March Month of Menus Grocery Lists {Week 2}

It was a bit of a busy weekend and this post didn't get up like I'd planned.

Click for month of menus post.
Here's week #2 grocery list. Hopefully I didn't miss anything. This doesn't include any snacks; or drinks now that I think about it. You might want to add in some teas, ACV, lemons, and other things that you know you like to drink with your meals.

1 loaf of sprouted bread
5 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 cup blueberries
2 dozen eggs
2 cartons egg whites
1 container Greek yogurt (at Aldi it is a 32 oz container)
1 container low fat cottage cheese (at Aldi it is a 24 oz container)
1 lb shredded cheese
1 carton unsweetened almond milk
1 carton heavy cream
2-4 lbs ground beef
2 lbs ground lean turkey
2 lbs ground sausage
1 bag frozen chicken breasts
1 bag salmon filets
1 package lean lunch meat
1 head lettuce
1 head cabbage
2 bags spinach
1 lg, 1 sm tomato
2 bags frozen broccoli florets (or 2 fresh heads)
1 small bag carrots, or just pick a few loose
1 bag unsweetened shredded coconut
1 bag flaxseed meal (or whole to grind your own)
1 bag coconut flour
1 bag lentils
1/2 cup quinoa
1 carton chicken broth (or a few cans)
2 jars Alfredo sauce
2 cans tomatoes with green chilies (or 1 can and 1 jar salsa)

Things that you'll need but measurements?
peanut butter
jelly
coconut oil
protein powder
stevia/sweetener
spices and salt
mayo and mustard (the mayo for the cheeseburger pie is 1/2 cup)

There should be some carry-overs from week #1 grocery list. And again, just about everything is purchased from Aldi. 

March Month of Menus Grocery Lists {Week 1}

I'm going to attempt to make weekly shopping lists for the month menu plan. We'll see how it goes. The first week I noticed I forgot a few things when I went shopping and came home with a couple we didn't need yet. Eh...work in progress. Always.

Some things we had on hand and so I didn't need to purchase.

Oh, yes, this is all for a family of 3 1/2 (Hubby eats the weekly dinner and weekend meals, so much of the food is really for 3 people). I try to make larger dinners (so think for at least 5 or 6 people) so that he can take some for lunch. It doesn't always happen.

Week #1
1 package bacon (turkey bacon was almost $1 cheaper)
1 dozen eggs
4 cartons egg whites (had a partial carton at home; purchased 3)
1 carton heavy cream or 1/2 n 1/2 (chose 1/2 n 1/2 as it's twice as much for same cost)
1 container 1% cottage cheese (had already) *this was for THM Pancakes which is now in Week 4; instead here would be 1 box of cold cereal*
1 container 0% fat Greek yogurt (had already)
9 cups old fashioned oats (had already)
1 carton unsweetened almond milk (had already)
1 6-pack unsweetened applesauce
1 bag frozen blueberries (had already)
1 package low-carb tortillas (chose the 'low carb' flatbread)
3 packages lower fat cheese wedges
1 bag almond flour (put this off; will grind almonds have on hand)
1 bag coconut flour (had already)
2 jars Polaner All-Fruit (chose mostly fruit spread from Aldi's- has sugar *frown*)
4 cans beans (had already)
1 bag flaxmeal (had already)
2 bags chicken breasts (if they are very large, one bag; cut them in half)
1 bag chicken thighs
2 loaves sprouted bread
1 bag cornmeal (didn't find; will need to get)
2 cans tuna (had already)
1 head cauliflower
1 head iceburg lettuce
1 cucumber (didn't get)
2 cans black olives (had already)
2 bags prepared salad (didn't have any!)
1 lb ground lean turkey
1 package tomatoes
1 can full-fat coconut milk (didn't find)
1 package skim mozzarella slices
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 bag chicken tenderloins
2 bags salmon (1 bag if you find it in 2 lb)
1 bag spinach
1 lemon (came in four pack)
1 package sliced pepperoni (had already)
2 bags shredded cheese
4 cans tomato sauce
1 lb butter
1 bag bacon bits
1 bag carrots
1 bag celery
1 bag radishes (had already)
1 jar peanut butter

Everything was bought at Aldi, except the sprouted bread from Trader Joe's. Some things Aldi and TJ do not carry so we made due with what we can find. And some of these things will carry over to another week's menu. Oh and one more thing: We still buy 1 gallon of whole milk. That adds $2.99. I'm working on cutting that but it's tough (it's for the kids not me).
The total was just over $100 but I also bought things that weren't on the list and didn't get some. So it'll be different I'm sure for others. Here are the things I anticipate carrying over:

1 carton heavy cream or 1/2 n 1/2
1 container 1% cottage cheese
1 container 0% fat Greek yogurt
1 carton unsweetened almond milk
1 6-pack unsweetened applesauce
1 bag frozen blueberries
1 package low-carb tortillas
1 bag almond flour
1 bag coconut flour
2 jars Polaner All-Fruit
1 bag flaxmeal
1 bag cornmeal
1 package skim mozzarella slices
1 package sliced pepperoni
1 bag carrots
1 bag celery
1 bag radishes
1 jar peanut butter

I'll try to get the shopping list put together for the other weeks soon.

March Month of Menus {Menu Planning Monday}

Or something like that. I am trying to plan out the entire month's worth of menus so that I don't have to do it each week. There will need to be a weekly shopping list also so that grocery shopping isn't such a chore as well.

Having it all planned out will help us keep on plan also. E meals are the hardest for all of us to get in the day so this will hopefully help. On the list I've made, OP means off plan. It could be a crossover but it generally means I'll be using something that isn't technically on plan.

Nice that March starts on a Sunday, the first day of the week. Convenient.

I had intended to have this done on Sunday but I don't get online try to stay offline on Sundays. Here's the month's worth of meals. These are of course the planned and perhaps not actual meals. For instance on Sunday we only had enough eggs for three so Fox opted for sugar sweetened chocolate oatmeal and sugar sweetened chocolate milk... See what I mean? A work in progress...

And there are no snacks listed here but I have a short list on our fridge.

Here's the scan of the menu.

Week 1:
Breakfasts:
Eggs & Bacon {S}
Cold Cereal (on these days I'll have something else) {OP}
Baked Blueberry Oatmeal {E}
Breakfast Burritos {E}
Coffee Cake (for 1, times 3) {S}
Light Baked Custard {E/S}
Jelly Style Greek Yogurt (this honestly I think will need something more added as a breakfast; perhaps fruit) {E}

Lunches:
Warm Chicken on Sprouted Bread {E} (so simple yet so yummy!)
Tuna Sandwiches or Salad (tuna, black olives, pickles, mayo, mustard, Mrs. Dash, handful shredded cheese) {S}
Loaded Fotato Soup {S}
Bean Burgers {E}
Taste of Thailand Soup {S}
Grilled Cheese with Tomato and a Smoothie split 3 ways {S}
BLT salad {S}

Dinners:
Succulent Citrus Fish Bake {E/S}
Pizza (homemade with coconut flour flatbread, pizza sauce [tomato sauce, salt, and herbs], cheddar cheese, black olives, pepperoni) {S}
Lighter Chili with GF Cornbread (made with ground turkey and lots of beans) {E}
Baked Chicken Thighs with Veggies {S}
Boneless Wings with ? possibly Zucchini Fries {S}
Peanut Crusted Chicken with Veggies {S}
Beef Stew (with radishes, celery and one carrot) {S}

Week 2:
Breakfasts:
Sprouted French Toast with fruit (maybe the fruit) {E}
Cottage Berry Oatmeal (it's called Cottage Blueberry Oatmeal, but sometimes we use strawberries) {E}
Egg & Cheese Omeletes {S}
Biscuits & Gravy (the Country Biscuits from THM- never made them so we'll see!) {S}
Butter Pecan Breakfast Porridge {S}
Morning Coconut Bread {S} (Added 3/12/15: *We do not like this so it will not be a repeat breakfast. Dd says it tastes like the breakfast porridge in loaf form. It has no leavening agent and doesn't rise but a smidgen. It is extremely coconutty, as in the texture, not the taste. Just did not care for it.*)
Eggs & Sausage {S}

Lunches:
Chicken Broth Soup {E/S}
Lean Meat Sandwiches {E}
Savory Skillet Oatmeal {E}
Eggroll in a Bowl {E/S}
Poached Salmon with Salad {E}
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches {E/S}
Waldorf Salad {E}

Dinners:
Italian Style Crockpot Chicken {E/S} <ours will most likely be S since I use regular Italian dressing
Mini Meatloaves {S}
All Day Lentil Soup {E}
Cheeseburger Pie {S}
Alfredo Beef & Broccoli {S}
Mexican Crockpot Chicken {E}
Spinach Italiano Crockpot (chicken?) {E} (It'll be S if I use pork)

Week 3:
Breakfasts:
Chia Tapioca Pudding {E}
THM Pan Bread with Scrambled Egg Whites {E}
Crepes {S}
Banana Cream Cake {E}
Mix and Match Smoothie {E/S}
Eggs & .... some sort of meat {S}
Cold Cereal {OP}

Lunches:
Chicken Yogurt Bake {E/S}
Quesadillas {S}
Southwestern Salmon {E/S}
Salad with All the Fixins {S}
Tuna sandwiches {S}
Spaghetti Squash (with sauce and cheeses) {? depends on the cheese we use}
Corndog Pie (this has been called Chili Dog Pie but it's more like a corndog) {S}

Dinners:
Chicken Brother Soup {E/S}
Pot Roast {S}
Chili with Cornbread {E}
Pork loin with Veggies {S}
Baked Whole Chicken with Biscuits (if I can get the Country Biscuits to come out well then it will be those, otherwise it'll be the Biscuits Supreme from the red-checkered cookbook) {S}
Pizza (might be made with coconut flatbread or usual wheat flour; we'll see!) {S/OP}
Fish and Veggies {E/S}

Week 4:
Breakfasts:
Eggs
THM Pancakes {E}
Mix and Match Smoothie {E/S}
Sprouted French Toast {E}
Quinoa "Porridge" {E}
Scrambled Egg Whites with Lean Meat & Veggies (I'm looking forward to this one. I'll add mushrooms- yum!) {E}
Coconut Waffles with side of Ham {S}

Lunches: 
Tomato Soup with Wasa Crackers and Cheese Wedges {E}
Egg Salad Sandwiches {S}
Personal Pizzas {S/OP}
Eggroll in a Bowl {E/S}
Lean Meat Sandwiches {E}
Chicken Wraps {E/S}
Salmon Patties {S}

Dinners:
Fried Fish and... ? {E/S}
"Spaghetti" Pie (it will be made with spaghetti squash, I hope) {E/S}
Tuna Tortillas with Salad {S}
Hamburgers & Hotdogs {S}
Bean & Cheese Burritos {E}
Salad with All the Fixins {S}
Bean Soup {E}

Monday Menu Planning {on a Tuesday} 06.02.14

I went grocery shopping late in the day on Monday so it was a fend for yourself day in terms of the menu. 

06.03 Tuesday

B- Eggs {S}

L- Tuna Tortillas {S/CO}

D- Crockpot Coconut Chicken Curry {E} 

06.04 Wednesday

B- Cereal {CO}/ Smoothie of some sort {?}

L- Leftovers

D- Crockpot Cabbage Rolls {S}

06.05 Thursday

B- Granola {CO}/ Oatmeal {E}

L- Hot dogs {just bad lol}

D- Tacos {CO/S}

06.06 Friday

B- Cereal {CO}/ Chocomocho shake {S}

L- Salad {S}

D- Hamburgers and bbq {S/CO}

06.07 Saturday

B- Cereal {CO}/ Eggs {S}

L- Meat sandwiches {CO}/wraps {S}

D- BBQ....?

06.08 Sunday

B- Eggs {S}

L- Leftovers

D- Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas {CO}

That's the week's menu. Lots of variety unless you count the mornings with cereal. It's hot; we have no a/c. This morning {Tuesday} when I had my coffee, it was iced. 

Menu Plan Monday- 05.26.14

Menus are my friend. Without a menu there is chaos. Without a menu there are too man "every man for himself!" days. Here's the menu for the week, and some of my food ramblings.  

05.26 Monday 

B- Eggs & bacon with coffee or hot tea {S}

L- Lettuce wrap/meat sandwich with water or iced tea {FP or S/CO}

D- Turkey burgers and kabobs with water or tea {CO}

05.27 Tuesday

B- Savory Skillet Oatmeal with hot tea {E}

L- Quesadilla with GGMS or iced tea {S/CO}

D- Lean turkey sausage with kale over noodles with water, GGMS or iced tea {E}

05.28 Wednesday

B- Refrigerator Oatmeal {E}

L- BLT Sandwich/Salad with iced tea {CO/S}

D- Crockpot chicken- Italian with water or iced tea {E}

05.29 Thursday

B- Breakfast burrito with coffee {S/CO}

L- Sweet potato and salmon with veggies with GGMS {E}

D- Cheeseburger pie {S}

05.30 Friday

B- Cereal/ChocoMocho Shake {CO/S}

L- Leftovers 

D- Undecided BBQ OR chicken wraps {S or E/S or CO}

05.31 Saturday

B- Cereal/Eggs with coffee {CO/S}

L- Lettuce wrap/meat sandwich with water, GGMS or iced tea {FP or S/CO}

D- Undecided Something and potato salad {CO}

06.01 Sunday

B- Eggs with coffee {S}

L- Tuna tortillas with iced tea {S or CO}

D- Undecided

If you've read this far... just a clarification: some of the {designations} have more than one. If it has a "/" then it means at least one of the peoples in the family is having a crossover. And most likely it isn't going to be me. If it says "... or ..." then it means it can be either way depending on what's in it. 

Anywhere it says tortilla or something with a tortilla, that means 1/2 to 3/4 of the family will have store bought flour tortillas with who knows what in them, while 1/4 to 1/2 of the family will have a flax tortilla that I make in the microwave. Sandwiches have wheat bread for most of the family while I have lettuce to wrap mine. 

And I'm trying to make myself drink more water. Not just coffee morning, noon and night {wink}. I linked to the GGMS but I don't quite make it the same as the recipe. It's simple to make and, once you get used to it, it's quite refreshing. Here's what I do if I want it 'ginger':

• Prepare one cup of water for hot tea. Place lemon ginger tea bag in cup and let steep until the water is cold. I think the brand I have is Stash.
• Fill a tall cup with ice {I have nifty plastic cups with lids and a hole for a straw}. 
• Add 1/4 teaspoon Sweet Blend, or one packet stevia, over ice. 
• Add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon ACV {this time around I have Bragg's; usually I have Heinz "with the mother"}. 
• Finally, pour cold tea over ice until the cup is 1/2 full. Fill the rest with water. 
• Or I will pour all the tea in the cup and add water as I drink it down. 

If I don't want the 'ginger', I simply forget the tea step and do the rest the same.

I recommend the THMamas Pinterest boards for ideas. I've been stuck in a rut for awhile now.

I read an article the other day, let's see if I can find it, about those with gluten 'sensitivity' but not celiac, are fairly imagining it. It's psychological. The article really made sense because it said that there probably is a sensitivity to something but it's most likely not gluten. The hype with gluten nowadays has programmed some of us to think that is the culprit. 

Gluten wasn’t the culprit; the cause was likely psychological. Participants expected the diets to make them sick, and so they did.- Steven Ross Pomeroy

I went gluten free (gf) for a year, with only an occasional mess up here and there. I have many 'symptoms' that went away when I was gf. However, some of those were coming back even though I was primarily gf. Now I'm not perfect {scoff} and there are times now- perhaps even a week- when I do indulge in stuff I feel I shouldn't have and then 'suffer' for it. It has just got me thinking...

Menu Planning Monday -04.21.14

So last week we switched some things around and had bbq on Friday instead of our traditional pizza. Here's this week's menu- always subject to change *wink* DH insisted on "no fish!" I say tuna fish doesn't count...

04.21 Monday

B- Bagels with cream cheese and orange juice {leftovers from Easter brunch at the church on 04/20} not on plan...at all

L- Tortilla wraps {S/CO} depends on how they are made; mine and dd's will be {S}

D- Chicken Alfredo with veggies {S} this is one that got switched last week and never got made; I think I mislabeled it as {E} last week...ooopsie. Definitely {S}.

04.22 Tuesday

B- Eggs {S}

L- Tuna sandwiches {CO/S} it's {S} when using either the coconut flour flatbread or the low-carb tortilla

D- Hamburgers and baked beans {CO} if I used lean beef I might get this to {E} but marking it {CO} for now

04.23 Wednesday

B- Cereal {CO}/Oatmeal with cottage cheese and berries {E}

L- Quesadillas {S/CO}

D- Sweet potato with sausage (crockpot) I'm not sure if I could make this an {E} or if it will be a {CO}

04.24 Thursday

B- THM Pancakes {E}

L- Brown rice Tabouleh {S/CO?}

D- Porkloin (crockpot) with Brussels sprouts {S}

04.25 Friday

B- Cereal {CO}/Muffin in a mug {S}/Oatmeal with cottage cheese and berries {E}

L- Egg sandwich {CO} mine will be {S} using coconut flour flatbread

Tea-time: 

D- Pizza! {CO} this will most likely change during the summer time since it'll be too hot 

04.26 Saturday

B- Muffin in a mug {S}/Eggs {S}/Oatmeal {E}

L- Salad with cheese {S}

D- Soft tacos {S/CO}

Dessert: 

04.27 Sunday 

B- Eggs {S}

L- Meat and cheese sandwich/wrap {CO/S}

D- Chicken with veggies {E} I'll use chicken breast

As I make these menus I notice how many {S}, {E}, and {CO} there are and am very thankful that with THM's principles each meal is a reset. I think though that I need to try for more {E} meals. Next week. I'll think about that next week. 

Menu Plan Monday 04.14.14

Got the plan made this afternoon before shopping. 

04.14 Monday

B- Crepes {S} ds had honey on his; dd and I had Greek yogurt and stevia {ours were better *wink*}

L- Leftover enchiladas from Sunday {CO} I had oatmeal with blueberries and cottage cheese {E}

D- Cheeseburger Pie {S} It's in the book under Evening Meals. I changed it some by cutting the recipe in 1/2, and subbing 1/2 of the called for mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. Served with salad for dh and I; corn on the side for the kids.

04.15 Tuesday

B- Light White Blueberry Muffins {S} In the book under "Muffins, Breads, and Pizza Crusts"

L- Lettuce wraps with either turkey or ham, cheese, mayo, mustard {S/FP/E} I might make some Trim Healthy Pan Bread for {E} sandwiches if they want something "more" to their sandwich.

D- Taco Salad {S} the kids and hubby will most likely have corn tortilla chips and cheese with theirs; I just have the salad, meat and Greek yogurt pretending to be sour cream. I might have a couple chips...

My lunch; kids opted for lettuce wraps. 
It was super yummy! I had two of those by the way.

04.16 Wednesday

B- Cereal {kids}/Oatmeal with berries and cottage cheese {E}

L- Quesadillas {S} or {CO} for ds with a regular tortilla

D- All Day Lentil Soup {E} I might make biscuits for the family, which would make this a {CO} for them...will see

04.17 Thursday

B- Super Grains cereal OR Oatmeal with berries and cottage cheese {E}

L- Bean and cheese burritos {CO} I eat just the filling without cheese which usually makes it {E}

D- Italian Style chicken (crockpot) {S} In the book under Evening Meals, Clever Crockpot Meals

04.18 Friday

B- Cereal {kids}/Eggs {S}

L- Salad with meat and cheese {S}

Tea-time: Fox is going to make fudgy brownies- definitely not on-plan! Perhaps some Friday I'll make the Special Agent Brownie Cake.

D- Pizza {CO}

04.19 Saturday

B- Cereal {kids}/Eggs {S}

L- Meat sandwiches {CO} I will make mine with the Trim Healthy Pan Bread for {E} since I don't put on the cheese and can go without mayo every so often.

D- Chicken Alfredo (crockpot) with veggies {E} another "in the book" choice, under Evening Meals, Clever Crockpot Meals

Dessert: Ice Cream! in the book- Tummy Tucking Ice Cream {E/FP}

04.20 Sunday

B- Eggs {S}

Brunch at church- Pastries, bagels, fruit (I can only hope), juice, coffee, etc.

D- Leftovers (there better be some!)

That's the menu for this week. I made sure we had some different things to try. Thankfully we are blessed with plenty of chicken in the freezer; many dinners with chicken. 

We have been trying to curtail our 'junk' eating during the week. The weekend is for that now- but not too much! I'm trying to be flexible with some THM desserts, some off-plan desserts. 

Today I made tea with THM Sweet Blend instead of sugar. It's good...but it'll take some of the family some getting used to *wink* Only 2 TBS and it tastes like sweet tea! 

Menu Plan Monday 04.07.14

Another week with a menu. I had one almost done {uh, not really; there were many meals missing} but Lee set me straight: "What's with all these crossovers!?" Yeah, I had to redo it. She's happier now {*wink*}

04.07 Monday 

B- Coffee cake {made by Fox; um yeah, totally "off plan"}

L- Grocery-shopping-get-fast-food {eh hee hee...we had Subway}

D- Hamburgers, minus the bun, with salad {S}

04.08 Tuesday

B- Super Grains hot cereal {E} I'll have coffee, black with stevia- oh! now that THM is carrying their own, I can actually drink my coffee without 'cream' of any kind *smile*

L- Lettuce wraps with turkey or ham, cheese, mayo, mustard, maybe some tomato {E without the cheese; S with}

D- Fried fish with creamy veggies and cheese rolls {S} all from THM; I'd love to give you page numbers but I have the Kindle version

04.09 Wednesday 

B- Eggs {S} with bulletproof coffee! I've been trying to cut down...

L- Taco salad {CO} 

D- Mac and cheese {CO} I might attempt the Macafoni and Cheese in THM but ...they really like my homemade mac and cheese; it might not be safe to switch it; for me...? not sure what I'll have.

04.10 Thursday

B- Waffles {off plan} Fox is making these and he insists they be 'regular'

L- Quesadillas {S} I'm "planning" on making low-carb tortillas for these but I don't know that either of the kids have ever had one. 

D- Crockpot spaghetti sauce chicken {E} maybe with brown rice on the side?

04.11 Friday

B- THM Pancakes {E}

L- Tea-time: assorted fruit, cottage cheese and tea {E}

D- Homemade pizza! {CO/off plan} I think I might just have one too. It's been a long while since I have. 

04.12 Saturday

B- Cereal {CO}/ Eggs {S}/ Muffin-in-a-mug {S}

L- Tuna tortillas {CO/off plan} haven't decided what I'll have.

D- BBQ {S}/ Chicken soup {S} weather dependent and both of those could end up being E depending on what kind of meat we use...
And we're going to have dessert after dinner. It will be the Basic Cheesecake or Tummy Tucking Ice Cream {both from THM}. I got the idea from a family at church that only has sweets on the weekends. 

04.13 Sunday 

B- Eggs {S}

L- Salad with meat and cheese {S}

D- Enchiladas {CO/off plan} I am not having these; oatmeal for me. Yum.

Snacks are the same as usual. 

I am definitely trying to make out menus more diverse. It used to be we had fish, burritos, spaghetti and pizza once a week. So that's 4 dinners always the same every week! Yikes! No wonder hubby vetoed spaghetti... and he's not big on fish either {unless it's tuna tortillas- yum}. And perhaps adding a tradition of a dessert on Saturdays to go with our already established tradition of homemade pizza on Fridays.

Menu Plan Monday 03.31.14

It's so good to have a plan. When we have a menu, then grocery shopping is so much easier as well. 

Here's the plan for the week:
03.31- Monday
Breakfast: Cereal (CO), Eggs (S), or Oatmeal with real fruit jam (kumquat) and 1% cottage cheese (E) {something for everyone- this meal really wasn't 'planned' but this is how it turned out. Fox had cereal; Lee had eggs; I had oatmeal.}
Lunch: Tacos with pico de gallo (CO) {I went without tortilla for an S, with a dollop of 0% Greek yogurt- yum!}
Dinner: Lemon Dijon Garlic Pepper Tilapia with "Fancy" Green Beans (E), a slice of bread and butter on the side for hubby and Fox (CO)

04.01- Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal (E) {the kids might not have it like I do, with fruit and cottage cheese- their loss}
Lunch: Salad with meat and cheese (S) {I skip the cheese for an E}
Dinner: Tuna tortillas (CO) {I don't eat this at all because of the cheese we put in the mix and the tortillas; instead I will have ...?}

04.02- Wednesday
Breakfast: Eggs (S)
Lunch: Grilled cheese with Light Tomato Soup (CO) -chapter 20 THM {for me instead of the grilled cheese sandwich, it will be 1/2 a piece of rye toast with Greek yogurt in place of butter (E)}
Dinner: Salad of some kind... this is prone to change since they didn't have any salad when I went shopping today

04.03- Thursday
Breakfast: Cereal (CO) {for me it'll be oatmeal (E) or eggs (S); depends how I feel that morning}
Lunch: Sammies (eggplant, meat and Swiss cheese sandwiches) (S)- chapter 20 THM {Fox doesn't like eggplant so he'll have a meat and cheese sandwich on wheat bread (CO)}
Dinner: Fake Hot Wings {this is the Boneless Wings in THM- chapter 21} with ...? The kids want biscuits which I find to be an odd combination. Usually we have veggies on the side. {It will probably end up a CO meal}

04.04- Friday
Breakfast: Egg and sausage "muffins" (S)
Lunch: Loaded Fotato Soup (E) -chapter 20 THM {FP for me, no cheese wedge and added Greek yogurt}
Dinner: Pepperoni and olive pizza! Homemade every Friday. (CO) {I usually eat oatmeal (E)...I know so boring; good thing I love oatmeal!}

04.05- Saturday
Breakfast: Cereal (CO) for the kids; eggs (S) for dh {eggs (S) or oatmeal (E) for me}
Lunch: Salad of some sort...again this might change.
Dinner: Something from the freezer...undecided

04.06- Sunday
Breakfast: Same as Saturday
Lunch: Chicken wraps (CO) {I will have an "egg" sandwich (S) using 2 slices of Coconut Flour Flatbread and mayo. I use almond milk, and yes, I use the Parmesan cheese.}
Dinner: Porkloin, mesquite bbq flavor with mashed potatoes (CO) {I'm going to make some Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes -chapter 22 THM- for myself and whoever wants to try it for an S}

Snacks can be {All the cheesy ones are for the kids, not me.}: 
raisins/string cheese
yogurt/raisins
yogurt/coconut
apple/peanut butter
apple/yogurt
wasa crackers/string cheese
wasa crackers/cheese wedge
apple/string cheese
cottage cheese/fruit
yogurt/almonds
yogurt/peanut butter

So that's the week's menu. Sometimes we switch the meals around if we aren't feeling like what's set for the day. Ah, yes and always there is water, water, water, and tea :)

Note:
S= Satisfying
E= Energizing
CO= Crossover
Find out more about THM by visiting the website.

Here’s That “Sneak It In” Post–AKA: “Food Post”

A few days ago I made a post about my almond cream cheese and using it to make a low-carb, gluten free pizza. I got the photos of the almond cream cheese (okay it’s just called almond cheese but it’s like cream cheese so why not call it that) and the crust for the pizza…but forgot the rest. Here’s the post to go along with the one where I said I’d just slip it in there.

My pizza:

It tasted really good. The kids even liked it (I didn’t even try to get dh to try it). I will admit that there’s cheese on the top and I used some mashed kidney beans in the sauce. Yes. Yes, I know; I’m weird. And…I did suffer for adding the cheese but for a pizza that tastes like pizza but doesn’t have the wheat (I’ll take the stomach grumbles from the cheese as opposed to itchiness, bloated gut and headache from the wheat), it works for me. The texture is not right for pizza unless you eat it cold, then it’s pretty close!

Here’s my grocery shopping for the week:

Oh, yes, and… miiiiine…

I can have cottage cheese for some reason and have no issues. I’d bought whipping cream and 1/2 n 1/2 the week before for my coffee because I was tired of making the almond milk but I’m going to go back to the almonds. It cost $3.48 for the milk-stuffs for one week as opposed to $4.29 for the almonds which last longer than a week. I prefer the taste of the milk-stuffs but my stomach doesn’t treat me well afterwards.

Anyway, the week’s total was $43.47 for four; a little more than I was hoping. The eggs, almonds, and apples went up in price and I bought parmesan cheese that’ll last for months. I also used to buy just 1 dozen eggs but decided we needed 2 this time.

Here’s our menu for the week:

Monday (today)

• Breakfast: Oatmeal
• Lunch: leftovers
• Dinner: Homemade mac and cheese

Tuesday:

• Breakfast: Cereal for the kids; oatmeal for me
• Lunch: Meat sandwiches with lettuce and cheese
• Dinner: Spaghetti (meatless? haven’t decided); cabbage ‘noodles’ for me

Wednesday:

• Breakfast: Eggs (with toast for the kids if they want)
• Lunch: Tuna sandwiches (no bread for me)
• Dinner: Beans

Thursday:

• Breakfast: “breakfast” egg and cheese muffins
• Lunch: leftovers
• Dinner: Talapia with veggies

Friday:

• Breakfast: Cereal for the kids, oatmeal for me
• Lunch: Salad with cheese
• Dinner: Sausage, cheese and olive pizza (making theirs ‘normal’; mine will be like I had before)

Saturday:

• Breakfast: Fruit salad (apples, pineapples, yogurt) for the kids, eggs for hubby and I
• Lunch: ??
• Dinner: Turkey kielbasa, grilled?, over rice and side salad or veggies

Sunday: (Father’s Day!)

• Breakfast: Eggs
• Lunch: Meat and cheese sandwiches with lettuce
• Dinner: Burgers (? this might change)

Monday:

• Breakfast: Scones (kids), oatmeal (me)
• Lunch: leftovers
• Dinner: Mac and cheese with hot dog bits for them, hot dogs with ? for me

I’m slowly trying to make the meals pretty much compatible for everyone. It’s a bit of a pain to make 2 different dishes for meals, not to mention a little more on the pocketbook.

And one other thing I’m doing is that I’m slowly incorporating into everyone else’s meals the THM way of eating. They just don’t know it. {*evil laughter*} I bought the ebook back in March I believe and at first I was {*very*} skeptical because it says you shouldn’t eat this, or shouldn’t eat that…yada, yada, yada. And I’m skeptical of elimination dieting. But the idea behind the book and meals is very sensical logical to me. You balance your meals a certain way to make the most of the fuels in the foods. But it isn’t always going to be the same exact balance each and every time. And it is a ‘diet’ in the same way any other time you eat a particular way is a diet- it is how you eat. It’s not a program to lose weight quickly and then go back to eating like before. {totally irrelevant side note: Apparently ‘sensical’ is not a word to my LiveWriter; yet nonsensical is a word. To which I say, “pshaw!”}

I prefer to call it THM because “Trim, Healthy Mama” just doesn’t go well in my head when I think of my dh, ds or dd eating the Trim-Healthy-Mama-way. I’m sure dh especially wouldn’t like it. THM is much easier and better  

One way to do this is for me to start making dh’s lunches again for him to take to work… Yeah, that’s on the to-do list.

On the Facebook group for THM someone so kindly created and posted a very helpful document that shows how to basically build each meal quickly, no matter what you have on hand (well, with exceptions of course). I printed this out in small form and make a ‘flip-chart’ that I can keep with me. Before I was trying to write things down in my handy-dandy poppin yellow notebook but still kept forgetting or getting things wrong when planning. Now, it’s there and easy to find.

I also put one, larger size, on my microwave so I can quickly see it. (lol right next to the Chinese take out menu ) It’s ‘flip-chart’ style also; I just taped the top of the page together lol.

Yeah, so that was my ‘slip it in there’ post for my pizza. And some other things.

It’s not much but it’ll do

Each day I sit at this computer, I really do intend to write the post in my head…on my blog. It doesn’t get there though! So many other things to do. Lately it’s working on the kids’ 2013/2014 school schedules. All books are in ‘hand’ and artist prints were picked up this evening. *Unfortunately, Walgreens cut a few of the images to fit the size and seem to have kept one print. It’s good enough*

What’s been happening with our family the last… how many weeks has it been anyway? School ended for the year; we had portfolio assessments; we went camping; and life has happened.

For the readers of The Weekly Barden: our apologies! The last two week’s issues are MIA because… well we were trying to get school out of the way and actually forgot about the WB.

Here’s our grocery shopping for the week ($63.79 at Aldi). Look at all those veggies! There’s a big bag of frozen strawberries behind the salad. We bought sausage for a breakfast twice this week; not normal for us. Ah, and one jug of dishwasher soap. I’d also gone to Walmart to buy printer ink, laundry soap, aluminum foil and plastic wrap; totaled $59.59! Oh, yes, and Giant Eagle to buy $10 worth of cat food. The rest of the month’s weeks won’t cost as much. I hope.

Here’s our menu for the week:

• Monday: B- From scratch Pancakes (Lee); L- PB & banana sandwiches; D- Tuna tortillas
• Tuesday: B- Eggs and sausage; L- Egg salad sandwiches; D- Cereal (yup)
• Wednesday: B- From scratch Muffins (Fox); L- Fresh veggies w/ cheese and crackers and dip; D- Salad
• Thursday: B- From scratch Pancakes and sausage (Both); L- Talapia with veggies (crockpot aluminum foil packs); D- Meatless spaghetti
• Friday: B- Cereal; L- Homemade Mac & Cheese; D- Homemade Pizza (for me I’m going to attempt this one)
• Saturday: B- Cereal; L- PB & honey sandwiches; D- BBQ’d mustard pork with veggies/salad
• Sunday: B- Eggs; L- Pasta salad; D- something BBQ’d

I’d love to share photos of our camping trip (…minus all the water…) but it’ll have to wait for dear hubby to share them with me It rained fairly consistently for our camping adventure. Lee and I did see a rat snake and a baby (?) raccoon while we were on our trip.

We got two new bird feeders with which the little finches are making pigs of themselves. There are two in the window and our cat desperately wants to get the birds that frequent them. But she has to sit on top of my printer to really see them well. She hits the on/off button constantly as well as sheds fur all over.

And although I’ve had a post in my head for weeks now, this is all I can come up with now. It’s so…inadequate…to fulfill what I’d planned. Oh well.

$53 for a week- for 4

Is that good? I can’t quite tell. Some weeks I pay over $60 and feel like I bring nothing home. Other weeks I pay just over $30..and still feel like I brought next to nothing home.

This week, however, I feel like I got a good deal for my $53. And some of it will last longer than the week so next week should be less out of pocket expense. I hope.

Ah, and you can see what kinds of food we eat

And here’s our week’s menu:

Monday (that’s today, before I went shopping):

• Breakfast & Lunch: scrounge
• Dinner: chicken with rice and veggies

Tuesday:

• Breakfast: Scones
• Lunch: Chicken wraps
• Dinner: Soup

Wednesday:

• Breakfast: Eggs and toast
• Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwiches
• Dinner: Pork loin with mashed potatoes and gravy

Thursday:

• Breakfast: Pancakes
• Lunch: Tuna sandwiches
• Dinner: Meatless spaghetti

Friday:

• Breakfast: Waffles
• Lunch: Salad with cheese
• Dinner: Pepperoni pizza

Saturday:

• Breakfast: cold cereal (eggs for hubby)
• Lunch: Leftovers
• Dinner: Hamburgers

Sunday:

• Breakfast: Eggs and toast
• Lunch: Small cheese calzones
• Dinner: Fish with veggies

Monday:

• Breakfast: cold cereal
• Lunch: Soup
• Dinner: chicken with veggies and biscuits

And then I will do the shopping…again.

Menu Plan Monday- 05/09/2011

 

Monday: Pizza at 4H (I love it when others 'cook')

Tuesday: Fish (baked) with biscuits (maybe) and mixed veggies

Wednesday: Burritos

Thursday: Chicken with veggies

Friday: Sloppy Joes

Saturday: Bean soup with biscuits

Sunday: Chicken enchiladas OR Chili with cornbread

Menu Plan Monday- 05/01/2011

Monday:Tuna Turnovers with broccoli (haven't decided if they broccoli will be chopped up and added to the tuna mix inside the biscuit or just on the side)

Tuesday: Sloppy joes

Wednesday: Bean soup with biscuits.

Thursday: Pepperoni pizza with side salad

Friday: BBQ chicken (if weather permitting) with potato salad

Saturday: Leftovers ?? (probably the bean soup)

Sunday: Baked fish (lemon garlic pepper) with side salad.

Phew! that's done! :)