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
- Lunch – Beans on Toast with Grated Cheese (Protein shake for me)
- Dinner – Slow Cooked Lean Beef Cottage Pie with Steamed Vegetables
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
- Lunch – Jacket Potatoes with Tuna, Sweetcorn and Salad
- Dinner – Slow Cooked Low Carb Bolognaise with Courgette Strips
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.
Thanks for the mention! I’m glad you’re trying out the “just water” challenge for a week!
It’s not going very well, may abort and try again next week! I knew I was off to a bad start when half asleep I drank a cup of tea the Hubby had made early Sunday
🙂
Thanks for the mention! I’m glad you’re trying out the “just water” challenge for a week!
It’s not going very well, may abort and try again next week! I knew I was off to a bad start when half asleep I drank a cup of tea the Hubby had made early Sunday
🙂
Thanks for the mention! I’m glad you’re trying out the “just water” challenge for a week!
It’s not going very well, may abort and try again next week! I knew I was off to a bad start when half asleep I drank a cup of tea the Hubby had made early Sunday
🙂
I have heard chilblains mentioned in books set in the UK – forgive my ignorance, but what are they?
Hi Trish
Thanks so much for commenting! perhaps they are a British term? Not sure! Perhaps it’s a British genetic thing 🙂
Basically in very cold weather my toes swell, become red and are very sore. A bit like being burnt. I have Raynauds syndrome anyway (which means I lose blood supply to the extremities in cold weather) so I think that’s why I get chilblains! Lovely topic eh haha! Jo
thanks for the answer! My feet tend to crack in the cold weather, not fun.
I just found your blog and I really love it.
I have heard chilblains mentioned in books set in the UK – forgive my ignorance, but what are they?
Hi Trish
Thanks so much for commenting! perhaps they are a British term? Not sure! Perhaps it’s a British genetic thing 🙂
Basically in very cold weather my toes swell, become red and are very sore. A bit like being burnt. I have Raynauds syndrome anyway (which means I lose blood supply to the extremities in cold weather) so I think that’s why I get chilblains! Lovely topic eh haha! Jo
thanks for the answer! My feet tend to crack in the cold weather, not fun.
I just found your blog and I really love it.
I have heard chilblains mentioned in books set in the UK – forgive my ignorance, but what are they?
Hi Trish
Thanks so much for commenting! perhaps they are a British term? Not sure! Perhaps it’s a British genetic thing 🙂
Basically in very cold weather my toes swell, become red and are very sore. A bit like being burnt. I have Raynauds syndrome anyway (which means I lose blood supply to the extremities in cold weather) so I think that’s why I get chilblains! Lovely topic eh haha! Jo
thanks for the answer! My feet tend to crack in the cold weather, not fun.
I just found your blog and I really love it.
Thank you, Jo, for the kind plug! These food posts of yours are, of course, my favorites (I think you already know that…). I am now on my way to check out the definition of Balti. Happy Birthday to Mr. Wright!
Balti’s are fab – I’ll add that to the menu (with the bread and butter pud) should we ever meet – I make a good slow cooked balti!
The Hubby and I never get to go out! So although it’s nothing fancy it will be a treat… I’m not buying him a present, but am on the look out for a really nice bottle of wine to share (of course) when we are out. Balti Houses allow you to take your own alcohol. Hope votes are going well x
Thank you, Jo, for the kind plug! These food posts of yours are, of course, my favorites (I think you already know that…). I am now on my way to check out the definition of Balti. Happy Birthday to Mr. Wright!
Balti’s are fab – I’ll add that to the menu (with the bread and butter pud) should we ever meet – I make a good slow cooked balti!
The Hubby and I never get to go out! So although it’s nothing fancy it will be a treat… I’m not buying him a present, but am on the look out for a really nice bottle of wine to share (of course) when we are out. Balti Houses allow you to take your own alcohol. Hope votes are going well x
Thank you, Jo, for the kind plug! These food posts of yours are, of course, my favorites (I think you already know that…). I am now on my way to check out the definition of Balti. Happy Birthday to Mr. Wright!
Balti’s are fab – I’ll add that to the menu (with the bread and butter pud) should we ever meet – I make a good slow cooked balti!
The Hubby and I never get to go out! So although it’s nothing fancy it will be a treat… I’m not buying him a present, but am on the look out for a really nice bottle of wine to share (of course) when we are out. Balti Houses allow you to take your own alcohol. Hope votes are going well x
Hi Jo! Wow, you are so organized! Planning 6 meals in advance. I wish I could do that. I can barely make my lunch in the morning for that day! I love Marnie and Tammy’s blogs, good recommendations! 🙂
You can do it (I have faith in you!) – so very simple – watch out for The Beginners Guide to Meal Planning….
Hi Jo! Wow, you are so organized! Planning 6 meals in advance. I wish I could do that. I can barely make my lunch in the morning for that day! I love Marnie and Tammy’s blogs, good recommendations! 🙂
You can do it (I have faith in you!) – so very simple – watch out for The Beginners Guide to Meal Planning….
Hi Jo! Wow, you are so organized! Planning 6 meals in advance. I wish I could do that. I can barely make my lunch in the morning for that day! I love Marnie and Tammy’s blogs, good recommendations! 🙂
You can do it (I have faith in you!) – so very simple – watch out for The Beginners Guide to Meal Planning….