Menu Plan {October 21st – 27th}

Dear Menu Plan,

I miss you. I really don’t know why I neglect you because honestly life is so much better when you are around. But life gets busy, I get tired, and I start to put our relationship on the back burner. However, every time I do I am quickly reminded how much you are needed. For example, these last couple weeks I ordered pizza one too many times because I didn’t have dinner planned out. Of course that spirals into other unhealthy eating and lifestyle decisions. It’s not good. I miss you and want you back.

Love,

Me

A little dramatic? Maybe, but I have neglected my menu plan these last couple weeks. I am really starting to feel the effects so I thought some drama was needed.

Menu planning does not always go as planned. Some weeks I am on fire and have a perfectly planned out menu that I make ahead of time. Those weeks life is good. There are also many weeks I have it all planned out and for some reason still end up eating sandwiches for dinner 3 times. Those weeks life can be better. Then there are weeks where I don’t plan at all and end up staring blankly at my fridge hoping some magical dinner will appear. Those weeks suck.

Basically, what I am trying to say is I am human. Just in case you thought differently.

What do I do when I start to fall of the wagon? Sit down and plan. I have learned dwelling on the negative does not make it better. The only thing that works is taking care of business. So that is what I am going to do.

Here is my menu plan for the week.

Breakfast

Steel cut oats

Kale and strawberry smoothies – recipe coming

Make ahead tips

• I have one bag of make ahead steel cut oats I made about a month ago.
• I will make smoothie kits up Wednesday night.

Lunch

Chiptole turkey or bean and cheese burrito

Egg salad sandwich

Cheese and crackers

Yogurt and homemade granola

Apples and peanut butter

**these are all options. I do not eat all of this in one day for lunch

Make ahead tips

• I have burritos in the freezer. Made those about a month ago.
• Cheese will be cut up.
• Granola will be made tomorrow or Wednesday.

Dinner

Chicken Cacciatore – this recipe will be posted this week.

Tacos

Slow Cooker Chunky Style Beef and Bean Chili

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Homemade Pizza

Make ahead tips

• Cacciatore was made yesterday and we are leftovers for dinner tonight.
• The rest of the dinners will be started in the morning of the night we eat. I know that sounds a bit crazy but I got the idea from Jessica over at Life as Mom. I may have to get up a little earlier and finagle a bit with my treadmill time but it must be done if we are going to eat healthy this week.

What’s on your menu this week?