Menu Plan Monday – February 22nd

Last week we used our first official menu plan and it was a great success! I experienced firsthand how menu planning saves us time, money, and even reduces stress.

My favorite thing about menu planning so far is that it will keep us even healthier by helping us enjoy a variety of foods. When you see all the meals your family eats written down, it is easier to avoid getting in a rut and preparing the same recipes over and over. Even if you prepare healthy recipes, it’s important to add variety so you get a complete range of vitamins and nutrients.

One unexpected surprise was that we didn’t have a chance to make everything on our menu. When life happens, we adjust the plan and create a quick meal out of leftovers. Now we have a couple meals that will roll over into this week. This is what’s on the menu this week at our house:

Beverages: Water with Lemon, Mint Green Tea, Cranberry-Pomegranate Juice, Peppermint Herbal Tea

Breakfasts: Strawberry-Banana Smoothies, Steel Cut Oatmeal topped with Cinnamon, Bananas and Walnuts, Veggie and Egg Scramble, Cereal

Lunches: We make enough for dinner to turn the leftovers into a quick and tasty lunch the next day.

Snacks: Homemade Guacamole and Blue Tortilla Chips, Strawberries, Apples with Cinnamon, Homemade Hummus with Veggies(Carrots, Celery, Broccoli), Raisins, Almonds, Multigrain Crackers with Cheese or Cashew Butter, Cantaloupe, Organic Yogurt

Dinners:
Monday – Multigrain Spaghetti with Roasted Garlic Marinara and Romano Cheese, Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette
Tuesday – Italian Style Pot Roast with Tomatoes, Potatoes, Carrots, Celery, Onions, Garlic, and Mushrooms, Side of Roasted Asparagus
Wednesday – Shredded Beef Burritos with Whole Wheat Tortillas, Beans, Lettuce, Cheese, Salsa, and Chimichurri Rice
Thursday – Black Bean Lime Chili with Whole Wheat CousCous
Friday – Crockpot Chicken Curry with Potatoes, Peas, and Carrots (We didn’t make this last week)
Saturday – Soy Ginger Soba Noodles with Tofu, Onions, Carrots, and Broccoli
Sunday – Salmon, Lentils, and Veggies, Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Do you need menu planning inspiration? Go check out all the great menu plans at I’m an Organizing Junkie.