Monthly Meal Plan, Weekly Meal Plan and A Curbing A Bad Spending Habit – November 2, 2014

October ended so I took down the meal plan that was on the fridge.  Behind it was November’s, as well as a shopping list for the whole month! That was easy.  As I am getting the beginnings of a cold and have little energy, this was a good thing for the week as well.

While we won’t follow it to a ‘T’ most of the meals will be used as planned.

Below is a list of all meals, as well as those for just this week.  It is always interesting to see how it works out.

This past month included several new-to-us recipes.  The Cottage Cheese Pancakes with Oats and Flax (pictured above) will be a repeat, but not the Cookies-n-Cream Cake nor the Hot Cinnamon Apple Smoothie (pictured below).  I made the pancakes for George and Jack on a school morning.  The recipe made enough for each to have two, with an added side of banana.  Both liked them, which is awesome.  I tried some also and really enjoyed the texture and flavor, as well as the ease of making them.  Not sure what my  husband will think, but with all the protein they include and lack of flour, they will be found on the meal plan even if he decides he does not like them.  I am not usually one for planning different meals for different people, but this would be a planned exception that I could handle.

Monthly Meal Plan

Breakfast:

1. Croissant, eggs, hash browns, fruit
2. Shake
3. Cereal
4. Eggs, Toast, Fruit
5. Creamy Oatmeal
6. Shakes
7. Red Velvet Oatmeal
8. Eggs, Toast, Fruit
9. Shakes
10. Cereal
11. Eggs, Toast, Fruit
12. Orange Poppy Seed Pancakes
13. Shakes
14. Coconut Oatmeal
15. Fried Pancakes with Maple Cream Syrup
16. Basic Crepes
17. Cereal
18. Eggs, Toast, Fruit
19. Sausage-Bell pepper Baked Eggs with Gouda Cheese
20. Shakes
21. Coconut Rice Pudding
22. TBD
23. Strawberry-Jam Hand Pies
24. Cereal
25. Eggs, Toast, Fruit
26. Peaches and Cream Oatmeal
27. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
28. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
29. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
30. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family

Lunches:

1. Eat Out (was not on the plan, but this is actually what happened – a big late breakfast and a filling late lunch meant we actually skipped supper this day)
2. Eat Out
3. Steak, potatoes, beets
4. Sweet-and-Tangy Roasted Pork Tenderloin
5. Salad
6. Spaghetti with meat sauce
7. Salad
8. Leftovers
9. Eat out
10. Salad
11. Super fast Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, vegetables
12. Pizza
13. Chili
14. Pot Roast with Bacon and Vegetables
15. Spicy Pan-Fried Steak with noodles
16. Eat Out
17. Minute Steak
18. Herb Crusted Pork Chops, fried potatoes, vegetables
19. Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
20. Grilled Spiced Pork Patties with Greens
21. Pulled Pork Sandwich
22. Grilled Peaches and Pork
23. Eat Out
24. Salad
25. Salad
26. Pizza
27. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
28. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
29. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
30. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family

Supper:

1. (skipped, see note for lunch)
2. Leftovers
3. Macaroni and Cheese with hot dogs
4. Sandwiches
5. Soft Tacos
6. Herb Crusted Pork Chops
7. Hot Rice Cereal with Nuts and Raisins
8. TBD
9. Leftovers
10. Slow cooker Lentil and Brown Rice Tacos
11. Sandwiches
12. Perfect Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
13. Minute Steak
14. Popcorn, nuts and a movie
15. Pulled Pork Egg Rolls
16. Leftovers
17. Basic Crepes
18. Falafels, fresh vegetables over couscous
19. Hot Dogs
20. Sandwiches
21. Special Night – eat out
22. TBD
23. Leftovers
24. Basic Crepes
25. Sandwiches
26. Traveling
27. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
28. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
29. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family
30. THANKSGIVING  – visiting family

Wow, now that was enlightening.  I can already see a few things that will need to be adjusted along the way.

• At the time of making this month’s meal plan, I had assumed my husband would be gone to class his normal two nights a week.  I was informed last week that this next class will actually be one where they will not have a class, but will be working on a project and can meet online as needed.  I had planned meals on those nights, where he would be gone, which he does not like but the rest of us do.  Those will need to be changed.
• As I was typing it up I had the thought of there being too many “Sandwich” nights for suppers, as my husband usually grabs a sandwich on the night of class.  I almost changed them, then realized if he is not going to class he will not be eating sandwiches those nights.  Guess it all kind of balanced out.
• Our seemingly endless cereal stash has finally come to an end (6 months after not buying cereal).  And there is great rejoicing from George and Jack.  While we like cereal, we do not like it for every breakfast or even several times a week.  Once is okay, more if we really like the cereal.  These past few months I had increased us to having it for breakfast twice a week, in hope of using up the cereals that were past their “Best By” dates.  Several days found protests happening at the table.  Glad we are past that stage.

Late last night a friend stopped by with several pounds of lettuce.  “We had too much at a church event earlier this week and was wondering if you all would want or could use this.  We have been eating on more of it at home for the past few days and just can not use this up before it goes bad.  I knew you guys at lettuce, so …?”

Okay, change of plans.  We are not eating the Bacon Butternut Squash Quiche I originally had written down for supper tonight.  Instead, I am going to use the taco shells in the pantry, browned ground beef in the freezer, cheese, tomato, onions and some of this lettuce to make Wednesday’s supper and move that supper to tonight.  That was a meal my husband does not like (mac-n-cheese and hot dogs) but he likes tacos, so a win-win situation.  I also see us having side salads with most meals this week.

Breakfast

1. Shake
2. Cereal
3. Eggs, Toast, Fruit
4. Creamy Oatmeal
5. Shakes
6. Red Velvet Oatmeal
7. Eggs, Toast, Fruit

Lunch

1. Eat Out
2. Steak, potatoes, beets (another meal change from the original copy as I am fighting a cold and this is an easy  meal)
3. Sweet-and-Tangy Roasted Pork Tenderloin
4. Salad
5. Spaghetti with meat sauce
6. Salad
7. Leftovers

Supper

1. Leftovers
2. Macaroni and Cheese with hot dogs
3. Sandwiches
4. Soft Tacos
5. Herb Crusted Pork Chops
6. Hot Rice Cereal with Nuts and Raisins
7. TBD

I completely decimated my budget goal (yet again) for last month.  A lot of … no, I’ll just be honest and say that I did not keep good track and spent without checking how I was doing or prioritizing.  I am a bit leary of going all cash.  I have thought about keeping a tally in my wallet, but think I would lose it.

Maybe I should just bite the bullet, and go cash for the month.  With the home remodel to begin, this is not the time to be shopping just because I’m nervous.  Anyone else find themselves doing that?

UPDATE: I have decided to take the leap and just do it this month.  It will not be perfect, may even be a bit messy, but everyone has to start somewhere when they try something new.  Right?

I never thought I was one of ‘those women’ who shopped as a way to deal with emotions, and normally I’m not.  However, there are times I find myself bargain shopping (looking to see what I can find for free or cheap – groceries, books, gifts, samples, etc.) in order to avoid facing a seemingly daunting task in front of me.

The thing is, the daunting task/issue is still there when I get back, only I now have less time to deal with it.  Once I realized what I was doing, it was easier to see it and call myself on it.  While I do not always listen to myself, I do correct my actions faster than I used to.  This week, my goal is to focus on the house and only do basic shopping.  Yesterday I used four coupons that were set to expire.  I stuck to my list and was in and out in just a few minutes (my husband stayed in the car with the kids, which also helped).  There may be a few more items to pick up in Small town this week, but there should not be a large shopping trip.  In all, it should all come out to under $20.

Linked up with OrgJunkie.

For more ideas also check out This Week For Dinner.

Also check out Confessions of a Homeschooler’s November’s Monthly Meal Plan.