If you haven't tried Menu Planning, I can't encourage you enough to give it a shot! Do you have to plan every single meal? Not if you don't want to! But if you start by just planning a week of dinners you might find that you enjoy the reduction of chaos...the lack of the 4:30pm "What in the world am I going to make for dinner?".
Breakfasts & lunches tend to be pretty boring at our house. My kids very much like their routine. Additionally, we are not big red meat eaters in this house.
My menu for the week.
Breakfasts (all with coffee for me, milk for the kids) (3-5 Points)
cereal or oatmeal w/fruit, milk (2-3 days for all)
pancakes w/syrup for the kids (3-4 days)
Yogurt, fruit, toast
Yogurt and pumpkin muffins
eggs, toast, fruit (on this day, I will have 1 egg + 2 egg whites to keep my points down)
Lunches ( I tend to not eat that much for lunch because I usually eat a late breakfast) (4-6 points)
kids: peanut butter & jelly, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, mac & cheese, grilled cheese (served each day with applesauce, bananas or mandarin oranges)
Leftovers (2 days)
warm egg salad on a bed of lettuce (made with fat-free mayo), Progresso Zero-point soup (or homemade vegetable soup)
Broccoli & Cheese Potato (2 days): Entire package of Green Giant valley Steamers Broc & cheese (2.5 points) over a 3-4 point potato (this is my favorite lunch in the world!)
Boca Burger on whole wheat toast with wilted spinach, vegetable soup
whole wheat pasta tossed with a warmed can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes and fat-free mozzerella
Dinners: (5-8 points)
Sauteed chicken breast with warmed salsa over brown rice, steamed broccoli
Rotini with turkey meatballs and homemade pasta sauce, salad, bisuits
Pancakes 1 night when my husband is working late (I will make a triple batch to freeze for breakfasts for the kids)
Layered Mexican Chicken, salad
Pizza Night
Lasagna Rolls, green beans, salad, homemade bread
Pot Roast, mashed potatoes, peas, homemade bread
Snacks (0-3 points)
Clementines, Bananas, Apples
Carrot sticks with homemade fat-free garlic dip
Zero Point Vegetable Soup (either homemade or Progresso)
Boiled Egg
kids: pumpkin muffins, sugar cookies, or fruit
It may not be the most exciting of menu plans, but it includes plenty of veggies, fruit and protein. It's a menu that is easy to stick with and contains plenty of "crossover ingredients" to prevent waste.
For more ideas on getting started with menu planning, click here!
Have you started menu planning? how has it helped you?
Rhonda
I have been planning menus for quite a while now (well, mainly dinners) and yes, like you said, it makes life so much easier!!
Jessica at Pudget - Losing Weight On A Budget
Mindi,
The layered Mexican Chicken sounds so good. I can't wait to try it!
Manisha
Love this. Thanks, Mindi. I always plan my meals because it saves money AND points - both good things, in my opinion. But, it always helps to read someone else's menus - gives me ideas.
This week, here's the breakdown. By the way, nearly everything I am eating was bought for almost nothing. My favorite deal was the Kashi bars for 99 cents (for 6 bars) and the yogurt that worked out to 15 cents a piece.
Breakfast:
*3 days - Kashi cereal bars (2 pts) and fruit (1)
*2 days - Light Toast with light cheese and light bacon (4 pts for 2 pieces)
*1 day - Cereal and milk (3), 1/2 banana (1)
*The weekend - eggs, bacon/turkey sausage, toast (5-8 pts)
Lunch:
*Some variation of these things: Ham and Light Cheese SW (4), Fruit (1), Goldfish (2), Cookie (1), Raw Veggies (0), Granola Bar (2)
Dinner:
*1 day: Steak and potatoes, veggies (6-8)
*2 days: Chili with cheese and bread (6)
*1 day: Popcorn chicken and homemade fries (6)
*1 day: Grilled Cheese and tomato soup (4)
*2 days: Chicken Pot Pie made with Cresent rolls and veggies (6)
Snacks:
*Light and Fit Yogurt, Raisins, Almonds (3)
*Apple and pb (3)
*2% cheese slice and saltines (2)
Jeanette
What is your homemade garlic dip? That sounds great with veggies. I've had the pumpkin muffins and they are incredible considering how low fat they are.
Mindi
Jessica: were you able to see the recipe with the link? I always worry about that because I am a Weight Watchers eTools subscriber and never know if I am linking to a recipe that is only for subscribers!
My fat free garlic dip can be found here
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/appetizer-side-dish-recipes/onion-garlic-dip/article.html
it's actually a Rachael Ray recipe. I just substitute fat free sour cream. There is only 1 tbsp oil for 2 1/2 cups of dip, so unless I go overboard and eat the whole batch in a day ;-), I just count the sour cream as the points. The recipe can be easily halved!
Manisha: love your menu! That's the great thing about my menu as well...it may not be very exciting, but most of the items were either free or purchased for pennies....and THAT is exciting!
Julie
What's the secret to freezing pancakes and waffles? I've tried several recipes that we all love fresh from the griddle, but after they've been frozen -- or even just refrigerated -- they taste like cardboard. How did you solve that problem?