was $1.00 cheaper per box.) 

  • Walnuts (Incredible price)

  • Reduced Fruit and Vegetables 


Eating Out Solution:   

  • Invested in better ingredients and cooked at home. 

  • I became ill during the week, so sandwiches and leftovers to the rescue.  

 

Monthly Total: $820.20


Meal Preparation Plan

  • Hard Boiled 12 eggs

  • Cut up Vegetables for the week

  • Cleaned out the refrigerator and froze what we wouldn’t be able to eat. 

  • Shopped my refrigerator and pantry 

  • Hummus


NOTE- 

1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 

2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location.     


Breakfast Options: 


Hard Boiled Eggs

Egg McMuffin Sandwich

Cereal


Monday

Leftovers


Tuesday

Ravioli 

Salad


Wednesday

Sandwiches


Thursday


Turkey

Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Vegetables

Pumpkin Cheesecake


Friday

Mussels

Riced Cauliflower


Saturday

Turkey Stoup

Salad

Bread


Sunday


Cajun Shrimp

Pasta

Salad

Bread


M- Stir Fry 

T- Kielbasa 

W- Taco Night

Th- Sandwiches

Fri- Pizza

Sat- Butter Chicken

Sun- Chili


* Indicate that the recipe is a new one for our family.    


If you are interested in last week’s Menu Plan, the link is below. 


What is your meal plan for this week?


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