I’ve recently re-started the series, What We Ate this Week on our Budget, because I missed the accountability and I had several readers ask for its return. Our monthly grocery budget for my family of 4 is $500. It’s a tight budget and I failed miserably over the summer, but we have lots of financial goals, so I need to get it back in line.
This Week in my Kitchen:
School may have started back in late August, but this week our schedule gets into full swing as my girls swim team practice was back in session…after a glorious 2 months off. I love to watch my girls swim and push themselves physically, but since they are in two different age groups, they swim have different practice times….of course!
As soon as the kids walk in the door after school, we are off and running. But they come home from school starving and they come home from swim practice starving, so they are eating the equivalent of TWO dinners during the week. Thankfully, they work off the extra calories.
Dinner #1 (as they call it) is usually a sandwich or leftovers previous nights. Dinner #2 is our actual family dinner.
To make life a little easier this week, I made double batches of dinners, as you’ll see below and that worked well. I either put the extra batch in the freezer or my kids ate it for Dinner #1.
But I am looking for new slow cooker, instant pot, and freezer recipes. I have 8 freezer recipes that we like, but I need to add more so we don’t get bored. I told my husband that I need to plan another freezer cooking session, so I’m not scrambling for dinner. If you have a recipe that your family is devouring, please send it my way! You can post a link in the comments.
This Week’s Dinners:
Sunday: My husband treated us to wings to celebrate the first Sunday of football season and I made a frozen pizza. Go Cowboys!!
Monday:
- Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes – made a double batch to put in the freezer. I’ll serve with soup at a later time.
- Twice Baked Broccoli Cheesy Potatoes – made a double batch and my kids ate them after school.
- Homemade Sugar-Free Applesauce
Tuesday:
- Chicken, Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadillas – made a double batch and my kids ate after school.
- homemade applesauce
Wednesday: Spaghetti Night – made enough for them to also eat after school.
Thursday:
- Pioneer Women’s White Chicken Chili – The recipe makes a large amount of chili. I had enough for dinner and I filled 3 quart containers to put in the freezer.
- homemade applesauce
Friday: leftover sloppy joes, french fries, steamed vegetables
Saturday: My parents are taking the whole family out for dinner to celebrate a birthday. Thanks mom & dad!
This week’s breakfasts, lunches, and snacks:
Breakfasts included hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, and fruit. Lunches included sandwiches, chicken nuggets, soups, apples, pretzels, and yogurt sticks.