I've had several people ask me how I am cooking and planning a week's worth of healthy meals for the cheapest amount possible and so I've decided to share a little more about it here!

Here is this week's menu:

White Bean Soup and crunchy toast (from my homemade bread)
 -chicken stock
 -2 cans Navy beans
 -carrots
 -potatoes
 -celery
 -bacon
 -onion

Fajitas (with homemade tortillas)
 -2 chicken breast sliced and pan seared with onion
 -can pinto beans
 -homemade tortillas
 -grated cheese
 -avocado slices
 -salsa


Steak salad
 -pre-cooked steak in the refrigerated aisle pan seared in EVOO and lime juice
 -avocado
 -spinach/salad mix
 -boiled eggs
 -tomatoes with sea salt

Chicken salad Sandwich (on homemade bread with lettuce and tomato)
 -2 cans of chicken breast chunks
 -mayo
 -salt/pepper
 -dried cranberries
 -1 chopped apple
 -walnuts

Turkey Wraps (homemade tortillas)
 -deli turkey meat
 -spinach
 -avocado slices
 -ranch dressing
 -tomato

Homemade Canadian Bacon/Pineapple pizza
 -homemade crust recipe
 -can of pizza sauce
 -mozz. cheese
 -canadian bacon 
 -canned pineapple

Banana bread for a snack/breakfast
Omelets and smoothies
Grilled Cheese and leftover soup

For lunch we have sandwiches or leftovers and for breakfast we normally have a banana with peanut butter or a granola bar. We eat our meals with toast and salad, nothing too fancy and normally I cook one goodie (cookie or cake) per week. We eat Eddy's frozen fruit bars instead of ice cream when we are craving a sweet and cold snack and I make a yummy, tiny batch of honey butter when we want something extra sinful (1/2 stick butter, 1/2 c. honey, powdered sugar and cinnamon) for the homemade bread.

I'm making my big batch of homemade wheat bread dough (makes 3 loaves of whole wheat bread from this book) and a batch of my mom's homemade tortilla recipe for this week. I am guessing that my trip to the grocery store tomorrow will only cost me about $75 and these meals are pretty healthy! I am adding a small bit of dairy back into my diet, but we don't buy milk or ice cream and only very seldom do we use cheese (normally we only cook with it once a week). Most everything is made from scratch and most of my recipes come from the Whole Foods Market App on the Ipad.

Meal planning

February 10, 2012

I've had several people ask me how I am cooking and planning a week's worth of healthy meals for the cheapest amount possible and so I've decided to share a little more about it here!

Here is this week's menu:

White Bean Soup and crunchy toast (from my homemade bread)
 -chicken stock
 -2 cans Navy beans
 -carrots
 -potatoes
 -celery
 -bacon
 -onion

Fajitas (with homemade tortillas)
 -2 chicken breast sliced and pan seared with onion
 -can pinto beans
 -homemade tortillas
 -grated cheese
 -avocado slices
 -salsa


Steak salad
 -pre-cooked steak in the refrigerated aisle pan seared in EVOO and lime juice
 -avocado
 -spinach/salad mix
 -boiled eggs
 -tomatoes with sea salt

Chicken salad Sandwich (on homemade bread with lettuce and tomato)
 -2 cans of chicken breast chunks
 -mayo
 -salt/pepper
 -dried cranberries
 -1 chopped apple
 -walnuts

Turkey Wraps (homemade tortillas)
 -deli turkey meat
 -spinach
 -avocado slices
 -ranch dressing
 -tomato

Homemade Canadian Bacon/Pineapple pizza
 -homemade crust recipe
 -can of pizza sauce
 -mozz. cheese
 -canadian bacon 
 -canned pineapple

Banana bread for a snack/breakfast
Omelets and smoothies
Grilled Cheese and leftover soup

For lunch we have sandwiches or leftovers and for breakfast we normally have a banana with peanut butter or a granola bar. We eat our meals with toast and salad, nothing too fancy and normally I cook one goodie (cookie or cake) per week. We eat Eddy's frozen fruit bars instead of ice cream when we are craving a sweet and cold snack and I make a yummy, tiny batch of honey butter when we want something extra sinful (1/2 stick butter, 1/2 c. honey, powdered sugar and cinnamon) for the homemade bread.

I'm making my big batch of homemade wheat bread dough (makes 3 loaves of whole wheat bread from this book) and a batch of my mom's homemade tortilla recipe for this week. I am guessing that my trip to the grocery store tomorrow will only cost me about $75 and these meals are pretty healthy! I am adding a small bit of dairy back into my diet, but we don't buy milk or ice cream and only very seldom do we use cheese (normally we only cook with it once a week). Most everything is made from scratch and most of my recipes come from the Whole Foods Market App on the Ipad.



Comments
Brenda:

Can you post your homemade bread and tortilla recipes please? Sounds delicious!

 (02.10.12 @ 09:23 PM)
Lauren:

Are you buying all of the ingredients at Whole Foods?

 (02.11.12 @ 10:53 AM)
Lauren:

No, I buy everything either at the Stillwater Farmer's Market or Wal Mart. Whole Foods is lovely, but very expensive.

(02.11.12 @ 02:41 PM)
Nina:

I am using this for my grocery list on Friday! Thanks for sharing this. :)

 (02.14.12 @ 05:44 PM)
Robin:

Thank you for this! I used the recipes for grocery shopping AND bought the book yesterday. :)

 (02.15.12 @ 01:25 PM)
Evan Thurston:

HI Lauren! I have been creeping awhile on your blog (and when I say awhile I mean like about 4-5 yrs!) but this is my first comment. I think your work is amazing, but im wondering about your no dairy thing. I remember it had something to do with Solomon's tummy. I am pregnant with my second baby. We struggled bad with reflux and breastfeeding with out first. I am wondering what made you give up dairy? Do you feel it made a difference? Was it super hard? We eat alot of dairy!!! Any input would be much appreciated! I know you are super busy! feel free to email me if thats easier...evan.thurston.photo@gmail.com

 (02.16.12 @ 12:16 PM)