Meal Planning Options

     

Delicious open grilled sandwich in Athens

     I tried meal planning last week by day. It was hit or miss, but did help me maximize food on hand. I did a top off shop after my breakfast out with my MIL. By the way, it was fine. I just went with the flow of her talking in depth about people I didn't know and her experiences 15, 25, or more years ago. She appreciated that I brought her a little something back from my trip. To relate to this post, I noticed breakfast is no longer an affordable option for going out any more so than other meals. I had a breakfast sandwich and hashbrowns, no beverage but water. She had just a simple two eggs, ham, and toast with coffee. With tax and tip, it was $35. It's getting insane and will continue to be so and I doubt things will go back down. Prices never do on groceries. Anyway, here's the meal options for the week, trying to go for healthy and tasty so I dont miss restaurant meals. Most yield leftovers for my son and/or for lunches or his late dinners when he has evening jobs. I like to think about 10  meals so I've flexibility in options. 

  • Chicken and dumplings, rice, and mixed vegetables 
  • Turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes, broccoli
  • Spaghetti and meatballs
  • Baked beef ravioli
  • Grilled cheese and tomato/red pepper soup (Trader Joes)
  • Flat bread sausage,  onion, spinach, and artichoke pizza
  • Tuna hotdish with peas
  • BBQ Chicken drumsticks, broccoli pasta side dish, sautéed green beans
  • Sliced sausage, rice pilaf with creamy spinach 
  • Lental and chickpea dal with rice
     I should easily get through the week with proteins and fresh vegetables. There's also several cans of chunky soups, a few frozen soups, plus more chicken in the freezer. I might not quite lower my grocery spend by 20%, but 15% is realistically doable. In April, I'll focus on shopping loss leaders, sales, and restocking both pantry and freezer at lowest price points.



Comments

  1. BelindaMarch 21, 2026 at 11:59 AM

    That is a beautiful open grilled sandwich you had in in Athens! $35 to eat breakfast out certainly shows breakfast is no longer the cheaper option like you said. Sluggy said, when the pandemic was happening, that prices would not go back down and she's been right on that, I don't see them going back down either. Bailey read this week that grocery stores are still making record profits and I don't see them moving away from that anytime soon, unfortunately for us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jackie McGuinnessMarch 21, 2026 at 12:54 PM

    Grocery stores are raking it in here too, with outrageous profits. We all know how much it costs to make breakfasts so we know they are gouging us! I would rather pay for an upscale, interesting meal than go out for breakfast nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GinaMarch 21, 2026 at 1:44 PM

    Nowadays, I focus on recreating at home what would cost me a fortune to eat out, with very few exceptions. Your menus sound really good!

    ReplyDelete

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