I’ve been rather focused on re-vamping our menu.
It’s long needed an overhaul, we are so sick of eating the same meals, bland and boring. I have been in survival mode for so long, but it was time to move on. I don’t know if I can convey my family’s excitement with having new meals!
Also PC asked that I cut the monthly food budget by $200, which I did!:)
First – organisation. I have many Super Food Ideas Magazines given by a friend, they are very inspiring but were not being used. Focusing on a Spring menu I gathered the spring months’ magazines. I started ripping out family orientated recipes. I sorted into two piles, meals and snacks. (I also put aside ‘cooking tips’ for Koala’s home management folder) After talking with my friend Rebecca, I decided to immediately hole-punch them and file in separate ring binders. Then with a high-lighter I selected enough meals for the next month.
I use Excel Spreadsheets for all planning. This includes menus, shopping list and a master shopping list. The Master list of quantities needed is taped to the inside of the pantry. I know this may sound really organised to some, but truly I found after baby number 5 I had to become more organised. I was not functioning well, and something had to be done.
We shop once a month, shopping is not on my list of favourite activities so this way I only have to do it twelve times a year! (This does not include the weekly trip to the green grocers for fruit/veg, milk & bread.)
As I’ve had a few requests from friends to see my menu planning I include it here.
*Time to be honest, we are on week 2 and we’re not really sticking to the lunch menu, but we’ll keep trying.
Meals for Breakfast:
This consists of cereal. On a good day homemade muesli.
Perhaps this wins me the ‘bad mommy award’ in some circles, but you do what you can.
When fruit is a reasonable price it can be found on the menu instead.
Meals for Lunch:
Weeks 1, 3
Sunday – Vegetable Spring Rolls
Monday – Breakfast Pie
Tuesday – Ham and Cheese Toasties
Wednesday – Bacon & Avocado Potatoes
Thursday – Tuna Toasted Sandwiches
Friday – Beans & Nachos
Saturday – Carrot & Zucchini Quiche
Week 2
Sunday – Ham and Cheese Toasties
Monday – Sweet Corn Fritters
Tuesday – Bean Con Queso Dip
Wednesday – Turkey Pizza Subs
Thursday – Bacon & Avocado Potatoes
Friday – Vegie Patties
Saturday – Vegie Slice
Week 4
Sunday – Ham and Cheese Toasties
Monday – Vegetable Spring Rolls
Tuesday – Bean Con Queso Dip
Wednesday – Turkey Pizza Subs
Thursday – Carrot & Zucchini Quiche
Friday – Tuna Toasted Sandwiches
Saturday – Breakfast Pie
Meals for Tea:
Week 1
Sunday – BBQ Steak/Sausages and Garden Salad
Monday- Homemade Pizza
Tuesday – Peanut Curry Chicken & Rice
Wednesday – Bombay Spiced Chicken Kebab & Garden Salad
Thursday – Lemon Chicken and Fried Rice
Friday – Salmon & Corn Chowder
Saturday – Meat Pies, Mashed Potato
Week 2
Sunday – BBQ Steak/Sausages and Garden Salad
Monday- Homemade Pizza
Tuesday – Chicken Mango Curry & Rice
Wednesday – Lamb Kebab & Garden Salad
Thursday – Sweet & Sour Pork & Fried Rice
Friday – Tin Baked Beans, Spaghetti or Scrambled Eggs
Saturday – Meat Pies, Mashed Potato
Week 3
Sunday – BBQ Steak/Sausages and Garden Salad
Monday- Homemade Pizza
Tuesday – Red Beef Curry & Rice
Wednesday – Quick Goulash
Thursday – Lemon & Honey Chicken, Fried Rice
Friday – Tuna Patties, Chips & Salad
Saturday – Meat Pies, Mashed Potato
Week 4
Sunday – BBQ Steak/Sausages and Garden Salad
Monday- Homemade Pizza
Tuesday – Penang Beef Balls & Rice
Wednesday – BBQ Pork & Capsicum Kebab & Garden Salad
Thursday – Chicken, Ham & Mushroom Pie
Friday – Tin Baked Beans, Spaghetti or Scrambled Eggs
Saturday – Meat Pies, Mashed Potato