11-24-12 This Weeks Meal Plan of Cheap 15 Minute Meals. *Shopping List Included*

 

Swedish meatballs and Egg Noodles

 

I’m back to work full time this week. I’m more than a little nervous about returning to my previously hectic life. Now made even more so by this adorable 17 pound Squishy-Face sleeping next to me.  But alas, we have a great five year plan and if I can pull through now, I know that this time will be worth it in the end to meet the family’s goals.

Each Week, I sit down with my schedule book and plan out this week’s meals. Breakfasts are serve yourself from pre-made options, and snack bags for lunches are separated into snack baggies on shopping day (Sunday). I just grab 3 snack baggies for each of our lunches to toss in. We both pack our lunch every day, even being at home these last few months. I pack my lunch as well so I can grab it and go while running errands etc. Jon took over the shopping as one of his chores (You rock Jon!), He does that on Sunday and then I can do food prep that day for the week. I share our menu for the week for those that are new to menu planning. If you have no idea what to do for the week and would like to steal some or all of our plan... I promise not to prosecute:-)

As always, I feel it's important to note that this is not the healthiest plan to follow. It's a great plan for us, because it's breaking our addiction to fast food and other unhealthy habits, and its cut our food budget by about 50%. Slowly, we're making substitutions that will lead us to a healthy cheap meal plan. Rome wasn't built in a day and all that jazz.

"Recipes" for all menu items can be found here and here.

 

 



 

MENU:

 

 

 

Breakfast Options for the Week:

French Toast and Pancakes!! I’m making tons of these tomorrow from scratch and freezing them in groups of three.

Milk and Cereal: Self Explanatory.

 

Fruit Smoothies.

 

Lunch Options:

 

Jon may never get sick of Turkey and Muenster, but I certainly do. I’ll get a few options for the week and we can choose accordingly.

Frozen Healthy Choice Steamers to keep in office in case I forget my lunch.

Ham and Swiss with Deli Mustard

Roast Beef and Cheddar

Oven Roasted Turkey and Muenster

Leftover TurkeyJ

Snack Options for Lunches:

Pudding cups
Slim Jim's
Peanuts
Popcorn
Granola Bars
Fruit
Carrots

Ice Cream- It’s not for lunch- But I’ve had a serious Ice Cream craving all week.

Reminders:

Insanity Week. Gym all week right before lunch. Dinners must be stored for Jon and quick to both make and heat.

Make sure you have everything you need to pack two lunches from now.

The Daly’s come in on Tuesday night and will be here for meals from Wednesday to Sunday. (So serving 5).

Pack extra easy snacks to store in car for unexpected late nights.

Weekday Lunches are now also being eaten on the weekends since One of us will almost always be working the weekend.




Monday:

Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks

Dinner: Chicken Quesadillas, Guacamole and Chips, Brown Rice


Tuesday:

Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks


Dinner:  Beef Tacos with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and taco sauce.


Wednesday:

Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks

Dinner:


Thursday:

Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks

Dinner: Thanksgiving Day – The Daly’s Cook (YES!!!!!! So excited about this!)


Friday:

Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks

Dinner: Bubbles and Squeek! Mom’s famous Thanksgiving leftover recipe which I’ll post late in the week. It’s kind of like a turkey potato stuffing pancake with gravy syrup.


Saturday:

Breakfast: French Toast with strawberry preserves

Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks

Dinner: Swedish meatballs with egg  noodles

Sunday:

Breakfast: French toast with strawberry preserves

Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks

Dinner:  Beef Ravioli and Pasta Sauce, side salad with Italian dressing, strawberry shortcakes for dessert.

Shopping List: (All prices are approximate based off memory- If we shop before I post, I'll include total)

Eggs- two 18 pcks (look for club pack of eggs near the center fridge aisle next to the lunch meat. $4.00

Wegmans Raisin Bran - $2.00

2 Healthy Choice Steamers (no seafood) - $6.00

Wegmans club pack ham in the lunch meats aisle (next to the cheese) – $8.99

Wegmans club pack turkey - $8.99

Wegmans Swiss Cheese $ 2.50

Wegmans Deli Mustard (course brown) - $1.50

Wegmans Sliced Cheddar- $2.50

Wegmans Roast Beef- $3.00 (smaller- not a club pack)

2 loaves Wegmans Giant bread with the lastest expiration you can find - $2.00

Wegmans Pudding Cups x2 = $4.00

Slim Jims- $5.00

Smart Food Popcorn (or Wegmans version if they have it)- $3.00

Wegmans Granola Bars x2 (Not Peanut Butter for mine) - $4.00

Wegmans Yogurts x6 (strawberry banana for me) - $3.00

Ice Cream- you pick – must have chocolate in it –( no mint or peanut butter) - $3.00

Wegmans Burrito Tortillas - $1.50

2 -  Tysons Frozen grilled Chicken Breast (use coupon) - $11.00

Wegmans Salsa- $2.00

Large Cheddar Cheese- $3.50

Avacado- $2.00

Wegmans Tortilla Chips- $2.00

2 - Sour Cream - $4.00

Hard Taco Shells- $2.00

Iceberg Lettuce - $2.00

Ready-made Meatballs- $6.00

Egg Noodles - $1.50

Jar of Beef Gravy - $1.50

Ranch Dressing - $1.50

Wegmans Beef Ravioli x2 - $4.00

Iceberg Salad Mix- $2.00

Frozen Strawberries- $5.00

Frozen Whipped Cream (like Cool Whip) - $2.00

Ready-made angel food cake or shortcake cups (often found in produce next to the strawberries) - $3.00

 

 

 

 

Total: $118.00 for this weeks groceries

Items already at Home:

Brown Rice

Mashed Potatoes

Butter

Taco Sauce

Ground Beef (6 packets of 1 pound left)

Pasta Sauce