Something that has been severely lacking since the (actually before) the babies were born is a meal plan for our house. It was hard in those early months when there were sporadic schedules and never knowing when I would even have a spare minute to pee, much less cook a whole meal. Now though, the babies are mostly predictable, and the kids are in a really good groove of helping so I really have no excuse for standing in the kitchen at 5pm having no idea what we are going to eat. We are all tired of sandwiches, and things thrown together at the last minute, and most of all, going to the store almost every single day.
So yesterday, I read the paper. I looked at the ads. Ed and I talked about which nights he would be home for dinner. And then I made a plan and dragged my butt up off the couch and went grocery shopping.
I had to bring the babies because Ed and Eddie were working in the yard, so the girls came along to help. I’d plugged my list in to my phone app and pretty much organized it by aisle. I had the babies in the stroller, and Hannah pushed a child sized cart while Caitlyn pushed the regular cart. Hannah would put the items I grabbed in to her cart and then deliver them to Cait’s main cart. It worked out pretty well, and while grocery shopping with more than one kid usually stresses me out, it wasn’t a bad way to spend our afternoon. I don’t know if it’s a plan I can stick to every Sunday, but it’s nice to know that it was doable. And best of all, we are 100% set with meal ingredients through Friday and should only need to pick up ancillary items like milk and bread. I feel like such a grown-up!
So! Here is what we are eating this week:
Sunday: Sweet and Sour Chicken
Monday: Hot turkey sandwiches with gravy and fries
Tuesday: Crockpot Beef and Broccoli
Wednesday: Smoked Sausage, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes
Thursday: Halloween. Take-out.
Friday: Italian Goulash
I feel so good about having it all planned out, and ready to go. It’s also all stuff that I can throw together during the day while I’m working and have ready whenever we decide to eat.
What are you eating this week?
Incubation Nation 
I made lasagna over the weekend so we’ll have that for a few nights. Xander is making stuffed bell peppers tonight or tomorrow. We also have soup in the freezer to cover if there isn’t enough for the week. I always feel really content when I have meals laid out and I know we have everything we need. One less stressful thing in my life! 🙂
We’ve been meal planning for about a month, with sporadic crappy weeks due to soccer/field hockey/meetings. It’s seriously awesome to have everything planned out for the week. Tonight we’re having a bacon and burger pasta bake (thank you Pinterest) that I’ve already made and just have to pop in the oven. I’m a little iffy on tomorrow but I have food in the house so I’ll be able to make something. I’ll probably roast a chicken I have in the freezer (ooh, I should take it out). I made chicken pot pie yesterday so there are a bit of leftovers there. We’ll do something easy on Halloween and Friday Meg has friends coming before the dance so it will probably be pizza.
I made a meal plan & grocery list before grocery shopping on vacation last week and my mom was so impressed. I can’t imagine trying to cook without a plan…I’d be at the store every day! This week, with re-etnry from vacation, was tough… We’re having homemade pizza, spaghetti, cashew chicken, sloppy joes and chicken burgers.
Beth and Noah added some adjectives to the menu I wrote on the fridge white board, but here’s what it says:
Monday: Terrifying tostadas
Tuesday: Mummified meatloaf, petrifying potatoes, and (un)bearable broccoli
Wednesday: Reanimated ravioli and scary salad
Thursday: ghostly grilled cheese and spooky soup
You get the picture
I”m so envious. I am missing the Meal Planning Gene. I just can’t do it. I suck.