January Meal Plan





Now that it's a new year, I've decided to start planning meals again. Not that I wasn't before, I just lacked the "follow through."

It's all about the follow through.

Even though I had the best of intentions, my lack of motivation kept me from doing the important things like, thawing the meat, soaking the beans, buying the groceries, etc...More often than not, I found myself pulling out the omelet pan and scrambling up some eggs.

Omelette's were even too ambitious because they require thought, and my only thought was "git er done." Hence, the scrambling. Not exactly the meals that dreams are made of.

When planning for a month of meals, I start by shopping in the pantry/freezer first. Then I list the meals that my family likes, that are time-convenient, or are meals that use whatever I have an abundance of. After that list is finished, I divide them into weekly plans and write them on a weekly planner. (This planner is much classier than my old stand-by...the spiral notebook.) On the back of each weekly planner, I write my grocery list. I've found that it's important to take both my meal plan and my grocery list together, because I almost always forget to add something.

I say almost always because it makes me feel more competent than I really am. ☺

Our monthly budget for groceries varies, but we try to keep it around $150.00/week. Every 3 months, we make a Costco and Bob's Redmill run to restock basics such as; sugar, dried beans, rice, spices, and gluten-free staples.

And it ensures that the Mister and I have at least 1 day every 3 months without kids.

It's the little things, really.

Here's what's cookin' this month~

~Week 1~

Crockpot Chinese Pepper Steak, brown rice

baked chicken, Mac & Cheese, roasted broccoli/cauliflower

Red Coconut Curry Lentil Soup, gf Naan Bread

White Chicken Chili (new), gf Cornbread

Parmesan-crusted Tilapia, brown rice/butter, green salad

Homemade gf Pizza

Leftovers

~Week 2~

Sweet Potato Patties, Baked Salmon, green salad

Lentil Burritos, Guacamole, tortilla chips

Crockpot Mongolian Beef, brown rice, salad

Thai Butternut Curry Soup, Bob's Redmill GF Hearty Whole Grain Bread

Cincinnati Chili

Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken, jasmine rice

Leftovers

~Week 3~

Chicken Tortilla Soup, gf Cornbread

Pot roast, Roasted Rosemary Potatoes, veggie (to be determined)

Coconut Kelp Soup with Chicken

Venison Stroganoff, jasmine rice

Chickpea Fritters, Chicken Caesar Salad

GF Beef Empanadas (new)

Salmon Patties, brown rice w/butter, green beans

~Week 4~

Chili, gf Cornbread

baked potatoes, cube steak, salad

Spicy Thai Noodles (with brown rice noodles)

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

Mexi-Mac, sweet corn

Salsa Chicken, brown rice, salad

Coconut Curry Chicken Soup

Breakfasts: Soaked Oatmeal, brown rice farina, eggs, raw milk kefir smoothies, muffins, Cinnamon Spiced Granola

Lunches: Leftovers, nachos, egg salad or tuna sandwiches (on home-baked bread)

Since I've only planned 28 of the 31 days of January, that leaves room for date nights out, or date nights in...

Hey, it could happen. ☺

This post is linked to Menu Mondays at I'm an Organizing Junkie.