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Meal Plans - March

3K views 48 replies 21 participants last post by  jldumm 
#1 ·
What is everyone planning to finish up February and on into March? There are so few of us posting now I guess we can use one thread for the month even if we post our weekly plans!


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#27 ·
OK, here's my month-

1 B: Pancakes, eggsL:LeftoversD:Shepherd's Pie
2 B:Coffee CakeL: Out to EatD:Sandwiches
3 B:pancakesL:SandwichesD:Grandma's Casserole
4 B:ToastL:Mac & CheeseD:Burritos
5 B:Baked OatmealL:Grilled CheeseD:Tuna Bake
6 B:Banana BreadL:LeftoversD:Lentil Chili
7 B:Biscuits L:pastaD:pizza
8 B:French ToastL:Mac & Cheese w/ hotdogsD:Fried Rice
9 B:Coffee CakeL:TacosD:Sandwiches
10 B:BurritosD:porcupine meatballs
11 B:MuffinsD:Chicken Curry
12 B: OatmealD: Al Fredo w/ Polish Sausage
13 B:Ham & EggsD:Spaghetti
14 B:Bread PuddingD: Sandwiches
15 B:Motel BreakfastL: ApplebeesD: Drive Through
16 B:Coffee CakeL:Chili DogsD:Sandwiches
17 B:pancakesD:Mexican Dish
18 B:MuffinsD:Veggie Tacos
19 B:ToastD:Skillet Lasagna
20 B:Baked OatmealD:pizza Pockets
21 B:pancakesD:Spicy PB Noodles
22 B:Hootenanny PancakesL:Fried Rice D:Mac & Cheese w/ Ham
23 B:Cold Cereal (Big Breakfast @ Church)L:Grilled CheeseD:Skillet Tuna Pasta
24 B:pancakesD:Steak & Potatoes
25 B:ToastD:Black bean & Rice Tacos
26 B:Baked OatmealD:pB Rice
27 B:Zucchini BreadD:pepperoni Bake
28 B:MuffinsD:Skillet Chili Pasta
29 B:French ToastL:Grilled CheeseD:Stroganoff
30 B:Coffee CakeL: Italian Beans & RiceD: Sandwiches
31 B:pancakesD:Spaghetti

I like lists, so I started with month long menus too- but that's more per personality, menu planning saves whether you do a week or a month.
I wrote on my my blog about some things I do to save money here.
Sometimes even though I plan it all out, the last couple meals of the month still end up being "whatchagot" meals.
And no- you aren't weird for spending more, it depends on how you cook, from scratch, pre-made, organic, where you live, what you drink/snack on, do you eat out, etc
 
#28 ·
This is my first time posting on a meal planning thread

I recently sat down and made a 3 week rotation of my family's favourite meals, March will be the first month we try it!
We eat at my mom's every Sunday and usually decide what we're having that day after church, and every other weekend 3/4 of the kids are away visiting their bio-father so I don't really cook, ds (2yo) and I just grab whatever. If there are ever enough leftovers from a meal we'll have it again the next night (and just skip the planned meal) but with the appetites my girls have (12.5yo, 11.5yo, 10yo) we rarely have enough for another full meal.

This is what the month looks like for us:
1 - 3/4 kids away, just grab whatever
2 - buns, deli meat, vegetables, birthday cake
3 - cheese bean bake & cornbread
4 - pizza rice
5 - pancakes & eggs
6 - pasta salad
7 - one-pot supper
8 - vegetable curry & rice
9 - Mom's
10 - tacos
11 - vegetable soup
12 - bbq chicken, pasta
13 - Shepherd's pie
14 - 3/4 kids away, just grab whatever
15 - 3/4 kids away, just grab whatever
16 - Mom's
17 - honey curry chicken, rice, sesame spinach
18 - Colorado pie
19 - French toast
20 - vegetable lasagna
21 - chicken pot pie
22 - sesame pork & rice
23 - Mom's
24 - spaghetti, meat sauce
25 - veggie shepherd's pie
26 - pancakes
27 - burgers
28 - 3/4 kids away, just grab whatever
29 - 3/4 kids away, just grab whatever
30 - Mom's
31 - cheese bean bake & cornbread
 
#29 ·
OK trying to plan things out a bit. I keep changing things up! Trying to use stuff in the freezer.

MARCH:
1 - Cranberry Chicken, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli
2 - Veggie Rotini Soup, Grilled Cheese
3 - Cobb Sandwiches
4 - Saucy Honey Mustard Chicken, Zucchini, Mashed Potatoes
5 - Creamy Ranch Pork Chops, Rice, Peas
6 - Veggie Lasagna
7 - Sloppy Joes, Corn
8 - BBQ Jelly Chicken, Corn, Green Beans
9 - Refried Black Bean & Cheese quesadillas
10 - Chicken, Broccoli, Rice, Cheese Casserole
11 - Angel Chicken Ranch Alfredo
12 - Crunchy Oven Baked Fish Sticks, Macaroni & Cheese
13 - Creamy Mushroom Pasta
14 - Crockpot Chicken & Dressing
15 - Chili w/ Cornbread
16 - Chili w/ Baked Potatoes
17 - Whole Chicken w/ Potatoes & Carrots
18 - Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
19 - Ham, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Rolls
20 - Leftovers
21 - Ham & Macaroni Casserole
22 - Ham & Pineapple Couscous
23 - Farmer's Strata, Peas
24 - Red Beans & Rice w/ Sausage
25 - Kwick Kielbasa Hash
26 - Garlic Cheddar Chicken
27 - Veggie Spaghetti, Salad
28 - Pork Chops, Broccoli, Rice, Gravy
29 - Baked Tortellini Florentine
30 - Orange Marmelade Chicken, Rice, Zucchini
31 - Shrimp & Grits Casserole

Deserts - French Breakfast Muffins, Peach Cobbler, Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lunches - Leftovers or sandwiches
Breakfasts - Oatmeal & Fruit, Pancakes & Fruit, Cereal, English Muffins, Bagels, Eggs, French Toast, etc. just alternated
 
#31 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by granolalight View Post
I am seriously impressed with you gals who are planning a month at a time! I just started this business and am doing a week at a time! Did y'all start that way?
Yep. Good Luck!
 
#32 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by granolalight View Post
I am seriously impressed with you gals who are planning a month at a time! I just started this business and am doing a week at a time! Did y'all start that way?

Yes, sometimes even just a few days. Then I got used to what my family eats and how much and was able to plan further out. I still sometimes just do a week, but generally I know what we are going to have even further out than that but may not actually *plan* it. We have a lot in our freezer so that is how I know what is coming up. This is really just a guide though. I take what is on sale at the store, and what we get through our co-op and work it in. Also using what we have on hand. So the veggies may change or we may switch days of the week of something to use it up fresh if I don't get to the store in time (like fish or something), etc. But this is just in general what I would like to cook for the month. About half of these are new recipes I'm trying so I'm excited about that.

You'll get it. Just stick with it and you will learn how your family eats and it will get much easier. My biggest nemesis to begin with was leftovers! Now I know what to expect.
 
#33 ·
Here is our plan... I work late on Mondays, so we normally get Logans
2/$12.99 dinner special. Every other week I have clinical until 11 pm, so DH will plan dinner. He prefers to do this.... It is usually baked chicken nuggets or soup for everyone.


S- Creamy Tortellini with ham and peas, salad, steamed veggies, garlic bread
M- Out
T- Slow Cooker Chicken Posole, mexican cornbread
W- DH will plan -- I have clinical until 11 pm
T- DH will plan -- I have clinical until 11 pm
F- Slow Cooker Pot Roast with root vegetables, steamed rice, green beans, rolls
S- Grilled Turkey Burgers on WW buns, baked sweet potato fries , rolls

S- Oven- fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, green lima beans, cornbread
M- Out
T- Chicken and Sausage gumbo, white rice, corn bread
W- Skillet lasagna, veggie, salad
T- leftovers or grilled cheese/soup
F- Stuffed shells with ground turkey, artichokes and arrabiata sauce, steamed greens, garlic toast
S- Cajun Red Beans and Rice with keilbasa , leftover greens, cheddar and scallion cornbread

I am going to stop at two weeks right now. I will edit later with the rest.

Dawn
 
#34 ·
Saturday: Parmesan-crusted chicken cutlets and broiled asparagus
Sunday: Dinner party at friends' home
Monday: Spaghetti with mizithra cheese & butter. With loaf of french bread.
Tuesday: Beef and noodles with leftover french bread
Wednesday: Biscuits and gravy
Thursday: Heuvos rancheros with blue chips, guac, and black beans
Friday: Weekly out to eat night
Saturday: Ham steak, fried potatos, and corn bread

We spent exactly $100 this week on groceries for the two of us. We often eat leftovers for lunches throughout the week. No eating out except on Friday nights.

Got all meat from local famer's market. All is grainfed, free range, hormone/antibiotic free. We bought ham steak, bacon, breakfast sausage, and cornmeal from an Amish family for $20. Got eggs from another vender for $3 a dozen. Milk from a local creamery for $3 a dozen. Ditto for yogurt. Spent another $15 on stew beef and gouda cheese from a local vendor at the market. Bar of homemade lavender and pachouli soap for $5.50. The rest was spent at Whole Foods on items from the bulk bins (trail mix, black beans, pasta, sugar, flour, and noodles). Also got produce from Whole Foods (avocados, 10lb. bag potatos, peaches, pears, bananas, lemons, and limes). I also bought stuff to make a double batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies for tonight's dinner party.
 
#36 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by medicmama View Post
I need to take more note's! I don't know how you guy's do it!

I have a hard time planning the weeks shopping and meals. I always forget something. The lil trips at $30 at a time are killing me.
Gather all your recipes and make your list off the ingredients, list EVERYTHING. Then list what your family likes for lunches/breakfasts/snacks. Then go through and mark off what you already have while checking in your kitchen. This always helps me not to forget things!
 
#37 ·
Saturday: Steak, lime, and cilantro tacos. With blue chips and salsa
Sunday: Rump roast and potatos
Monday: Hash made from leftover rump roast
Tuesday: Ham steak, potato, and cornbread
Wednesday: Grilled cheese and homemade vegetable soup
Thursday: Black bean and cheese quesadillas. With blue chips and guacomole.
Friday: Out to eat

Lunches will be: leftover hash, roast beef sandwiches, ham steak, and soup.
 
#38 ·
I haven't made a full plan because I'm a slacker


But last night we had roast chicken, lightly breaded, mashed potatoes, romaine salad with cheese, bacon bits, and tomatoes, and peas.

Tonight I made spanish rice, refried beans with cheese, and tortillas. A salad on the side.

Tomorrow I'm making chili that will simmer all day long with cornbread.

I'll probably do tuna fish sandwiches and salad the next night because that's been sounding good to me.

I have no idea what I'll do the next night, well not true I had considered sourdough waffles.

Did anyone else grow up having salad with dinner every night? Its totally my go to veg if I can't think of anything else!
 
#41 ·
My plan for the week: I may change the days around, but this is what we will be eating this week.

Sunday: Out for Chinese( my sis is coming into town for the week-- Chinese food is her favorite).

Monday: Chicken and Yellow Rice Skillet , salad, green peas

Tuesday: Turkey burgers, sweet potato fries, baked beans

Wednesday: Homemade spaghetti sauce with ground chicken and spinach meatballs, salad, steamed garlic and lemon green beans, breadsticks

Thursday: Baby lima beans, rice, cornbread

Friday: Green Chile chicken enchiladas, sides to be determined

Saturday: Cajun 15 bean soup with smoked sausage, rice, cornbread

Dawn
 
#42 ·
Sunday: Duck egg buttermilk quiche, cornbread
Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Pan-fried chicken with leeks and rice pilaf
Wednesday: Leftover chicken on salad
Thursday: Spinach enchiladas with venison chili, Mexican rice and maybe lentils
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Dinner out with Inlaws

I can't plan more than a week at a time because I don't know what will be in my weekly local produce delivery
 
#43 ·
I'm so uninspired and unenergetic this month.

But here are some meals I forced myself to write down today (that way when 4pm rolls around I don't stand like an idiot wondering what to make for dinner):

1. Bacon and Spinach quiche
L- leftovers for lunch
2. Mini pizzas with cheese and hamburger w/salad and applesauce for kids
L- grilled turkey and cheese, orange slices, salad
3. Baked chicken with herbs, fried potatoes and onions (preg craving!), peas, carrots
L- leftovers
4. Meatloaf (dh craving), mashed potatoes, gravy, big salad
L- meatloaf sandwiches, apple slices
5. Chili dogs (need to use up leftover chili in the freezer), fruit salad, and green salad
L- soup from freezer
6. Chicken soft tacos, Spanish rice, salad
L- chicken quesadillas, applesauce, carrot sticks
7. dinner at Sil's house - fajitas I think

I'll make another list next week. Maybe I can find one of my old ones somewhere that's well thought out and balanced! I went ahead and posted this one here so that the other lazies might be able to get some ideas too. I don't anticipate any of these meals taking more than 30 minutes to prepare though some will take longer to bake.
 
#44 ·
Okay, okay, after a meal planning hiatus, during which time we spent tons of money on disgusting take-out and felt totally unprepared and overwhelmed, I'm back to meal planning. Here's our plan for the week:

Monday: taco bowls, tortilla chips with homemade guacamole
Tuesday: grilled cheese sandwiches with homemade bread, canned soup I need to get rid of
Wednesday: lemon pepper tilapia, steamed carrots, lima beans, rolls
Thursday: frozen pizza & corn
Friday: scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits

I'll grocery shop on Saturday for some basics, but I'm kind of doing a pantry challenge for the rest of the month.
 
#45 ·
I am just starting to try this. We definitely need to save money. I have done a plan for this week.
Mon was leftovers (our fridge was full)
Tues - Baked chicken, veggie, potato and salad
Wed - Chili in crock pot
Thurs - Chicken/pasta (not sure on recipe)
Fri - Cheese Ravioli
Sat - Probably pizza (either take out or homemade)
Sun - Easter at dh's grandma's house

Saturday I hope to sit down and plan two weeks. I figure I will work my way up to a month at a time. I would like to grocery shop every two weeks and just a quick stop for milk and produce on the off weeks.
 
#46 ·
I'm proud of myself! I just put together my first menu plan! I spent $120 at the grocery store and I told dh that if we wanted to keep our costs down to $400 for groceries, then this food would have to last 10 days. Well I really had to do some thinking to stretch it out but I did it! I imagine this gets easier and you learn as you go.

Budget - $120 Days - 10

Mon: Started with dinner, refried beans in tortillas w/ sour cream
Tues: Breakfast - granola, banana, Lunch - Turkey sandwiches, salad, Dinner - Black beans & polenta, asparagus and a ripe plaintain sauteed in maple syrup for dessert
Weds - Breakfast - Instant oatmeal, Lunch - Grilled ham sandwiches, frozen french fries, Dinner - Wild rice crockpot creation
Thurs - Breakfast - cereal, Lunch - huevos rancheros, Dinner - Frozen dinners (organic, on sale 50% off), salad and baked sweet potatoes
Fri - Breakfast - Instant oatmeal, Lunch - Ramen noodles w/ cut up veggies cooked in it, Dinner - *Treat* (under $20, like pizza or something). TGIF!
Saturday - Breakfast - Eggs and toast, Lunch - Macaroni & tomatoes, salad, Dinner - Black beans from scratch (soaked overnight), rice, cabbage salad with tomatoes
Sunday - Breakfast - cereal (for me, pumpkin seeds and fruit many mornings), Lunch - Leftover beans w/ fresh rice and salad, Dinner - Spaghetti, salad, cornbread muffins
Mon - Breakfast - Spaghetti leftovers, cabbage salad, Dinner - Tasty Bite Kashmir Spinach and Madras Lentils Indian food over rice (For the kids, cheese tortellini)
Tues - Breakfast - Oatmeal or cereal, Lunch - Tuna on saltines, raw veggies, Dinner - Black beans from scratch, rice, stir-fried broccoli and grated carrot together
Weds - Breakfast - Eggs & tortillas, Lunch - Leftover beans, fresh rice, Dinner - Steak, sweet potatoes fries, salad or veg
Thurs - Breakfast - pancakes, Lunch - Tortellini w/ frozen vegs, Dinner - lentil soup, cornbread

Snacks and desserts: Activia yogurts, string cheese, cookies, fruits (grapes, watermelon, organic apples and bananas), popsicles, granola.

My cupboards and fridge will be completely bare by Thurs the 27th, lol. That is going to be satisfying, considering I usually ignore many food items in my cupboards until I question if they are still good to eat. This time, I am utilizing everything I bought and some things I had sitting in my cupboards too long - like lentils and wild rice. Good luck ladies and thanks for letting me share.
 
#47 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by granolalight View Post
No way! You spend $100 for a big trip every two weeks!?! How? I would say that we spend, on average, around $125-$150 per week. A big trip for us is closer to $200. Are we unusual? Or are you?
Sounds like a topic for a new thread...

Part of my reason for beginning to be a meal planner is so that we can cut costs.
I spend about $130-$150/week for our family of 4. I do weekly meal planning which I thought saved us money, but when I see how much all these other Mamas are spending, I'm starting to wonder!!
 
#48 ·
Plan for this week or so: These are in no particular order,but this is what we have on hand for the new week. With my sis here the past week, we didn't stick with last weeks plan too well. I will be cooking those meals from last week that we didnt prepare.

Well, I forgot it was Easter this weekend... not sure how I pulled that one off....

Spicy 3 bean-3 pepper turkey chili, white rice, mexican cornbread

Spaghetti and ground chicken/ spinach meatballs with Giada's simple tomato sauce, steamed veggie blend(red bell pepper, broccoli, carrots, beans) garlic bread sticks

Baked Ham, , green beans, orange candied sweet potaotes, rolls

Country Ham Mac and cheese casserole, sweet peas, corn

Lima bean soup made with ham bone, rice, corn bread, more steamed greens

leftover night

Sandwich night (usually with fresh fruit and canned soup)

Dawn
 
#49 ·
Just chime in with the money thing. we spend between 80 and 100 a week for two adults and one baby... but we eat 85% organic. It seems like a lot compared to some of my friends and not a lot compared to others.

i also plan per week because we get veggies from a csa and find out what they are each week because they are seasonal.

last week-
cheese grits facon and eggs
spinach quesadillas
zuchini tortalini and salad
cocnut lemon cake
eggs in a nest
spahetti salad and garlic bread
potato latkes and coleslaw and fake chiken patties
breakfast smoothie (had this this am, yum)
bread butter and fruit salad
make bread

next week
oatmeal cookies
carrot bran muffins
beans and rice- make leftovers into freeezer burritos
tortallini with sour cream sauce
pita stuffed with greek salad and fake chiken pattie
rice brocoli and feta saute
pepper and soinach fritata
make bread
 
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