Weekly Meal Plan: Week of August 6-12

This week will be a little different. Josh won't be eating dinner with us Monday-Wednesday or Saturday so it'll just be Julianna and I those nights. I plan on using some coupons ($2.00 off a salad and a $1.99 kids meal at Wendy's) and eating "fun" food those nights since we don't need as big of a meal.

Monday- homemade 5 cheese pizza

Tuesday- Wendy's coupon (don't worry-- I'll choose something healthy!)

Wednesday- baked sweet and sour chicken with fried rice: http://life-as-a-lofthouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/baked-sweet-and-sour-chicken-with-fried.html

Thursday- grilled tilapia and steamed veggies

Friday- skinny sour cream enchiladas: http://skinnymom.com/2012/05/11/skinny-sour-cream-enchiladas/

Saturday- Wendy's coupon

Sunday- Leftover Day

Now, I'll use this meal plan to create my grocery list. To create my grocery list, I go back through each of my recipes that I plan on using. I organize the list into the following categories: refrigerated, non-refrigerated, frozen, produce, and meat. I add the items that I don't already have at home to the list in the correct category. Categorizing your grocery list makes grocery shopping quicker and more efficient. Especially when you're shopping with a 2 month old and 2 year old!

When I shop, I always try to get the lowest priced item so I often buy the store brand. But if there is a lower calorie, lower fat option that is not a store brand, I buy that.