Food for Thought...3 Weeks Worth of Dinner Routines

How many times do you get through most of the day, it's about 3 o'clock and you think....hmmm what are we going to eat for dinner? The stress to figure this simple thing out some days feels daunting. I think we start pondering what to have and often want something quick, something healthy, something that you don't have to stop at the store for. And then throw in, what are you in the mood for and craving.

Have a Plan

Time is money they say, and planning ahead is an extreme time saver, not to mention less stressful. I realized with work, spouses, kids, sports practices, school work, and life in general, my every day is much easier when I do a little more planning. So let's get started....Choose one day a week that works best for you to do your major grocery shopping, Let's start with making a list

The List - Plan Your Meals for the Week

Dinner is the biggest meal I plan for, since this is the meal we tend to come together for and share our day as a family. So, my list, mostly focus's on the dinner menu. I usually start with some inspiration, I take a few minutes and browse through recipes I've made before, maybe go online for new ideas or even scroll through pictures of tasty looking ideas.

Buy Fresh

I stopped freezing food years ago. I found that I’d forget to pull whatever out of the freezer in the morning and after a long day at work I never wanted to take the time to defrost anything.

I simply started buying fresh for the week. This has been a game changer. I don't feel like my frozen foods are forgotten, wasted or becoming freezer burnt as we speak. I also find that not much fresh food goes to waste now plus everything taste better.

Give Yourself Some Time Back

Plan meals that can be savored over several nights. There's nothing quite like coming home to a comforting dish that can be easily reheated and gives you 

some extra time in your day. Soups are great for this! Here are a few ideas for weekly food planning.

The List - Ideas:

Example Week 1

Sunday- Grill day - BBQ Chicken, & Roasted Veggies (Potatoes, Carrots, Onion, Asparagus and maybe even a Sweet Potato)

Monday- Grill day number 2- Today I'm going to go with Pork Tenderloin (baked or grilled) and heat up the rest of the previous nights roasted veggies in the oven.

Tuesday - Let's go with Kielbasa, stir fried with Green, Yellow and Red Peppers....and of course Onion, over white rice

Wednesday - Reheat the leftovers from the previous night...Unless your hubby takes this for lunch

Thursday - You're working a little later so let's consider something quicker - Fish Taco's - The easy version - Sometimes it's just easy to grab the frozen box of fish sticks - However it's not the 80's fish stick night that we remember... and it's easy... Tortilla shells, Cabbage Slaw, Pico and Cheese

Friday - Fish Tacos can easily be made a second night and not feel like you're eating leftovers plus this uses up the fresh groceries you already bought....

Saturday - Pizza night- I typically get the premade Crust, Pizza Sauce, Shredded Mozzarella and whatever toppings you like... I'm going Margarita Style for this one.

Saturday - We mostly wing it by this day of the week....Typically finishing up something we still have or creating something with the rest of the produce etc. so not much goes to waste.

Grocery List

Chicken Thighs or Breasts

Your Favorite BBQ Sauce

Potatoes

Carrots

Onion x2

Asparagus

Sweet Potato

Pork Tenderloin

Kielbasa

Green, Yellow and Red Pepper

White Rice (Basmati or Jasmine is good also)

Frozen Cod Sticks

Cabbage Slaw Mix (Pre Cut Bag)

Sour Cream

Fresh Pico- Can make or buy in the produce section -(tomatoes, onion, cilantro)

Shredded Chedder Cheese

Pizza Crust

Pizza Sauce

Shredded Mozerrella

Cherry Tomatoes

Fresh Basil

And there is your dinners for the week..... I will also add in a few items for lunches, snacks, drinks etc but the main meals are figured out...

Example Week 2

Sunday - Chicken Noodle Soup - and Fresh Bakery Bread

Monday -Chicken Noodle Soup

Tuesday - Depending on how many you are feeding, soups can last for a good 3 nights sometimes

Wednesday - Fresh made Salad Topped with Chicken - I typically shred a lot of my salad items at home for better texture and taste -Carrots, Cabbage, Zucchini and Radishes

Thursday - Fresh made Salad Topped with Chicken night 2 - You can have the same meal and switch it up a few ways--- Different Dressing or simply put this on a wrap with a little cheese and diced pickles

Friday - Veggie Stir Fry - Rice, Carrots, peas, onion, black beans, and if you have something in your fridge to use up -this is the time

Saturday - Reheat the leftover from the previous night

Grocery List

Chicken Breasts

Chicken Thighs

Broth

Noodles

Carrots (x3 meals), Onion x2, Celery and Potato

Fresh Sour Dough Bakery Bread

Romaine for the crunch and Kale for a healthier Green

Cabbage

Zucchini

Radish

Cilantro

Cucumber

Green Onion

And whatever salad items you prefer to add

Tortilla Wraps

Pepper Jack Cheese

Chicken Tenders of your choice - We tend to use a frozen bag option for this

Rice ( May already have from last week's menu)

Peas - If you can find these fresh in the produce section - they are fabulous

Can of Black Beans

Example Week 3

Sunday - Let's have a fun dinner - Steak and Shrimp Fondue- Of course you'll want fondue pots to make this one easier - But it does make for a very social and memorable meal. I break out our pots often - 1 Filet and 1/2lb of shrimp for every 2 people is usually plenty of meat per person. Then I cut up carrots, potatoes (I typically precook the potatoes so they are softer), fresh bakery bread, cherry tomatoes, peppers and whatever you prefer to dip. You'll need broth for one pot and cheese for another

Monday - Salmon - Grilled or Baked whichever is your preference - I tend to switch it up, Asparagus and white rice

Tuesday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches- This is a great crock pot dinner. Simply toss some salt, pepper and whatever other seasoning you may like, place the Pork Roast in the crock pot. Pull with a fork when its ready... Add a little of your favorite BBQ Sauce and Wa-La! It's amazing!

Wednesday - Usually plenty from last night for leftovers or if you want to get creative you can have pulled pork nachos...

Thursday - It's very possible to get 3 nights out of pulled pork but also a great lunch to take for the hubby -Tonight's plan is Grilled Cheese --- In my house we call it Fancy Grilled Cheese because it's not like when you where a kid.... Try using bakery sourdough bread, a slice of white cheddar, a slice of tomato, a slice of Havarti and some fresh ground pepper- And if you want, add spinach, that's good too.

Friday- In our house we'd rather not waste food and probably have plenty for another Grill Cheese night. You can always add ham for a hot ham and cheese to mix things up or switch every other night with the pulled pork

Saturday- Maybe tonight is a treat yourself out to dinner night?

Grocery List

Filet

Shrimp

Potatoes

Bread

Carrots

Zucchini

Broth

Fondue cheese mix (Typically found in the produce section where specialty cheeses are)

You might want wine for this dinner too

Pork Roast

BBQ Sauce

Buns

Sourdough Bread

Cheddar slices

Havarti slices

Tomato

These are just a few ideas for weekly meals

that help my everyday routine, be a little less stressful.

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