Eat at home

[roomthreeseventeen]

I "made good" on my slip last night by bringing in the leftovers so I wouldn't have to buy lunch.

And then I bought a new pair of running shoes.

 

[hmack]

So - my "menu" runs out tonight - so it's back to the planning drawing board.

After being good for 4 full-days - I must say that I'm enjoying having a plan. I had been good at it, but sort of fell off the wagon and ended up trying to rack my brain as I drove home and then having to stop at the grocery store.

Bluck!

This is so much better.

So the plan - in no particular order:
Baked potato night

homefried shrimp and fries (yeah, I know not the best nutrition wise) and a salad

soup, salad and breadsticks

chili & corn bread

spinach & mushroom lasagna

chicken piccata - a new recipe, potatos, veg & croissants

pizza pockets with spinach & turkey sausage.

hopefully that will carry me though for another week.

 

[DMichael]

I like this idea!!! We, too, are trying to eat at home more often - to spend less on food - and to eat more healthy! I've been trying to buy more meat in bulk, which I separate into smaller portion sizes for later use. These are then stored in the freezer, so I'm not wasting food that goes bad just sitting in the fridge. We've also not been very good about eating the left-overs in the past, but we're getting better.

So far this the past week we've had:
*Homemade pizza (very doable with refrigerated pizza crust and the toppings of your choice) - the kids actually like it better than delivery or frozen!
*Chicken enchiladas and salads
*Ham and cooked carrots with butter/honey - leftover from our last family christmas gathering
*Chicken tacos - made in crock pot (I think I see a Mexican theme forming for the week )
*Pork chops and broccoli casserole
...and then when I look in the fridge and see a number of left-over containers, we have "Left-Over Night!" I put the various left-over dishes on the table and each of us (me, DH, DD-17, and DS-14) pick and choose what we'll warm up for our meal. The kids like having some flexibility in their meal choice - and it limits the left-overs that get away from us.

 

[ilovepete]

We are having Chicken Teriyaki Bites, Rice & Broccoli

 

[DMichael]

I like this idea!!! We, too, are trying to eat at home more often - to spend less on food - and to eat more healthy! I've been trying to buy more meat in bulk, which I separate into smaller portion sizes for later use. These are then stored in the freezer, so I'm not wasting food that goes bad just sitting in the fridge. We've also not been very good about eating the left-overs in the past, but we're getting better.

So far this the past week we've had:
*Homemade pizza (very doable with refrigerated pizza crust and the toppings of your choice) - the kids actually like it better than delivery or frozen!
*Chicken enchiladas and salads
*Ham and cooked carrots with butter/honey - leftover from our last family christmas gathering
*Chicken tacos - made in crock pot (I think I see a Mexican theme forming for the week )
*Pork chops and broccoli casserole
...and then when I look in the fridge and see a number of left-over containers, we have "Left-Over Night!" I put the various left-over dishes on the table and each of us (me, DH, DD-17, and DS-14) pick and choose what we'll warm up for our meal. The kids like having some flexibility in their meal choice - and it limits the left-overs that get away from us.

 

[susieb16]

We've done really well this week. We haven't stuck to the menu I posted because my husband hasn't worked this week ( he's currently subbing as he looks for a full time position), and tookover the cooking. The result was a couple of much better dinners than I had planned. Here's the revised menu.

Saturday: Homemade mac & cheese with ham.
Sunday: Tacos with spanish rice.
Monday: Salisbury Steak with mashed potatoes & corn.
Tuesday: Chicken Parm with spaghetti
Wednesday: Cheeseburger macaroni
Thursday: Hashbrown quiche
Friday: Grilled cheese & tomato soup ( this might be where we are tempted to cave!)

Saturday morning, we're going to sit down to figure out the next menu. Really enjoying looking through this thread to get new ideas. Thanks all!

 

[Kycha]

Great thread! I've been pretty good about not eating out so much. But, I need help in planning healthier and easy meals. I hope this thread gives me some good ideas to help with my goals.

So far I am still working on a menu for the week. I do have hamburger and pork chops as well as a roasting chicken defrosting in the fridge right now. The chicken will probably be tomorrows dinner. Then I'll use the leftovers to make soup or potpie or something.

Does anyone have any experience doing the once a month cooking?

So far these are the meals I've made for the week:
Sat - Pork and sauerkraut in the crockpot(new recipe), homemade mashed potatoes and roasted dill carrots
Sun - leftovers
Mon - beef shortribs with carrots and onions in the crockpot(new recipe), mashed potatoes(boxed) and french style green beans
Tues - Easy baked pasta
Wed - Sandwiches
Thurs - Pizza pot pie(new recipe) and tossed salad

All three of the new recipes I've tried this week were winners. I doubled the pizza pot pie recipe and froze the leftovers for a quick fix meal. Next time I make it though, I have to tweak it a bit to make it a little better.

 

[charming23]

Last night we were supposed to go to my Aunt and Uncle's for dinner but the weather got bad so we stayed in. Instead of caving and ordering out we had grilled chicken with sweet potato fries and apple slices.

Tonight we are having vegetable beef soup in the crock pot and cheddar garlic biscuits.

 

[LilyWDW]

Last night my boyfriend took me out to dinner (part of my Christmas present... he knows what I like... FOOD! LOL). Tonight we will be having Fajitas with lots of peppers and onions and Spanish rice. I LOVE fajitas so I am really excited about dinner tonight even though it is something super easy.

I have my meal plans for January and February finished (unless things change as time goes on). If anyone would like me to post the whole thing, let me know and I would be happy to.

 

[braysmommy]

I am trying to see if we can go the entire month of January without eating out! Is it really on the 7th?? My menu for the week runs through Sunday and I have taken some of the meal ideas from here to use for next week. Still some tweeking and fine tuning. My DS (4) is not to thrilled infact he only ate applesause for dinner last night since he didn't like the menu. Thank you for posting all the great ideas!

 

[lillygator]

I'm in.
just back from Publix $97.37 and am going to make it last the eek.

1/2 bugers and tater tots
1/3 spagetti, garlic bread, salad
1/4 chicken brushetta bake (using l/o sauce)
1/5 grilled cheese, tomato florentine, salad
1/6 tacos, mexican rice
1/7 game night - finger foods, shrimp, dips and chips, crackers/cheese, quesadillas
1/8 grill night - steaks, potatos, veggies

and I got 5 frozen meals for my lunch...I spend 10-15 a day on lunch...insane!
packed DH's lunch - l/o chili and scoops.....

I can DO this!

ok so that was my original plan.....well it changed a lot...still only used what was purchased and tonight is no game night, dd has practice and we are having l/o black bean soup over rice.
Tonight I need to make my list as I will be grocery shopping tomorrow....I am going to look through the thread for some menu ideas!!

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

I've been lurking on this thread, and I have to say, it's inspired me to try to go the whole month of January without going out/getting take-out!!! So far, so good, though it's been hard. I feel as though I have forgotten all meal ideas!!

I'm looking forward to getting inspiration from this thread! Thank you!

 

[tinkmom2]

Here is my food blog and my menu for the week!
http://tinkmomfoodie-foodobsession.blogspot.com/2011/01/thank-god-its-friday.html

 

[momx2]

Here we go for 2011....

Saturday: Mac n Cheese with ham and broccoli;
Sunday: L=homemade turkey soup; D=Pork roast, m. potatoes and g.beans;
Monday: Chili and hotdogs;
Tuesday: Spaghetti and meatsauce and salad;
Wednesday: Fish, rice pilaf and peas;
Thursday: Grilled porkchops, 3 cheese potatoes and corn;
Friday: Not sure....

Yeah!! We made it. Not quiet the same menu, but close. I didn't make my turkey soup, I think I will tomorrow for lunch. We also didn't eat pork chops, but had fish again another night. Tonight, Friday, one girl is gone and the other will eat pizza. I might just heat DH and I up lean cuisine pizza and salad for dinner, not sure. Here I go again for next week:

Saturday: Chicken Marsala with angel hair pasta and salad;
Sunday: Chicken and white bean casserole in crockpot;
Monday: Jambalya w/shrimp and turkey sausage and rice;
Tuesday: Baked catfish and potatoes w/onions and broccoli;
Wednesday: Crockpot chicken with black bean and corn salsa w/tortillas;
Thursday: Baked fish with rice pilaf and salad;
Friday: Steak, baked potato, mushrooms and salad.

The only thing I need to buy for this menu is more mushrooms and steak. I'll have to pick up some more salad too when I get fresh fruit and milk next week. I love this thread! It keeps me honest

 

[hmack]

Coming clean to say - we ate out last night. While I have a fist full of reasons/excuses alll I can say is that I sort of regret it.

Not beating myself up - it just didn't seem worth it. Sort of a dud meal and I was tired so it wasn't that fun.

Didn't go overboard on expenses, but still I can think of other ways to spend $30

Must go grocery shopping this morning. Yes indeed.

 

[susieb16]

We ate out too! DD(17) was blindsided by a breakup with her first love. A change in scenery was needed. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings, played Buzztime at the table and she was distracted even if she only picked at her food. We're back to eating at home today but it may be ice cream and cookie dough for her

 

[lillygator]

my challenge to myself this eek is to use my pantry to make my meals. I have tons of sides.......making my menu as I type.

 

[Beezle2]

Hi everyone,

I've been posting over on the Jan No Buy and since we are definately not eating out for awhile I wanted to motivate myself by posting our menus. It helps me focus and there are such good ideas here when I get stuck.

1/8 grilled burgers and oven fries

1/9 chicken, wild rice, broccoli

1/10 bean soup

1/11 beef stroganoff, veggies, rolls

1/12 fish night (cod, salmon) veggies, rice

1/13 chili

1/14 bbq chicken, potato salad

Looks good for the week! We are having lots of fruit for desserts but I will probably make a cake one day and some pudding another.

Good luck to everyone else too!!

 

[charming23]

Tonight we are having either chicken enchiladas or spaghetti and meatballs. It depends on my mood in a few hours.

 

[LilyWDW]

Was making my grocery list so I decided to hop over here and post my menu. This is all dependent on if I can get to the store before the next big snow Sunday night AND if I can get everything I need.

Tuesday: White Chicken Chili with a Cornbread Crust
Wednesday: Honey Mustard Pork Chops, Glazed Carrots, Angle Hair Pasta
Friday: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread
Sunday: Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Corn Fritter Casserole, Rolls

We also have Vienna Beef Hot dogs and all the fixings for some Chicago Style Hot Dogs in case I need another meal due to being snowed in or just being at home another night.