As usual on a Saturday I post my Simple Meal Plan for the upcoming week.
I plan for 6 days of meals, with Friday as my free day where I take part in The Frugal Girls Food Waste Friday and my very own No Waste Tastes Great Challenge.
Because I’m a simple gal, I order my groceries on-line for the week ahead and they are delivered. This also means I do not have to step into a supermarket – hurrah! No impulse purchases and queuing for me!
I budget up to £100 per week to cover everything… and pretty much I keep to it apart from holidays and when I am doing extra catering.
Breakfasts consist of, cereal, toast, pancakes, bran loaf.
I usually list all the pudding daily, but this week I am going extra simple on those (and I am skipping them altogether in a bit of a push to lose my Mum Tum). Puddings/Desserts this week will consist of yoghurt, fruit, cake and custard, ice-cream and mousse.
(You may also notice the menu does have a slight slant to it… Generally I believe normal balanced family meals are healthy and always advocate a sensible attitude to food – not cutting out food groups or restricting calories significantly. However once in a while I do plan for lower fat, calorie, carb meals when I personally have a bit of a push. The family will have the puddings, yorkies, bread etc… but I am going to be extra vigilant. My date with that bikini is beckoning, and the Mum Tum’s not going down! No snacking or large portions for me this week… also the energy levels have dropped since Christmas – this should be the kick-start I need to get in the exercise groove)
Saturday
I’m having a day off from cooking – well almost a day off – half a day? I did make ham rolls and salad for lunch, but for dinner we are frequenting the local village pub. I have some vouchers – so extra bonus! 
Sunday
Monday (Meat-Free)
- Lunch – Home-made Potato and Leek Soup (Courtesy of Big Sis!)
- Dinner - Super Healthy Veggie Balti (I have ‘borrowed’ this recipe from Jules and Jono who I believe may have ‘borrowed’ it from BBC Good Food. This is proof that photographing food makes all the difference – I saw this and could not resist trying it out. I will be slow-cooking it – so that’s my slant on the recipe)
Tuesday
Wednesday
- Lunch – Tinned Mackerel on Wholemeal Toast
- Dinner - Slow Cooked Chicken Casserole with Yorkshire Puddings (no Yorkies for me!)
Thursday
- Lunch – Light Lunch out as Playday! (Protein meal-bar for me)
- Dinner - Pan Fried Salmon with Stir Fried Mediterranean Vegetables
Friday
Free Day – But more importantly the Hubby’s Birthday! I am committed to using up all the food before Friday so that I can take the Hubster out for a *Balti guilt-free (knowing there isn’t anything wasting away in the fridge). The Kids will have a Fun Kiddy Tea – I may even buy some frozen fish fingers (which hardly ever happens!)
* Have put a link in to Wiki – for anyone unsure what a Balti is 
This week my recommended reading is food related, as I am on a bit of a push…
Firstly I virtually became acquainted with Marnie The Unblogger this week, and checked out her blog – it’s a great read!
Her post You Are What You Drink caught my eye as I am looking to increase my hydration levels this week. Inspired by this post I’ll be drinking just water and also green tea (which I love!) Sunday-Thursday.
No can do Friday – Have to have Beer with a Balti…
Another great read is Tammy Strobel’s No-Refrigerator Challenge over at Rowdy Kittens. I have a small fridge and freezer, and I manage with it for a family of four. However I don’t think I could go without one entirely (even living in the UK where it is cold almost all year round – I have chilblains to prove it at the moment).
I’ll be following this closely to see how Tammy gets on – I am intrigued!
And please do not forget to check out The Suburban Minimalist’s book plans and finally congrats to Rachel aka Minimalist Mom who is on TV tomorrow – I am so excited for her I could wee myself.
