This Weeks Menu

My menus start on Friday and end on Thurs., crazy I know. This schedule comes from years of homeschooling and raising 5 kids while dh worked overseas. Its a hard habit to break, so "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" ( sorry for the grammar).

Friday

Crockpot BBQ meatballs ( ready made in the freezer)

Macaroni and Cheese ( homemade)

Baked Beans ( this is one time I use canned -Bushes Baked Bean)

Saturday

Crockpot Ranch Chicken( using hidden valley ranch mix- but when its all used up will switch to a homemade version)

Broccoli and Rice

Carrots ( canned this summer - thanks mom)

Sunday

Fellowship Meal at Church

Individual Cherry Pies ( the last of my canned cherry pie filling) and homemade cookies

Super Bowl Snacks- not exactly sure what that looks like- letting my girls make that menu

Monday

Spaghetti and Meatballs ( using my freshly canned Spaghetti Sauce)

Garlic Toast ( will make fresh french bread)

Salad ( from the garden)

Tuesday

Chicken and Dumplings

buttered homemade french bread

zucchini rounds

Wednesday

Chicken Teriyaki

Brown Rice

Homemade Eggrolls ( using coconut oil to fry)

Thursday

Cedar plank salmon

Hushpuppies ( baked not fried)

Rice Pilaf

Roasted Bussel Sprouts

Breakfasts- I dont make breakfast- but I always have these foods available

Oatmeal

Homemade granola and greek yogurt

Eggs

Bagels

Toast

Smoothies

Cranberry Orange Scones-I will make these on Sat and hope they last more than 1 day!

biscuits and gravy, jelly, or syrup

Pancakes/waffles

Muffins

Lunches- I do not make lunch, but always have these items available

any leftovers

quesadillas

grilled cheese

soups

pastas

homemade pizza

tuna/chicken salad

sandwiches

Snacks

yogurt and homemade granola

fruit

veggies

taboullah on mini toast

homemade energy bars/ snacks bites

cinnamon toast

pita chips

tortilla chips- homemade salsa

cheese and crackers

peanut butter and crackers

homemade cheese crackers

Majority of my food is made from scratch, with the exception of the meatballs and baked beans, this week. Meatballs are an item that I will occasionally buy and have in the freezer. I prefer to make them, but it is not always possible.

Here are some general guidelines I try to follow ( remember its a process and a journey,I am not always perfect)

I will try every couple of weeks to "cook it forward", my silly way of saying prepare ahead of time. That is also one of my goals this year. This week will make biscuits and scones, freeze them unbaked.

I try to cook with as little white processed sugar as possible, I will use Sucanat, honey, agave nectar, maple syrup or stevia

I have fish every Thursday.

Eat more chicken than red meat.

Rarely fry, and if on that occasion I do- I use cococut oil

I use only olive oil and butter

organic eggs, milk and butter

Almond milk for drinking or with cereal

NO sodas, juices, or powdered drinks- unless its organic no or low sugar apple juice

I buy coconut water for my kids when they want something besides water- i prefer this over sports drinks ( still working on breaking that habit, but when nausea is an issue I will use it)

No boxed or prepared foods ( as a general rule- but will use something in a pinch)

I only make dessert on the weekends

I buy organic as much as possible

No chips, unless it is pita or tortilla

Chicken is hormone free and Natural

Dont us condensed soups in casseroles- dont make many casseroles

Meatless one day per week- most of the time ( not this week)

I try to limit eating out to a maximum of 1 time per week

As I earlier stated I do my shopping and errands on Fridays. My dh has been working overseas off and on for 16 years. During the times he was gone, we were hs 5 children and I needed to set aside one day a week for shopping. I started out with only having school 4 days, and on fridays had 2 girls come babysit and help clean house. This was usually the only day I got out alone. Then as the children got older and I could leave them alone, we had 1/2 day of school on Fridays , they would do their assignments then have chores to do while I was shopping. This worked out great. As children graduated it changed again to leaving my two youngest home while i did the grocery shopping, then would pick them up for lunch out and finish my errands. If anyone needed anything we would take this time to get it. I now have 1 left home on Fridays ( occasionally another will be here when she is off work), so I still get out in the morning get my groceries and any other shopping I want to do, then pick her up and have lunch together. We then spend a couple of hours together,just hanging out-either shopping for her or just for inspiration...

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!