Meal Plan Monday

stlmegs · November 2017

Are there any other Mamas who meal plan on this board? I do, and I'm always looking for new ideas so I thought I would see if anyone would be interested in sharing.

canucklehead123 · November 2017

I will be contributing to this thread normally, but this week is a short week for me so all plans have gone out the window. But I am super interested in everybody's breakfast plans - I'm having a hard time with this meal!!

stlmegs · November 2017

@canucklehead123 I love your siggy!

stillcozy · November 2017

I am starting to do it more. Today I am makinf bacon wrapped chicken breast roast and au gratin potatoes. it should last us two dinners. I will probably make a big batch of chicken noodle soup as well this week

mamaabc · November 2017

Meal planning is one of the biggest things I struggle with but would love to do more of! Does anyone here have an Instant Pot? I really feel like I’m not using mine to it’s fullest potential, so I’m looking for fresh ideas!

ajsanders-2 · November 2017

I meal plan for my meals at work. Usually I've been making chicken (with some type of seasoning), rice or veggie, and beans (each week I have different beans, this week is black beans). I haven't gone as far yet as to figure out the dinner ideas for the week.

zande2016 · November 2017

I try to go into the work week with enough groceries for at least 5 nights of dinners. There's always at least one night of take out. We keep on hand ingredients for: pasta with jarred tomato sauce and Trader Joe's frozen meatless meatballs, tacos, chili, veggie burgers/fries with a veggie or salad, and curry chick peas over rice using Trader Joe's curry simmer sauce. I work long hours and have a long commute, and my husband does a lot of the cooking and has a hard time with new or complicated recipes, so we try to keep it super simple and use convenience foods that are still healthy. We're also vegetarians so somewhat limited in quick meals. My husband also manages a restaurant that specializes in fast casual healthy food so he brings home my lunch for the next day (we save a lot of money that way).

dimeadozen · November 2017

@canucklehead123 I typically cut russet potatoes (with the skin on) and cook those in a skillet with some chopped bacon, tony's and garlic. Each serving we eat it with two sunny side up eggs, which is the BEST.. the yolk breaks over the potatoes. I typically make an omelet with mine now since we can't have sunny side up eggs

celainev · November 2017

abcdmommy said:

Meal planning is one of the biggest things I struggle with but would love to do more of! Does anyone here have an Instant Pot? I really feel like I’m not using mine to it’s fullest potential, so I’m looking for fresh ideas!

I have one! Things I’ve made in it:
1. Bone broth - 100 min on high pressure, 60 min on low, natural release. Great way to use your chicken bones! Also I’ve been veggie broth just by saving up veggie “ends” in the freezer!
2. Broccoli/Cauliflower Soup! Sooooo quick!! Great for a last minute lunch recipe!
3. Spaghetti Squash! My DH is keto and using the instant pot to make my spaghetti squash is by far the quickest!
4. Roasts - I make a great carnitas recipe using my instant pot and then broiling the pieces after in the oven.
Also my favourite beef dip recipe is using a bottle of beer, a jar of pepperoncini peppers with juice, Italian seasoning, and onion powder in the instant pot! Sooooo good and spicy!
5. Borscht (Mennonite), Sausage and Kale, Chicken noodle, and Hamburger soups all easy in the instant pot!

celainev · November 2017

@abcdmommy also the instant pot will be amazing for making baby food later!

I forgot to add that I freeze my bone broth into ice cubes and then I can use them easily in gravies or sauces! And I have some big half cup ice cubes for soup recipes.

stlmegs · November 2017

I have a menu in our kitchen that is laid out by days, but DH is quickly learning to check with me before he starts dinner because odds are whatever is on the menu for the day won't sound good to me.

I also bring leftovers with me for lunch everyday to keep myself out of the cafeteria.
This week's menu:

Mon-Baked chicken, roasted veggies, and cous cous
Tues-Tacos or taco salads and refried beans
Wed-Caesar salad and smoked mozzerella ravioli or roasted red pepper and tomato soup from TJ's (whatever sounds better)
Thurs- Cheeseburger sliders and tator tots
Fri-Pizza and salad
Sat-Copy cat Panera Broccoli cheddar soup and chicken salad sandwiches
Sun-Slow cooker chicken, stuffing, and green beans

Friday is almost always pizza night in our house. Usually we make it ourselves, on Naan. My 5 yo loves to put his own stuff on it before it goes in the oven.

djh513 · November 2017

Yep, I always meal plan.

I don’t pick a particular day for dinners, especially while pregnant! It really depends on our schedules and who will be cooking that night. We also typically eat out on Friday or Saturday.

DH and I both work 8-5 M-F. And my son is 1 (this Sunday!).

This is what I have saved for this week:

BREAKFAST

DH: Bananas

ME: Greek yogurt & OJ

DS: Apple cinnamon pancakes and berry yogurt bark

LUNCH/SNACK

DH: mixed nuts, fiber bars, lunch meat, cheese

ME: fiber bars, soup and crackers, apples, peaches

DS: peanut butter & banana sandwiches, applesauce, mango, cheese, mixed veggies, homemade Mac & cheese

DINNER

-Biscuits & sausage gravy, eggs, hash browns

-Rigatoni, Italian sausage, tomato basil sauce and garlic bread

-Chicken pot pie bake

-Baked ham and cheese sandwiches and baked beans and Hawaiian protein vegetable blend

-Slow cooker beef taco soup

-Mexican style pizza

stlmegs · November 2017

@djh513 happy almost birthday to your son!

ckmb_1250 · November 2017

I meal prep on sundays - with it currently being just my husband and I, most recipes are too big for just one night, so I make a large amount and we eat it Monday - Thursday. Same for lunches. You have to not mind eating the same thing several days in a row, but we actually don't mind at all, and I HATE wasting food, so it works.

Yesterday I made turkey chili and prepped rice noodles for it to go over, along with salad ingredients. I also baked chicken breast and made a giant Asian slaw salad for lunches, then cubed and baked sweet potatoes to eat with hummus as a snack. I always pre-portion the lunches into glass Tupperware so that it stays fresh and we can just grab it out of the fridge in the mornings. I divide the dinner into two separate glass containers so that we're not opening/closing the same container several times & it stays fresh.

I generally cook gluten/dairy free and both my husband and I follow a low-fodmap diet so I'm often limited on my veggie choices, but try to make it work

adventuresawait1 · November 2017

@zande2016 My DH and I take a very similar approach to having ingredients on hand for quick meals, with pasta/sauce/veggie, chickpeas/rice/sauce and beans/salsa/cheese/tortillas. We aim to make two meals requiring more prep each week. Last week was homemade pizza with eggplant and lentil bolognese. This week is chicken and soba noodles (a recipe with miso that could also probably be made with tofu) and beef pie. We mostly eat leftovers for lunch and for breakfasts we stick with English muffins and eggs.

hillbillywife · November 2017

Well after that ^ my meals probably look gross, but I’m alone with my kids a lot and now I’m tired and cranky so I do the best I can.

I like to meal plan weekly. I assign things a day usually but I’m flexible depending on other plans etc and if something doesn’t get made it rolls over to the next week. Most of the meat we use is frozen, but was fresh and local so that is another factor I plan on when planning (my brain cannot come up with words lately lol!)

Here’s what I have for this week:

spaghetti with homemade meat sauce (sauce is from tomatoes from my garden. It’s the first year we’ve made sauce and I feel stupidly proud of it), salad, garlic bread

tomato basil parmesan soup, bread, salad

crockpot pork chops, mashed potatoes, veggie

cheesy ham and rice casserole, salad

cheese steaks and French fries

grilled cheese and tomato soup

steak burrito bowls

dimeadozen · November 2017

@hillbillywife what is a cheese steak?!? I love cheese so I hope this is something new and cool.

mamaabc · November 2017

celainev said:

@abcdmommy also the instant pot will be amazing for making baby food later!

I forgot to add that I freeze my bone broth into ice cubes and then I can use them easily in gravies or sauces! And I have some big half cup ice cubes for soup recipes.

Thanks for the IP recipe ideas! Lately we’ve mostly been sticking to steel cut oats, hard boiled eggs, rice, and other simple things so I’d like to try something new. I’m definitely interested in your recipe for carnitas if you’re willing to share!

Last spring I used the IP to make baby food for my youngest and plan to do that again this time! Wish I had it for my first two!

hillbillywife · November 2017

gspmom21 said:

@hillbillywife what is a cheese steak?!? I love cheese so I hope this is something new and cool.

*gasp* You’ve never heard of cheese steaks?! It’s a sandwich usually served on a sub roll. It has shaved beef (we usually use something easy like steak-ums), peppers, onions, and cheese on it. There are TONS of different variations but that’s probably most common. I had a Cajun chicken cheesesteak over the weekend that was way yummy and completely different that my usual. Makes me hungry!

stlmegs · November 2017

*also gasps* @gspmom21 you need to get yourself a cheese steak pronto. They are one of my favorite foods!!

ETA @hillbillywife a cajun chicken cheesesteak? That sounds like the stuff my pregnancy food dreams are made of.

hillbillywife · November 2017

@stlmegs It was so yummy! My other pregnant friend was craving food from a local sports grill, so we went there for girls night. It had chunks of chicken with Cajun seasoning, lettuce, onions I think, lots of melty American cheese, mayo (sounds weird, but it makes the sandwich- I opted for regular mayo instead of the spicy mayo but I think I’d get it with spicy mayo next time) and diced tomatoes on top. Yum yum yum. I wasn’t going to take my leftovers home cuz the roll was already soggy but I took it home anyways and at the chicken out of it for lunch today!

christycalifornia · November 2017

I plan, but not since I got pregnant. Last time my cooking went out the window, too. Hoping you ladies inspire me! I also have an instant pot since I moved to a high altitude and my normal one-hour-one-pot meals now take three hours to cook, but I hardly use it. I'd love any recipe links you have tried and liked!

stlmegs · November 2017

I need an instant pot!

acunamatada · November 2017

What is an instant pot? Like a croc pot? Or is this a new better contraption I need in my life?

stlmegs · November 2017

@acunamatada apparently they are like crock pots on steroids. It’s a pressure cooker that cooks things really fast. I think I got that right?

celainev · November 2017

abcdmommy said:

celainev said:

@abcdmommy also the instant pot will be amazing for making baby food later!

I forgot to add that I freeze my bone broth into ice cubes and then I can use them easily in gravies or sauces! And I have some big half cup ice cubes for soup recipes.

Thanks for the IP recipe ideas! Lately we’ve mostly been sticking to steel cut oats, hard boiled eggs, rice, and other simple things so I’d like to try something new. I’m definitely interested in your recipe for carnitas if you’re willing to share!

Last spring I used the IP to make baby food for my youngest and plan to do that again this time! Wish I had it for my first two!

https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/instant-pot-crispy-carnitas/

This is the one I use and I love it!

celainev · November 2017

acunamatada said:

What is an instant pot? Like a croc pot? Or is this a new better contraption I need in my life?

https://instantpot.com/

It is a pressure cooker that can also be a crock pot, you can also sauté first and then pressure cook! It’s definitely a game changer!! Definitely something to look into for Black Friday deals!

christycalifornia · November 2017

@acunamatada also cooks rice. I love that it has a removable steel pot so it's really easy to clean, and if you want to, say, make Carnitas and rice you can buy a second insert cheaply and do two dish components with some timing magic.

acunamatada · November 2017

@celainev @christycalifornia this sounds like wizardry! I know what I'll be picking myself up on Black Friday... I love my croc pot! For things you'd normally slow roast to tenderize like beef stew, would it make it just as tender?

christycalifornia · November 2017

@acunamatada Yup. That's the whole thing about pressure cookers. That's how all those guys on top chef get pigs ears edible in 30 mins. Makes food as tender as you want in minimal time because the food is under intense pressure while being cooked. Makes heat/flavor penetrate on a fraction of the time. I dgidn't et one until we moved even though my sis had been bugging me about it for years. I need to use mine more.

dimeadozen · November 2017

@hillbillywife bahahahahahaha. Man my pregnancy brain is already in full force. Since you didn't put "philly" cheesesteak I had no idea. I've eaten those plenty of times! Take away one word and my mind was blown. I even reread your original comment slowly to make sure it wasn't something obvious before I looked stupid and asked about it.

hillbillywife · November 2017

@gspmom21

I was like, surely she’s heard of them... surely. I’m so relieved you haven’t been missing out! Pregnancy brain Is for real!!

dimeadozen · November 2017

@hillbillywife Big DUH moment! I knew I had to be missing something!!

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Lab Mom (x2): Sept/Oct 2014 Married: August 2015DS: Nov 2016 (36w)Baby H #2: July2018 (Team Pink!)

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Lab Mom (x2): Sept/Oct 2014
Married: August 2015
DS: Nov 2016 (36w)
Baby H #2: July2018 (Team Pink!)