This week, I’m back at work and surprisingly loving it. It’s less hectic than I remember it being. Of course, I’m only on day four of ten worked in a row, so perhaps we should revisit this idea in a few days. Meals have been going great, and while I could probably upgrade to 30 minute meals, I’ll spend a few more weeks on 15 minute meals to make sure I can keep this pace.
Each Week, I sit down with my schedule book and plan out this week’s meals. Breakfasts are serve yourself from pre-made options, and snack bags for lunches are separated into snack baggies on shopping day (Sunday). I just grab 3 snack baggies for each of our lunches to toss in. We both pack our lunch every day, even being at home these last few months. I pack my lunch as well so I can grab it and go while running errands etc. Jon took over the shopping as one of his chores (You rock Jon!), He does that on Sunday and then I can do food prep that day for the week. I share our menu for the week for those that are new to menu planning. If you have no idea what to do for the week and would like to steal some or all of our plan… I promise not to prosecute:-)
As always, I feel it’s important to note that this is not the healthiest plan to follow. It’s a great plan for us, because it’s breaking our addiction to fast food and other unhealthy habits, and its cut our food budget by about 50%. Slowly, we’re making substitutions that will lead us to a healthy cheap meal plan. Romewasn’t built in a day and all that jazz.
“Recipes” for all menu items can be found here and here, unless they are noted below in the menu plan.
French Toast and Pancakes!! I’m making tons of these tomorrow from scratch and freezing them in groups of three. Add a little butter and strawberry preserves and I’m a happy girl.Milk and Cereal: Self Explanatory.
Slim Jim’s
Peanuts
Popcorn
Granola Bars
Fruit
Carrots
Weekday Lunches are now also being eaten on the weekends since one of us will almost always be working the weekend.
Monday:
Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks
Dinner: Broiled Steaks, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans. Served with A-1 Sauce and Garlic Parsley Butter.
We use instant mashed potato flakes for quick mashed potatoes and frozen steamable green beans.
Tuesday:
Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks
Dinner: Taco Salad, Chips and Guacamole
Wednesday:
Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Salad on Pita’s
(Either use grilled chicken that you’ve made yourself and frozen, or you can use Tyson’s Frozen Grilled Chicken Breasts, or Wegmans Frozen grilled Chicken Breasts, or you can shred a rotisserie chicken. Chop cucumbers, onion, olives, green pepper, romaine lettuce and mix with chopped chicken. Toss with greek dressing and pile on top of pita bread (or naan bread) that’s been warmed in the microwave for a few seconds. Salt and Pepper to taste.
Thursday:
Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks
Dinner: Homemade Sloppy Joes, Steamed Peas, Brown Rice
Friday:
Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks
Dinner: Sausage, Green Pepper, Onion and Pepperoni Pizza. Carrots and Blue Cheese Dressing
Saturday:
Breakfast: Tomato and Mozzarella Omlets.
Lunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks
Dinner: Broiled Steaks, Cauliflower and Cheese (frozen prepared), Egg Noodles.
Sunday:Breakfast: French toast with strawberry preservesLunch: Lunch Options and Three Snacks
Total: $ 120.00
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