Tag: menu planning

Bi-Weekly Meal Plan – April 24, 2017

Posted on by Sarah Marshall
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Meal Plan Monday

Meal planning for two weeks at a time has proven to be really effective for us. I’ve found it really beneficial to be prepared and ingredients on hand for double the number the meals. It allows me more flexibility which has been vital in the past few weeks where I’ve gotten sick (strep is the worst!!), kids have gotten sick, and Keith’s spring sports/work schedule can be changed at the drop of a hat.

It took me a little while to get in a groove of the two week meal plan. Now that I have, I feel that our grocery budget has been reduced. We’ve have some anamolies, such as spring break in March, that keeps me from declaring with certainty that this method is saving us money on groceries. But at this point, it seems quite possible.

Our breakfasts and lunches have become very routine so planning for them has become quite simple. We’ve found some new dinner recipes that are a hit with everyone and hope to share some recipes here on the blog real soon. Brooke has plans over both weekends & Keith will be gone the second so I left the weekends open because Leah & I are pretty easy to please and I’m sure there will be leftovers to throw into the mix.

Meal Plan for April 24 – May 7, 2017

Breakfast

Eggs & Toast
Smoothies
Yogurt & Granola
Breakfast Bars

Lunch

Leftovers
Salmon & Veggies
Sandwiches
Salads
Homemade “Lunchables” (Brooke’s lunches)

Dinner

Cheeseburger Pie
Oven Tacos
Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops
Baked Penne with Sausage & Peppers
Burgers
Creamy Italian Chicken
Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Stacks
Easy Taco Salad
Mexican Pizzas
Weeknight Creamy Sausage Pasta

Below is a screenshot of my Plan To Eat planner to give you an overview of how I have meals planned each day. As always, nothing is set in stone.
BW Meal Plan 2017.04.24-05.07

Have you tried meal planning for longer than a one-week period? What did you like or not like?

Weekly Meal Plan & Goals – November 2, 2015

Weekly Meal Plan & Goals – November 2, 2015

Posted on by Sarah Marshall

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen a series of pics last Sunday documenting me getting meals prepped for the upcoming week. It was a busy one…we had activities every night from Saturday – Tuesday and all but one involved dressing at least one kid in costume. Even with all that we had going on, due to my planning and prep work ahead of time, we didn’t need to eat out once. That is a huge win in my book!

Even better, I’ve managed to have enough of the prepped food leftover that I could carry over some of the prepped meals into this week’s meal plan. Grocery shopping this weekend was so easy because we pretty much just needed our weekly staples – eggs, bread & produce and that’s it!

meal plan & goals 2015.11.02

So here’s the plan for this week:

Breakfast

Brooke & typically have some form of eggs every morning; scrambled, fried or in a hole

Lunch

Leftover turkey tenderloin
Leftover salmon burgers
Leftover sweet n’ sour chicken
Creamy tomato tortellini soup
Sandwiches

Dinner

Turkey Tenderloin, mashed potatoes, California medley vegetables
Cheeseburger Pie, frozen corn
Chili & fixins, cornbread
Leftovers or Mexican Pizzas
Grilled Cheese night
Pizza Night

Next up are my goals for the week. Eventually I’d like to have them categorized or organized in some fashion. For today, I brain dumped a few things I’d like to get started with RIGHT NOW. So here goes:

  • Mail a “Thinking of You” note to a friend
  • Bible study 5 of 7 mornings
  • Lunches packed at night
  • 2 blog posts & 1 video posted
  • Schedule social media posts the night before
  • Walk at least 20 minutes 3 of 5 workdays and at least 1 weekend day
  • One Fit2be session each day (at least 10 minutes)

I’ll check in next week and report on how I do accomplishing these goals and share any new goals I’m going to set!!

{Menu Plan Monday} Back in the Swing & Hello Mornings

{Menu Plan Monday} Back in the Swing & Hello Mornings

Posted on by Sarah Marshall

I’ve had a couple days of glorious alone time while Keith and Brooke took a Daddy/Daughter road trip to Michigan to visit family and go to Brooke’s first Tigers game!!

It was 2 days of doing whatever I wanted…breakfast while watching Saturday morning Food Network, caught up on episodes of Parenthood and Private Practice, spent Sunday morning serving with the church children’s ministry, fpKids. I watched movies that Keith would never want to watch with me!! Sidenote – Being Elmo was AMAZEBALLS! I am totally inspired by him!!

But its Sunday night and while my cuties are enjoying the last night of their trip, I’m giving in to the fact that real life starts again tomorrow. And as I’ve said before, one of the best ways for the workweek to feel less chaotic is to have a menu plan ready.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this one doesn’t completely change as the week goes on but its a starting point.

Monday: Crockpot Chicken & Rice ( a pinterest find)
Tuesday: Panini Night has been a good fit for Gymnastics nights so far
Wednesday: Beans n’ Rice Burritos
Thursday: Taco Night
Friday: Leaving this open
Saturday/Sunday: I think we have a party at Keith’s boss’ house one of these nights, the other night will be Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.

I’m also trying to gain a little more control over my time and not always feel like either a chicken with my head cut off, a failure or both.

So I’ve accepted the Hello Mornings challenge for Fall.

HelloMornings
The basic premise for Hello Mornings is that you “wake up FOR your kids, not BY your kids”. Its really just about getting all your ducks in a row and taking care of you before the focus shifts to everyone else. For some, this time will be for bible study, exercise, or planning ahead for their day. While you don’t HAVE to participate, there is a Bible study offered with which everyone can follow along. For this challenge, the study is Kept: Secure in His Hands Whatever I Face (A “Quench” Bible Study)

For me, I plan to use this time to do the group Bible study and when classes start again, I will use this as study time as well.

One important part of this challenge is accountability. So teams are created and we will encourage each other and share what we are experiencing and learning throughout the challenge. We update on Twitter or Facebook and can also use Instagram to connect with other participants using the #hellomornings hashtag.

I’m really looking forward to this and it will be a challenge because getting up an earlier than I HAVE to is not my strong suit. Wish me luck!!!

Do you get up before your family? What kind of things do you try to accomplish before everyone is up?