This week’s challenge over at the 90 Day Budget Boot Camp is an easy one: meal planning. Something that I already do, and something that I find really saves me a lot of time, money (most days) and stress. One day of planning, an hour of time tops, and the meals for the week are done. Well, at least dinner is planned. Lunches are kind of free-for-all’s. Dad-oo usually makes his lunches the night before (or the morning of) and I stick to about 3 different meals that I rotate through.
The kiddo on the other hand, has been tough. I’ve gotten in the habit of making the same 4 things for him, simple because I know that he’ll eat it. I hate throwing away food that a picky toddler refuses to eat, but has mashed up with his fingers to an inedible mess. So a couple of weeks ago I started planning a toddler lunch menu. Which has helped. Well, at least I’ve added two more thing to our rotation of lunches. But I have a hard time sticking to it. Lunch ends up being quickly thrown together at the last minute. Either because we were out with friends, running errands or at the park. Nap time is quickly approaching, but I need to fill up the kiddo’s belly first, so he will sleep longer than 30 minutes.
And I need him to sleep longer than 30 minutes. NEED.
So what I’m doing differently this week is writing down our meals on a wipe off board I found at Target this weekend. This way I have them right where I need them, there’s no excuse for not knowing what to make, and there’s a constant reminder of what I made, so I don’t accidentally feed the kiddo PBJ three days in a row. Not that that has ever happened. Ahem.
So, without further ado, here’s my meal plan for the week. (P.S. I’d love it if you popped over to In Good Cents to see what the other challengers are cooking up this week).
Meal Plan
Breakfasts
homemade granola, Greek yogurt, fresh berries, muffins, cereal, waffle-cakes (Waffle batter made on a skillet, because our waffle iron was packed away in the hopes that our house would sell quickly. But didn’t).
Adult Lunches
Egg sandwich, spinach salad with turkey or veggie burgers, or the classic PBJ
Toddler Lunches
Monday: Peanut butter and banana grilled sandwiches (Wholesome Toddler Food)
Tuesday: Cheesy veggie quesadilla (Wholesome Toddler Food)
Wednesday: Grilled cheese and corn
Thursday: Pitas stuffed with turkey, hummus and cheese (AllRecipes.com)
Friday: Waffle Sandwiches stuffed with cream cheese and fresh berries (InGoodCents.com)
Saturday: Whole wheat bagel with peanut butter, honey and raisins
Sunday: Homemade crackers, hummus, cheese and carrots
Dinners
Monday: Spinach and Bacon Frittata ($5 Dollar Dinners)
Tuesday: Sweet and Spicy Stir Fry with Chicken and Broccoli (AllRecipes) and Baked Crab Rangoon
Wednesday: Pitas stuffed with hummus, fresh veggies from the farmer’s market, and cheese
Thursday: Grilled Chicken Burgers with homemade buns
Friday: Pizza with my breadmachine pizza dough and homemade sauce (AllRecipes.com)
Saturday: Leftover pizza
Sunday: French Toast Casserole
I’ll also be putting together some of my Super Energy Granola Bars, Crackers and Graham Crackers, and Wheat Germ, Flax Seed Bread.
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In case you missed it, this week’s recipe was published yesterday, for the July Fourth.
[singlepic id=463 w=450]
Check out the Cookie-Style Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Did you know that you can save my recipes in your very own recipe box, courtesy of ZipList? Just click on the link above, under "recipes" to get started. Want to learn more? Hop on over to read about this awesome new feature.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Ice cream sandwiches? YUM! I am impressed that your toddler will eat veggies in a quesadilla. My kid sees even a slice of tomato and cries foul.
@TheKitchenWitch, There are only 3 veggies that he will eat, corn, peas and carrots. All of which go in the quesadilla. With lots of cheese of course.
You have inspired me to try some homemade crackers!
@mrs spock, Oh yea! Let me know how they turn out.
I could look at that ice cream sandwich picture all day long. Have a great week!
I am totally going to try some of your recipes! The spinach and bacon fritatta and the french toast casserole sound particularly yummy!
@Lolli, The egg dish is one of my favorites. Even the left overs are good heated up the next day. And you just reminded me that I need to make bread for the casserole.
You had me at ice cream sandwiches. Wow, that looks so good I want to reach INTO the screen and grab it!
MMMM YUMMY can I come eat at your house this week? Your meals sound so much better than mine. I am a meal planner too, but I tend to stick to things that are easy and fast to make. By the time dinner comes I am exhausted and on most days am not functioning at 5pm!
Don’t fret about feeding your toddler the same thing everday. That’s what I do, my toddler is super picky too and right now she is stuck in Cheetos and eats them with EVERY meal even breakfast! Hot Dogs which i hate but if she will eat them more power to her, fruit and apple juice. I say if you can even get them to eat something thats better than nothing at all!
Yummy! I should have included my menu items. But I wrote the post from my mom’s house and the menu was here at my house. I will have to amend for next week and link up with orgjunkie!
i just created my first monthly menu. i can see the savings already. i bought only what i needed at the store, and used so much of what i already had!
hopefully there will be big savings in our future…cha ching!
Those ice cream sandwiches do look awesome. Fortunately (for all the other 2 year old things he does right now!!!) he’s not a picky eater so he eats what I eat – sushi and all! LOL! But, for most people that toddler menu is great! love it!
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