Meal Planning Monday and help if your menu is stuck in a rut

 

 This week I used some of the money we saved because of the food box to buy a bottle of sesame oil, a bottle of soy sauce and a bottle of hoisin sauce. I will use these Sunday in a new lunch recipe, but since I won't be using all of the bottles in that recipe, it means I will have some left to make it again or to try something new. I could have just pocketed the saved money and used it for something else, which I do some weeks, but we were really anxious to try something new. I also used some of the saved money to buy the cilantro and avocado, two things I rarely buy, but am excited to have, to use in Sunday's dinner. Our menus were getting into a rut, so I used the blessing of the food box to liven up some of our meals, and I am looking forward to them!

 When it feels like your menus are getting into a rut, here are a few ideas to spark your creativity

1. Make a list of your favorite recipes
2. Clean out your pantry or fridge-Challenge yourself to figure out new ways to use some of those things lingering in there
3. Surf Pinterest- pick one ingredient you have or like and google or search pinterest for recipes containing that item
4. Check out a cookbook- if you don't have one, borrow one from a neighbor or the library
5. Check out your favorite restaurants menu and see if there is something you can re-create
6. Reach out to a friend or family member and ask them for the recipe for that thing they make that you love

Feeding your family on a limited budget narrows your choices considerably, so creativity becomes important. What do you do when you find yourself in a rut?

Here's this weeks menu plan

Monday-

• Breakfast- Scrambled eggs, toast, 1/2 banana
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us- sandwiches, crackers, apple
  
• Dinner- Potato and corn chowder, chicken sandwiches (the only thing I have to buy for this meal is the bread and bouillon cubes, everything else came in the box!)
  

Tuesday-

• Breakfast-PB&J toast, orange slices
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us-egg salad sandwiches, leftover soup
  
• Dinner-Vegetable Casserole, baked beans, biscuits made with the kefir
  

Wednesday-

• Breakfast- Yogurt, cinnamon sugar toast, orange slices
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us- leftovers
  
• Dinner-  Homemade microwave burritos, apples
  

Thursday-

• Breakfast- Peanut butter oatmeal, 1/2 banana
  
• Lunch- Kids eat at school, Us- sandwiches, crackers, celery sticks and cucumber slices
  
• Dinner- Chicken sandwiches (from the box) fried potatoes and onions, 5 minute glazed carrots

Friday-

• Breakfast- Scrambled egg, toast, 1/2 banana
  
• Lunch- Kids at school, Us- Leftovers
  
• Dinner- Easy Pan Pizza, salad (using the mozzerella that came in the box and Easy Homemade Pizza sauce  )
  

Saturday-

• Breakfast- blueberry pancakes made with the kefir from the box
  
• Lunch- Chicken sandwiches and apples from the box, box mac and cheese
  
• Dinner- Pork chops, microwave sweet potatoes, roasted frozen broccoli
  

Sunday-

• Breakfast- blueberry pancakes made with the kefir
  
• Lunch- Whatever vegetables we have left and  Stir Fried noodles with an Asian flair and only 5 ingredients,
  
• Dinner- Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice using the rest of the chicken patties from the box sliced up for the meat and leaving out the jalapenos