On Saturdays, I share my menu plan for the upcoming week along with a photo of my groceries and a tally of my spending. My goal is to spend $100/week for our food, toiletries, and cleaning products. I’m currently in the midst of trying to buy more local, sustainably-produced food while sticking to my budget. Can it be done? I don’t know, but I’m going to try, and I’ll share what I learn as I go along.
I’m actually going to do that at some point today, with one lone companion. My three older kids are all at sleepovers, so Zoe is going to be my partner.
I think she’ll enjoy that as much as I will, actually, and I’m sure she’ll talk my ear off. When you get her by herself, away from the chatter of the older three siblings, she usually has a lot to say. 😉
Breakfast options this week are granola, cinnamon bread (I have some milk that needs to be used up, so I’m going to make a few loaves today), yogurt, fruit, cereal, and eggs.
Lunches will be comprised of sandwiches made with whole wheat bread, homemade yogurt, yogurt smoothies, cottage cheese, fruit, raw veggies, nuts, cheese, and leftovers as necessary. Of course, we don’t eat all of that every single day…it’s just a list of the things we choose from for lunch each day. And Mr. FG eats leftovers for lunch pretty much every day.
Here’s our dinner plan:
Saturday
- We’re having our takeout date night tonight because we had pizza last night (thin crust, in case you were wondering)
Sunday
- Don’t hate me, but Mr. FG and I are having an actual date night (with no kids, and everything!). I have a $25 gift card, so our meal shouldn’t be very expensive.
Monday
- Meatball Subs
- steamed green beans
Tuesday
- Mexican Chicken Sandwiches
- Colorful Corn Salad (a new recipe)
- fruit salad
Wednesday
- BBQ Beef Sandwiches
- green salad
- Dill Cucumber Salad (I’m trying one from Cook’s)
Thursday
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Cornmeal Loaves
- Spinach Salad
Friday
- Takeout Date Night
Dear me. That seems like a lot of dates in one week, huh? Really, though, I’m only getting one extra…it just looks like I have two extras because we flip-flopped our date night for this weekend.
Also, apparently I was in a very sandwich-y mood when I planned this menu. Maybe I should switch out one of those meals for something else!
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Today’s 365 post: Cheese Grater
WilliamB
Sunday 2nd of October 2011
Don't worry about not shopping - I went often enough for two. Or even three.
Saturday I went to return things to Target (and buy a few things from the dollar bins), to Goodwill for a new compost crock and ended up with something for a friend as well, to another store to return more things, to the grocery for food, then didn't go to Whole Foods after spending 6 min stuck in the parking lot. If the parking lot is that crowded I don't want to see what inside looks like. Today I went to Whole Foods, having changed my meal plan to accommodate the chill, rainy forecast for the week. In with soups, out with stirfry.
EngineerMom
Sunday 2nd of October 2011
My brother is the youngest, and even today, at age 21, he will chatter my mom's ear off like he has to get through his "list of what to tell Mom" before he can have a regular conversation!
I think it must be a youngest child thing - left over after years of getting talked over by his two older sisters!
Jinger
Sunday 2nd of October 2011
Don't ever apologize for having a fun night out...sometimes, I think, frugal sensibility can get in the way of just living life. Life is meant to be lived and the years go by in the blink of an eye. Enjoy!
Jo@simplybeingmum
Sunday 2nd of October 2011
Enjoy your date night - it's home-made pizza for us with the kids so will be thinking of you guys tucking in!
Lani
Saturday 1st of October 2011
So glad you are able to squeeze in another date night! Enjoy =0)