Monthly Meal Plan

This was a great month of eating. We began with Super Bowl Sunday leftovers, had a dinner at grandma’s house, and then Valentine’s Day dinner with pureed beets and arugula salad. Next, we hosted our dinner group with a fancy dinner and then had our kids’ school auction. Our lives revolve around food, don’t they?

Monthly Meal Plan

Meal planning saves money, minimizes food waste, and ensures healthy, home cooked meals for the upcoming week. Meal planning is my frame work or agenda of what home cooked meals we’re going to have for the upcoming week. It only takes about 10 minutes to meal plan and involves a quick view of the week ahead and checking to see what staples I already have at home in the refrigerator, in the pantry, and the freezer. Once the meal plan is made, then I make a grocery list of what items are needed.

With weekly meal planning, there’s an efficient plan of cooking for the week, I know what nights we’re having leftovers and I can keep track of what nights my kids are scheduled to cook – and clean up! By eating at home, we’re able to avoid unhealthy, processed foods. If we have a plan, we eat healthier at home – skipping fast food restaurants.

Weekly meal plan from Monday, February 3, 2014 to Sunday, February 9, 2014

Monday: leftovers (from Super Bowl Sunday) and coleslaw with a kick

Tuesday: fish, brown rice, green salad oven roasted broccoli (my son made dinner this night)

Wednesday: Grandma’s house for dinner – thanks, Mom!!

Thursday: split pea soup

Friday: leftovers – split pea soup

Saturday: whole wheat pasta with shrimp scampi and green salad (my daughter made dinner this night)

Sunday: leftovers – whole wheat pasta with shrimp scampi and a bigger green salad!

Weekly meal plan from Monday, February 10, 2014 to Sunday, February 16, 2014

Monday: pan seared cod, quinoa and green salad

Tuesday: sauteed ground pork and cabbage with onions and garlic

Wednesday: leftovers – sauteed pork and cabbage served over rice with a green salad

Thursday: oven roasted spiced chicken with roasted onions and potatoes

Friday: Valentine’s Day pureed beets over pasta served with arugula salad (coupon from Earthbound Farm – yes!)

Saturday: neighborhood dinner group, kids drove (the 17yo got his driver’s license!) themselves to Little Big Burger

Sunday: leftovers – beet puree pasta with arugula salad

Weekly meal plan from Monday, February 17, 2014 to Sunday, February 23, 2014

Monday: roasted chicken with oven roasted cauliflower and green salad

Tuesday: chicken (from last night), pinto beans and brown rice in bowl or on burrito with fresh salsa

Wednesday: Indian spiced lentils with pork pasta with sauteed green peppers, onions and mushrooms

Thursday: pan seared salmon, quinoa and green salad corn

Friday: split pea soup with carrots (from freezer) served with garlic cheese bread

Saturday: leftovers – split pea soup with carrots and garlic cheese bread

Sunday: barley, quinoa, chia and bean “meat” loaf served with steamed corn

Weekly meal plan from Monday, February 24, 2014 to Sunday, March 2, 2014

Monday: pan seared fish, farro and vegetable green salad

Tuesday: sauteed white beans and sage, served over farro

Wednesday: oven roasted chicken and sauteed kale roasted asparagus (my son made dinner this night)

Thursday: leftover chicken, beans and brown rice served with shredded cheddar and salsa

Friday: chicken noodle soup with vegetables and farro

Saturday: attended kids’ school auction

Sunday: ratatouille served on quinoa (my daughter made dinner this night)

What’s for dinner at your house? Are you a write it out on paper meal planner? Or are you an app meal planner?

Go Gingham related links:

What to do with honey that’s hardened
Why I cook with pork – several reasons – and one involves sweat
Just say no to baby carrots!
Go Gingham food philosophy – yes, there is one
New to cooking at home? Fear not!