February Menu Plans

This month will be all about using up some of what is in our pantry and freezer.  We're grateful to have what we do, but also know that if it's not used, it becomes a loss if it's just sitting there and not being consumed.  Since I've switched to a mostly Paleo diet, there are some things in our pantry that we may be donating to our local food pantry (wheat pasta, evaporated milk, etc.), but we're ok with that since it means better quality health for me, and all of us, in the long run.  So, this month will try to be a low-spend month as far as the grocery budget is concerned.  We have some other expenses to try to tackle this month, so saving here will help.

Right now, we have a lot of meat in our freezer, as well as dried beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and other pantry staples in the pantry.  We also have some winter squash that has been hanging out and needs to be used, as well as some potatoes.  This means that we'll be making good use of these items, as well as using our crock pot to help us conserve energy.

Since our boys are still small, they don't eat a lot at each meal.  These dinner menus will feed us for at least two meals, and sometimes three.  That, combined with our community meals at the Children's Council and shared meals with friends or Mom means that we generally only have to cook twice during the week.

Breakfasts:

• overnight crock pot oatmeal with steel cut oats, dried fruit, and spices
• smoothies with greens and winter squash as base
• banana bars with rolled oats, almond flour, and raisins/craisins
• egg scramble with sauteed mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes 
• overnight breakfast casserole with potatoes, eggs, mushrooms, venison sausage (freezer), peppers (freezer) and sun dried tomatoes

Lunches:  

• leftovers
• salads with seeds and nuts for protein
• fruit
• yogurt

Dinners:

• chicken stir fry with veggies served over rice or quinoa with Asian slaw
• chicken or venison chili with northern beans, peppers, and tomatoes from the freezer
• chicken divan (if I can figure out a dairy free alternative)
• taco night with black beans, corn tortillas, and fixin's
• wild rice pilaf with chickpeas and mushrooms and fruit
• sloppy joes with ground turkey served over bread/quinoa with salad and/or roasted veggies/oven fries
• my favorite butternut squash and chickpea salad served over salad greens
• breakfast for dinner with paleo pancakes, breakfast meat, and fruit
• quiche with bacon, mushrooms, dried tomatoes, and dried onion served with salad/fruit (I can make this with non dairy milk)
• lentil pasta with meat and mushroom/onion sauce and salad
• coconut corn chowder (using my standard recipe except using coconut milk instead of evaporated milk) with bacon, onions, and potatoes
• maybe a chicken pot pie using bits of leftover veggies and partial bags of frozen veggies

Snacks:

• popcorn in the air popper
• fresh fruit
• nuts
• yogurt parfaits with granola and raw honey

Groceries to purchase (some may come from the food pantry or purchased at Walmart with gift card):

• frozen pie crust
• salad greens
• fresh fruit
• frozen berries for smoothies
• onions (red and white)
• canned coconut milk
• frozen egg rolls (if on sale)
• cabbage
• eggs

How do you plan to live and save green this month?  I'd love to hear from you!

Frugal Accomplishments Last Week of January

This week was pretty good in terms of frugal accomplishments.  We got to celebrate a birthday and did some other fun things at home.  We've been watching Tidying Up on Netflix and have been inspired to begin cleaning out again as we begin the building process on the house.  If we clean out a box or two a week from storage, then we should be in pretty good shape for moving into the new house by the end of the year.

• Cooked all meals at home including smoothies with frozen berries and greens, toast and jam/butter with fruit, tacos, dinner salads with chicken, hard boiled eggs, or nuts for protein, and snack plates with fruit, veggies and homemade yogurt dip, and nuts/gluten free crackers.
• We enjoyed a birthday meal out thanks to my mom who treated us to the local Japanese steak house, which was a first for little man.  Both boys seemed to love the experience, and it was really fun for all of us.  We all had water and two of us split plates with the boys to save on expense.
• Birthday cake was made from scratch, and I made the ganache for the cake using evaporated milk instead of heavy cream because I didn't have any.  I also used a baking chocolate bar because we were out of chocolate chips.
• Little man got a thrifted new shirt from us, which he wore on Sunday.  It fits him perfectly, and it was nice to use ThreadUp credit that needed to be used.  He also received a few very special toys, clothes, and books from family, including some basic origami paper and directions, a magnetic dart board, and a new remote control car.  Friends brought items for the humane society to us to donate, as this is typically what he asks for in lieu of gifts.  
• We had a family birthday breakfast with my in laws.  They rented a place with minimal kitchen equipment, so we picked up some breakfast pastries from our local bakery (with a gift card), and took a partial carton of eggs to cook, as well as some fruit.  This, combined with some things they had, made a lovely breakfast, and limited the expense of eating out.
• All laundry was done at home and hung to dry.  
• Used brown paper bag and colorful yarn to wrap birthday gifts.  All our wrapping paper is in storage, and this was free and was easily recyclable.
• We continue to focus on potty training for baby with the hopes of being diaper free before three (at least during the day).  We use cloth diapers and wipes at home and during the day, so we save on the expense of diapers.
• I worked out with YouTube videos and at weekly free yoga class.  Benny continued to work out with Tang Soo Do class and practice at home with YouTube videos.
• Used Children's Council resources to get night time diapers, new boxes of toys for the boys to play with, and some free soap.  Once we have 10 "baby bucks" we'll cash in for a Walmart card.  We'll use this for purchasing a baby shower gift.
• We volunteered to help with the food pantry pick up from Food Lion on Sunday morning before church.  There were several produce items that we took because they wouldn't last until Wednesday, including cut up fruit, organic veggies and herbs, some organic milk, cheese, yogurt, and nitrate free sausage.  It was great for the boys to be able to help out, and was nice to receive enough fruit and other items to get us through the week.
• The boys and I have been talking about getting a cat when we move into the new house.  Well, when we came home from the birthday party Saturday, there was a stray gray tabby just waiting in our carport.  We've fed her with things from the pantry (evaporated milk, tuna, dry dog food) for the past few days and Benny is searching local ads and the Humane Society to see if she belongs to anyone.  She is still shy, but seems very willing to stick around.  We used some of the blankets friends gave us for the Humane Society to make a bed for her in the carport inside a cardboard box.  (We can't do an indoor cat due to family allergies, and if she does belong to someone, we don't want her to get too used to the indoor life.)  So, it's been an additional little birthday surprise, and super sweet to watch the boys look for her and begin to bond with her.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!

Frugal Accomplishments for 3rd week in January

This past week, we did pretty well with our budget.  I had one doctor's appointment, but it's with my primary care provider, so it was only $10.  I was referred for further testing next month, so that will cost a bit, but hopefully not too much with insurance.  We made good use of our existing groceries and made a run to the food pantry, so we saved a bit there.  I also shopped sales for produce, saving a bundle there.

• Cooked all meals at home including taco chicken (salsa with chicken in the crock pot), turkey stock for soup, carrot coconut ginger soup, tacos, taco salad, salmon with roasted veggies, dinner salads with leftover salmon or taco chicken, and "snack plates" with cut fruit, veggies, homemade guacamole, and crackers/nuts.
• Read books at home in our home library including The Backyard Homestead and Spontaneous Healing.
• Purchased organic greens, organic apples on the discount produce rack, and avocados (10/$5!) at Harris Teeter.  I spent about $20 on produce this week, but no other food was purchased.
• I went to the food pantry last week and got some fruit, greens, carrots, organic milk, cheese, canned beans and dried beans, a whole chicken, a pizza and some salami.  
• Fermented some cabbage that needed to be used for homemade sauerkraut.
• I made little man's birthday cake using ingredients we had at home and froze it.  I'll make the chocolate ganache for it tomorrow and cover that with sprinkles.  Little man has requested strawberries to go with it, so I found those on sale at Harris Teeter and will pick them up this afternoon.
• I used You Tube to work out with hand weights, as well as doing a little bit of yoga with the boys, which was fun.
• Benny has lost a few pounds with his new diet and doing his karate at least two nights a week.  He's been practicing a lot outside of class, so he should be very prepared for his belt test in a few weeks.
• I found an old chore chart in email, so will print a few of those for free so that we can save a little time each week instead of making them by hand.
• The boys played with toys around the house including Legos and coloring books.  We will try to make use of The Children's Council toy library next week to check out a new box of toys for them to explore.
• I used the Children's Council for diapers this week, and should have enough baby bucks (their coupons you earn for participating in programs) to get another Walmart card.
• We will go to both yoga and parent support group this week, meaning two free meals and free child care.  Yoga is always a great workout, and I really enjoy the support group of parents too.
• I inventoried seeds in the freezer to see what we could potentially plant in pots when things warm up a bit.  We'd like to have some greens and salad fixin's from home to save a bit on organic produce.

What did you do to live and save green last week?  I'd love to hear from you!

Frugal Accomplishments

This past week hasn't been as frugal as some, but we're working diligently to be that way.  Increased medical expenses are tough, but we're grateful for the health savings card we have and that we have other savings.  Here's what we did to save money:

• Cooked all meals at home including:  lentil sweet potato soup, cabbage and sausage soup with gifted venison sausage and frozen tomatoes saved from the summer, loads of salads, smoothies for breakfast, community meals with our Children's Council parent support groups
• Used the crock pot for several meals, saving electricity.
• Exercised at home with You Tube videos and free yoga class at the Children's Council.  Benny and little man are enjoying their Tang So Doo classes immensely, so it's a Christmas gift that's well worth it for Benny.  Both will have their belt test in early February.
• Hung laundry to dry, including diapers (though we're getting close to potty training!)
• Used a coupon code to create some things on Shutterfly and found one for a free photo book we'll make this weekend.
• Combined errands to make the most efficient route in town.
• Got my rings cleaned for free at a local jeweler's shop while running other errands.
• Paid the birthday party fee to bowling alley on credit card to earn points.  Mom has generously agreed to pay us back for that.
• Used earned credit at Children's Council to purchase a Walmart card.  This will be used to purchase children's Tylenol and vitamins we already need.
• Kept grocery spending down by using groceries from the food pantry, things we already had on hand in the freezer and pantry, and shopping sales.  I found avocados on sale 10/$5, so we'll be making a lot of guacamole, which freezes well.
• Made homemade turkey stock with a saved carcass.  This will help us get over some illness at our house, as well as supplementing meals with fresh garlic, hopefully saving on medical expenses there.
• Weeded out a few more items in the toy bin to donate, helping our small rental space feel less cluttered.
• Continued to plan our new house garden using online tools and books I have on hand, and might find a few things through the library to help as well.
• Began organizing a clothing swap with our yoga class to help everyone save a little money on clothing for kids and themselves.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!

January Menu Plan

This month (and year) are all about eating healthy to improve our overall health.  Benny and I are both facing some health challenges, but nothing that diet, exercise, and proper medical care can't handle.  Benny has taken up Tang Soo Do, along with little man, and loves it.  It's a great outlet for him, and gives him some much needed adult time since much of his day is as a stay at home dad.  I'm continuing yoga, and looking for more YouTube videos to do at home for muscle tone and strength building.  The yoga also is great for stress relief.  I've also learned that I have a dairy sensitivity, so I'll be cutting out dairy.  Thankfully, there are some great nondairy substitutes.

So, here's the plan for this month:

Breakfasts:

• Smoothies (greens, berries, bananas, almond/coconut milk, chia/flax seeds, and anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric, cinnamon, or cocoa powder and healthy fats like coconut oil or grapeseed oil)
• Eggs with roasted veggies
• Grapefruit and oatmeal with added seeds and blueberries
• Grain free pancakes with eggs and liver mush on weekends

Lunches:

• Leftover soup and salad
• Salad and non dairy yogurt with nuts
• Veggies and dip/hummus
• "Snack plate" of cut fresh fruit, veggies, nuts, and maybe cheese for the boys

Dinners:

• Lentil and sweet potato stew with salad
• Roasted veggies with pinto beans and greens
• Salmon and roasted veggies and salad
• Tomato basil soup with salad
• Veggie stir fry over rice with egg rolls and Asian slaw
• Pecan crusted chicken with salad
• Tomato, sausage, and greens soup made with homemade stock
• Tacos with venison and veggies or served as taco salad/bowl

Our dietary shift is based on Terry Wahl's book, The Wahl's Protocol.  This crux is to support our mitochondrial health, which some recent lab tests of mine indicated might be needed.  So, we're undertaking this with medical supervision, but I can say that I'm already feeling better having cut out dairy (and had already cut out most grains and sugar).  I think Benny is seeing a difference too, and he's definitely enjoying his Tang Soo Do classes.  And, the boys don't seem to object too much.  They're still getting grains and dairy at other points in the day besides dinner (think cereals and cheese/yogurt for snacks), so they really don't see the shift like we do.

Of course, this means that we're spending a little more at the grocery store.  But thanks to careful shopping at the food pantry, and careful watching at the grocery store and Costco, we're still able to do it on a reasonable food budget.  It also helps that we're getting at least two meals a week free through the Children's Council with the parent support groups we participate in, and a weekly meal with Mom.  

How are you planning your meals this month, and year for that matter?  I'd love to hear from you!