Monday Meal Planning and Break Down of the Inflation Report

 Hey Guys! Who is exhausted?!? Anyone besides me? 

 The inflation  report for August came out. Inflation average over all is still over 8% over prices last year. According to this report, if you just count food and drink, the inflation rate is 13.4%, instead of just 8.3%. I know gas prices have gone down, but not enough to counter act the raises of everything else. Month after month the average inflation rate for food and beverage has risen. It went from 8.8% in January to 13.4% in August. According to this  news report from ABC News, the price of eggs is up over 40% since last August, Margarine up 38%, Milk is up 17%, Bread 16%, Chicken 17%, and fruit and veg 10%. And as a personal note, our favorite bag of pretzels went up from $0.99 to $1.99, a 100% increase!

 To put these percentages in perspective, the government expects year after year inflation to be around 2% give a take a little. 2% compared to 8% or 13% is a big difference! Like would you rather pay an extra $2 on your $100 grocery bill or $8 or $13 more?!? $13 more every week or two adds up to an extra $338 to $676 a year! So buying what you bought last year can cost up to an extra $676 more! It is heart breaking. Budgets and food stamp benefits are being stretched beyond capability.

   Our store this week had a special on ground beef. If you bought the family pack, it cost $1.99 a pound for a 2.5 to 3 pound pack. Comparing to the smaller packs, because of the cost difference, the 2.5ish pound package cost the same as a 1 pound package! I was really excited about this as we have really, really cut the meat back in our diet. I am giggly excited about using this ground beef! I am breaking the 2.5 pound package down to half pound packages to be as thrifty as I can. I am going to use 3 this week and save two for next week. Most recipes call for a pound of ground beef, but I have found that casseroles, pastas and things can get by with less or with substituting half with beans or lentils.

Monday-

• Breakfast- Leftover pancakes, banana
  
• Lunch- Ramen, boiled egg, carrots and cucumber slices
• Dinner- Tacos!!! taco meat with lentils, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream
  

Tuesday-

• Breakfast- Toast, eggs, banana
  
• Lunch-  sandwiches, crackers, canned pineapple
  
• Dinner- Black bean burgers, pasta salad, corn

Wednesday-

• Breakfast- Oatmeal, banana
  
• Lunch-  Pasta salad, boiled egg, carrots and cucumber slices
  
•  Dinner-Creamy Beef Mushroom Stroganoff, green beans, garlic toast
  

Thursday-

• Breakfast- Oatmeal, boiled egg, banana
  
• Lunch-  Leftovers, bread and butter, canned peaches
  
• Dinner- Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla, Spanish rice

Friday-

• Breakfast- Toast, egg, banana
• Lunch- Sandwiches, crackers, carrots and celery
  
• Dinner- Chili, peanut butter sandwiches
  

Saturday-

• Brunch- Cold Veggie Pizza, Hash browns, apple sauce
  
• Dinner- Chili dogs, mac and cheese, veggies and dip
  

Sunday-

• Brunch- Pancakes, homemade pancake syrup, scrambled eggs
  
• Dinner- Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash, bread and butter

 Have a good week!

~ Sarah