Meal Planning – do you do it? Here is our plan for the week! Menu + Grocery List + Prep

Ugh, I have been in such a rut lately with cooking.  I haven’t done much of it.  I need to get back in the swing.  My friend Kate is a meticulous meal planner (for her family) and types all her meal plans up… so I casually mentioned, “Hey, could you just email that my way when you are done”?  Viola!  She did!  Que angelic sounds!  Since, I love you all, I am sharing with you too!

Here’s the meal plan for the week, grocery list, recipes for the ones that you might not have made before and a game plan for meal prep on Sunday. I assumed cooking for 4 servings, so you may want to double some of these recipes if your family really likes them.

 

Menu:

Monday:  Jalapeno popper chicken chili, served with crackers and salad (recipe attached)

Tuesday: Chicken stir fry, served with brown rice and egg rolls (recipe attached)

Wednesday: Tacos, Mexican rice and refried beans

Thursday: Chicken noodle soup served with crackers and salad (I make this in the crockpot)

Friday: Stuffed peppers served with salad (recipe attached)

 

Grocery List:

Produce:

Onions – 3

Garlic – 4 cloves (I buy the jarred, minced garlic – so much easier)

Red bell peppers – 2

Jalapenos – 2

Large sweet potato

Avocado (optional – this is garnish so if you don’t like it, don’t buy it)

Celery

Carrots

Parsley (optional – this is garnish for the chicken noodle soup so if you don’t like it, don’t buy it)

1 head broccoli

Green peppers – 7

Shredded lettuce (for your tacos)

Tomatoes -2 (for your tacos)

Salad mix – 3 (I usually buy 3 different kinds to mix things up a little)

Meat:

1lb ground chicken

2lbs lean ground beef

6 chicken breasts (Half for stir fry, half for soup)

Non perishables:

Salsa – 1 jar (buy whatever heat level your family likes)

Refried beans (I usually make 2 cans b/c J loves them)

Mexican rice bag (I usually buy the kind in the yellow bag)

Brown rice

Taco shells

Taco seasoning

Teriyaki stir fry sauce

Water chestnuts

Egg noodles

Chicken broth – 3 boxes

Petite Diced tomatoes – 1 can

Spices:
Smoked paprika

Chili powder

Dried oregano leaves

Cumin

Bay leaves (for chicken noodle soup)

Salt & Pepper

Dairy:

Shredded cheddar cheese – 3 bags

Cream cheese – 1 block

Frozen:

Egg rolls – however many boxes you need for your family

Meal Prep Game Plan for Sunday:

• Jalapeno popper chicken chili prep:
  1. Chop 1 medium onion, 1 red bell pepper, 2 jalapenos (remove the seeds and ribs to cut down on the heat)
  2. Peel and diced the sweet potato into 1-2” chunks
  3. Add all items to large ziplock bag, store in fridge
  4. Open can of diced tomatoes and place in small Tupperware bowl with lid, store in fridge
  5. Place crockpot on counter for Monday morning
  6. Add all spices required into small Tupperware bowl with lid and place next to crockpot
• Chicken stir fry prep:
  1. Slice 1 medium onion, 1 green pepper, 1 red bell pepper and broccoli, store in ziplock bag in the fridge
  2. Thinly slice chicken breasts for stir fry, store in separate ziplock bag in the fridge
• Chicken noodle soup prep:
  1. Chop 1 medium onion, celery and carrots into desired size for soup, store in ziplock bag in the fridge
• Stuffed Peppers prep:
  1. Chop 1 medium onion and finely dice 1 jalapeno (remove seeds and ribs) and store in ziplock bag in fridge.