I know what you’re thinking. 24 April – 05 May? Wait a sec, Beck. That’s two weeks! Well yes, yes it is. I thought I’d spice things up a bit by posting two weeks worth of meals and a more comprehensive shopping list, since that’s more realistic to my life. What I mean by that is this – I’ll frequently buy family packages of meat and free half, only to pull that other half out sometime during the next week for dinner one night. So in theory I may spend $125 on groceries for one week, thus overspending my grocery budget; I’m only spending $75 the next week, which evens out the budget.

I could always just adjust my budget…but this seemed easier. Let’s just go with it.

Note: I’m still only posting meals for the week, since weekends tend to be a free for all in our house and typically consist of leftovers.

Week One: 24-28 April

Sunday Prep Work:

– roast and shred one chicken

-Cook 1.5 lbs turkey meatballs (Greek or Mediterranean seasoning)

-Shred/Chop lettuce and salad vegetables

Sunday Dinner (23 April): Tuna Casserole

Monday, 24 April:

B: HB egg, tomato, and avocado

L: leftover tuna casserole

L2: ham and cheese tortilla roll-up, mini apple, chips, granola bar, milk and capri sun

D: pork tenderloin with rainbow slaw

Tuesday, 25 April:

B: overnight oats

L: leftover pork and slaw

L2: chicken dipper lunchable, clementine, granola bar, milk and apple juice

D: Shredded Mediterranean Chicken Bowls

Wednesday, 26 April

B: scrambled eggs, 1/2 avocado

L: Mediterranean Chicken Bowls

L2: chicken apple sausage slices, clementine, chips, granola bar, milk, capri sun

D: Turkey meatballs with greek inspired rice and broccoli  (15 minute meal if meatballs are pre-cooked!)

Thursday, 27 April

B: HB egg, tomato, avocado

L: turkey meatballs with rice and broccoli

L2: ham and cheese roll-up, apple, chips, granola bar, milk and juice box

D: Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks, salad

Friday, 28 April

B: overnight oats

L: leftover chicken and salad

L2: chicken apple sausage slices, clementine, chips, granola bar, milk and apple juice

D: Homemade Pizza Night

Week One Shopping List (items for both weeks are noted with an *)

Protein

*Eggs, 4 dozen

*Pork Tenderloin (family pack)

*Aidells Chicken Apple Sausage (1 package)

*Ground Turkey, 3lb family pack

*Chicken Drumsticks, family pack

Rotisserie Chicken, pre-cooked (or one roaster chicken)

Produce

spaghetti squash

*cherry tomatoes, family pack

*Avocado, 4 pack

*Mini Apples (4)

1 bag Rainbow Slaw

*Blueberries, 2 pints

*1 bag shredded kale

*1 head napa cabbage

*1 head iceberg lettuce

*.5 lb brussels sprouts

*clementines, one bag

Dairy

*1 tub plain greek yogurt

*1 bottle Siggi’s brand plain yogurt drink

*3 bags shredded mozzarella cheese

*1 jar tzatziki sauce

Deli

*.5 lb deli ham

*.5 lb sliced cheese

Frozen

1 bag peas and carrots

Other

*Chicken Dipper Lunchables, 2

*1 package flour tortillas

*party pack frito lay chips (for lunches)

*3 jars pizza sauce

3 packages premade pizza dough (Trader Joe’s)

Approximate Cost (using local Wegmans): $141.00

 

Week Two:1-5 May:

Sunday Prep Work:

-Make cauliflower Rice

-Brine/Grill 2 chicken breasts

-Cook 1.5 lbs ground turkey

-Chop any additional salad veggies

-Make Frittata (egg, kale, cherry tomato, sausage)

Sunday Dinner (30 April): Cauliflower Rice with Ground Turkey

Monday, 01 May:

B: frittata, strawberry slices

L: Grilled Chicken Salad with Tzatziki

L2: Chicken Dipper Lunchable, mini apple, granolo bar, milk and capri sun

D: Balsamic Glazed Chicken with Carrots and Parsnips

Tuesday, 02 May:

B: overnight oats

L: leftover balsamic chicken and vegetables

L2: chicken apple sausage, clementine, carrot sticks, granola bar, milk, apple juice

D: Shrimp Stir-Fry

Wednesday, 03 May:

B; frittata, strawberry slices

L: cauliflower rice with ground turkey

L2: ham and cheese roll-ups, mini apple, granola bar, chips, milk and apple juice

D: Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin with roasted green beans and apple sauce

Thursday, 04 May:

B: HB egg, tomato, avocado

L: leftover pork and green beans and applesauce

L2: tuna snack, clementine, carrot sticks, granola bar, milk and capri sun

D: Paprika Chicken Drumsticks, roast potatoes, salad

Friday, 05 May:

B: fritatta or overnight oats

L: leftover chicken, potatoes, salad

L2: chicken apple sausage, mini apple, chips, granola bar, milk and juice box

D: Homemade Pizza

Week Two Shopping List (Items with * will be used next time!)

Protein

1lb italian sausage

*Boneless, skinless chicken thighs (family pack)

*Boneless, skinless chicken  breasts (family pack)

Produce

1 pint strawberries

*2lbs carrots

1lb parsnips

1lb green beans

3 white potatoes

**before you shop, check if you need to purchase any additional salad vegetables!

Other

1 bag frozen stir-fry vegetables

3 packages premade pizza dough (Trader Joe’s)

Approximate Total (prices based on local Wegmans): $50

Welcome back for another edition of Meal Plan Monday! Regardless of whether you meal prep or not, having a menu and sticking to it saves tons of time and money – and if you make enough food at dinner to use as lunch the next day, you can save yourself the trouble of last minute rushing around to find food.

As usual, my only slight deviation is lunches for the young one – being in elementary school, he requires a lunch that doesn’t need to be microwaved. So as you can see I’ve added separate school lunches for him, in case you’re in the same boat! (Please note, the lunch includes an afternoon school snack as well).

I’m also only planning for Sunday night through Friday night, because weekends tend to be a free for all in my house.

*Note: I’m feeding two adults and one elementary school age boy, so we try to make enough food for three, plus leftovers.*

This week I’ve added my food prep items for Sunday, as well as a shopping list and approximate cost. I’ve used the current prices for my local Wegmans, but if you shop at Aldi or other discount grocery stores you can definitely get this meal plan for much less!

BEAR FAMILY MEAL PLAN, WEEK THREE

SUNDAY FOOD PREP:

– make your crockpot carnitas

– chop your veggies (onion, potato, pepper, broccoli, zucchini)

– spiralize two zucchini

– cook 2lbs of turkey meatballs

Sunday Dinner: Crockpot Cashew Chicken

Monday:

B: scrambled eggs with crockpot carnitas

L: leftover crockpot chicken

L2: ham and cheese roll-up, grapes, chips, granola bar, milk, apple juice

D: Build Your Own Hamburgers, oven roasted potato wedges

Tuesday:

B: scrambled eggs, bacon

L: carnitas over salad

L2: tuna snack, apple slices, fruit snacks, granola bar, milk, apple juice

D: Greek Chicken Salads (recipe coming soon)

Wednesday:

B: overnight oats

L: leftover crockpot chicken

L2: ham and cheese dino sandwich, grapes, chips, oreos, milk, apple juice

D: Turkey Meatballs with Zoodles

Thursday:

B: scrambled eggs with carnitas

L: leftover meatballs and zoodles

L2: hot pocket, apple slices, chips, granola bar, milk, apple juice

D: One Pan Chicken and Roast Vegetables

Friday:

B: greek chicken “breakfast salad”

L: leftover one pan chicken and vegetables

L2: chicken apple sausage, grapes, chips, granola bar, milk, apple juice

D: Homemade Pizza Night

Shopping List (prices based on my local Wegmans)

Proteins

3lbs pork shoulder          $4.47 ($1.49/lb – family pack)

5lbs chicken breast        $9.40 ($1.88/lb – family pack)

hamburger patties         $5.99 (4 patties)

bacon, uncured               $6.99

2lbs ground turkey         $5.98 (2.99/lb – family pack)

sliced deli ham                $3.00

2 doz eggs                         $2.58 (1.29/doz)

Produce

onions (2lb bag)                $1.99

white potatoes (5lb bag) $1.99

bell pepper (6ct)               $5.49 (family pack)

cherry tomato                  $3.99 (family pack)

cucumber (2ea)                $1.32 (3/2.00)

romaine hearts (3pk)      $2.99

parseley, fresh                  $1.99

blueberries, 1pint            $3.99

zucchini, 2lb                      $3.58

broccoli, 1lb                       $1.79

apples                                  $2.99 (approx)

grapes                                  $2.99 (approx)

Dairy

greek yogurt (lg tub)      $4.99

Siggis yogurt drink        $3.99

mozzarella, shredded   $2.99

sliced cheese                    $3.00

tzatziki sauce, tub         $4.49

Other

pizza dough                    $3.57 (*NOTE: I bought the pizza dough at Trader Joe’s                                                    3 individual bags at $1.19 each)

TOTAL COST:                $96.54

NOTE: This shopping list assumes I have the following items in my pantry (which I usually do)

instant rice

spices

olive oil

gluten free quaker oats

protein powder

spaghetti sauce

pizza sauce

pizza toppings (jarred jalapenos, canned pineapple, canned olives, etc)

What are you eating this week? Do you meal plan in advance? Leave a comment and let me know!