On Saturdays, I share my menu plan for the upcoming week along with a photo of my groceries and a tally of my spending. My goal is to spend $100/week for our food, toiletries, and cleaning products. I’m currently in the midst of trying to buy more local, sustainably-produced food while sticking to my budget. Can it be done? I don’t know, but I’m going to try, and I’ll share what I learn as I go along.
It’s a Saturday morning post! We haven’t had one of those for a little while now.
I did go grocery shopping this week…it was a bit challenging to find a good time to go, now that our schedule has been turned on its head. Hopefully I’ll get that figured out.
I had to rush home from grocery shopping and begin cooking right away (I made clam chowder, which IS super yummy. You should make a pot. Soon.), so I don’t have a good grocery picture.
But, here is my produce, (some from Weis and some from Aldi), and my local eggs.
I spent $75.68 at Weis and $43.62 at Aldi.
Breakfasts this week will be granola, yogurt, muffins, fruit, eggs, or cereal.
And because Mr. FG has a new, late schedule, we’ve been eating dinner at lunch and lunch at dinner.
So, for dinner we’ve been eating things like sandwiches made with whole wheat bread, homemade yogurt, yogurt smoothies, cottage cheese, fruit, raw veggies, nuts, cheese, and leftovers as necessary. Of course, we don’t eat all of that every single day…it’s just a list of the things we choose from for lunch each day. Mr. FG takes leftovers with him to work pretty much every day.
That means the plan that follows is actually for our lunch meals.
Saturday
- Pizza. What kind, I’m not sure!
Sunday
- We’re celebrating my father-in-law’s birthday, and I’m bringing honey-glazed pan rolls.
Monday
- Chicken Tacos
- chips and salsa
- fruit salad
Tuesday
- Shrimp and Ravioli in Pink Sauce
- french bread
- green salad
Wednesday
- Swiss Mushroom Chicken
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- green beans
Thursday
- Grilled Hamburgers
- grilled veggies
- fruit salad
Friday
- Pizza (we’re bumping out takeout date night to Saturday to see if that works better for the new schedule)
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Today’s 365 post: Want to guess which is which?
Joshua’s 365 post: Hockey Night
Just Gai
Sunday 30th of October 2011
I've been away for a few days and have only just caught up on the recent furore in your comments box. As one of your regular followers I confess to mixed reactions to your posts. I applaud your efforts to live cheerfully on less and recognise the positive impact this has had on hundreds (thousands?) of your readers. I also empathise with your accounts of family life, particularly valuing the insight it gives me into a culture surprisingly different to my own. However there are issues on which I admit to not seeing eye to eye with you - your religious views and views on homeschooling tomention just two. I also have problems with your public endorsements of various products. But these are not serious enough to stop me from subscribing to your feed.
When I read something with which I disagree I usually ignore it. Only on a few occasions have I felt strongly enough to comment, when I hope I came across as politely and respectfully as I intended I always put considerable thought into my words to prevent offence. As a fellow blogger, although not nearly so prolific, I have to accept that if I choose to air my views in the public domain, then my readers have the right to comment accordingly. It goes without saying that they should do so in an appropriate manner and that you have the right to block them if they abuse their freedom. And while it is flattering to receive an outpouring of endorsements, I would much rather scroll through a well mannered debate, particularlyin response to a controversial topic.
It would be a shame if, following the recent spats, your followers felt that they could not express their own personal contradictory views, without bringing the collective wrath of your readership down on their heads. I'm sure that's not what you would want either.
PS I hesitated before writing this comment, but I have proceeded because I think it needed said and in the hope that you will understand where I'm coming from.
Lisa Musser
Tuesday 25th of October 2011
Wow, I love your menu and that you're trying to spend less on food. I am also trying to get my food budget down. I'll try following your example and see what happens.
Barb @ 1SentenceDiary
Monday 24th of October 2011
Just a note about the word dinner. The definition of the word dinner is the chief meal of the day, eaten at mid-day or in the evening. Reference: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dinner
Most Americans use the word dinner to mean the evening meal, since that is commonly when Americans eat the main meal of the day. But, according to the definition, a light evening meal would be called supper.
And you can feel free to have your dinner either at mid-day (lunch-time) or in the evening (supper-time.) :-)
Happy to hear you are enjoying your new schedule, no matter what you call your meals!
Holly
Monday 24th of October 2011
Hi Kristen,
This is totally unrelated to this post, but I wanted to thank you for your wonderful posts on freezer jam. Before I found your blog, I had never heard of it, and it seemed really hard to make your own jam (as well as many other homemade items). But I am pleased to report that I made my first strawberry freezer jam this afternoon! It is so delicious and fresh!
Thanks for being such an inspiration and sharing so many of your frugal / awesome tips!
Holly
Adventures in dinner
Sunday 23rd of October 2011
Those rolls sound fantastic!