Sitting down once again to make the week's menu plan. I was struggling this week. Appeals to my family for meal ideas were met with shrugs. I am feeling very inadequate to meet the challenge of feeding my family healthy meals on our ever dwindling budget while reading headlines about banks saying a definite recession is coming, and Iowa is considering legislation that basically turns SNAP benefits into WIC benefits severely limiting what can be bought with SNAP resources. I have no idea if this will pass as no fresh meat will be allowed and I have a hard time thinking the different meat lobbies will let those profits go. But who knows?!? It just feels overwhelming.
After a pity party for myself, I still had to come up with a menu plan and go shopping, so here is what I decided. I am planning to use a few ingredients over again just to have something on the plate. I am trying to remember that sometimes there are leftovers or leftover ingredients and I should be intentional with them. I can't always count on leftovers as that is up to how hungry everyone is at that meal, but I know sometimes a meal isn't going to use up all of the ingredients I bought for it. Usually we use up all these leftover foods on the weekend as I only plan two meals. If someone is hungry or snacky, we pull out leftover ingredients to find something to tie them over. It has been working pretty well so far, but I am out of creativity for this week, so planning some meals with no leftover ingredients and if people get hungry? They can have peanut butter on crackers or celery for a snack.
I hope everyone is able to make a meal plan that works for them and their budget this week and stays warm!
Monday-
- Breakfast- Leftover pancakes, banana
- Lunch- Sandwiches, crackers, carrots and celery
- Dinner- Creamy Vegetable Soup, cheese and crackers
Tuesday-
- Breakfast- Oatmeal, banana
- Lunch- microwave baked potatoes, crackers, canned pineapple
- Dinner- Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla, Butter Beans over Rice
Wednesday-
- Breakfast- Peanut butter toast, banana
- Lunch- Ramen with spinach and mushrooms, crackers, carrots
- Dinner- One pan chicken and gravy , rice, Peas, bread and butter
Thursday-
- Breakfast- Oatmeal, banana
- Lunch- Sandwiches, crackers, carrots
- Dinner- Easy Pan Pizza, roasted frozen broccoli, garlic toast
Friday-
- Breakfast- Peanut butter toast, banana
- Lunch- Pepperoni and cheese tortilla rollups, crackers, canned pineapple
- Dinner-Chicken Enchilada soup, bread and butter
Saturday-
- Brunch- Fried bologna sandwiches, fried potatoes and onions
- Dinner- Vegetarian baked spaghetti, green beans, garlic toast
Sunday-
- Brunch- Pancakes, homemade pancake syrup, scrambled eggs, canned pears
- Dinner- Chicken taco bowls (Rice, shredded chicken, black beans, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream)
Have a good week!
~ Sarah
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