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My Meal Planning This Week

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Each week I share with Katy Kicker and others how I manage with meal planning. I find it quite easy to do because we literally sit and plan out everything that we will eat for the week ahead.

Ever since I got the first real insight into meal planning, we have found it useful because it saves us money, and cuts down on the amount of food that we were wasting.

There are so many other benefits and each week I learn more from the others who join in with the linky. I secretly try to adopt some of their dishes and tips too.

Here is how we got on this week

Meal planning this week has been quite an interesting mix. Planning has gone well, but there has been a change or two. See & pin some of the dishes here.

I must say that we had a full kitchen of everything we needed (ingredients wise) but on Sunday, although we had plans to do a whole roast chicken for dinner (and the chicken was marinating in the bottom of the fridge from Saturday night), we decided to have a Cheeky Nandos meal. Ok, let me explain. The kids had all gone out and we had to go on an errand which would see us out for a couple hours. So, instead of rushing home at the end of that, we decided to go out for a meal. Of course, we didn’t waste that whole chicken. We put it in the oven on our return home. You will see how we use it up in the week.

Sunday’s cheeky Nandos for the twins

For Leisa, a double chicken burger with plain chips and corn on the cob and for Jo, double chicken wrap with Peri salted chips and corn on the cob.

Meal planning this week has been quite an interesting mix. Planning has gone well, but there has been a change or two. See & pin some of the dishes here.

Meal planning this week has been quite an interesting mix. Planning has gone well, but there has been a change or two. See & pin some of the dishes here.

As the kids had already eaten when they got back home, we only had to cook the chicken and portion it up for storage in the fridge and freezer.

Monday: Roast chicken dinner with sweet potato mash, gravy, peas, and sweetcorn

Tuesday: Chicken and vegetable stir-fry with noodles

Wednesday: Beef and vegetable soup with Jamaican noodles and corn on the cob

Meal planning this week has been quite an interesting mix. Planning has gone well, but there has been a change or two. See & pin some of the dishes here.

We love making this soup with beef (and bones included) because it is so versatile. We always start it off in the slow cooker from very early in the morning so the bone and meat juices are infused into the soup. We then add dumplings made with wholemeal flour, carrots, pumpkin, celery, onion, thyme and Jamaican noodles (we love the Cock Soup flavour, lol)

Thursday: Steamed vegetables with salted codfish and potatoes and wholemeal dumplings. Have you ever tried Jamaican boiled dumplings? I must admit that the texture is quite unusual. We make it healthier by using wholemeal flour.

Meal planning this week has been quite an interesting mix. Planning has gone well, but there has been a change or two. See & pin some of the dishes here.

Friday: Pizza baguettes

Saturday: We have quite a few odd dishes from leftovers in the freezer so everyone will choose something. One of our favourite quick things to make is chicken frankfurters with noodles.

 

How did you do this week with planning your meals? I would strongly suggest you take up meal planning especially if:

  • you want to save money
  • you want to be in control of what is in your food
  • you want to lose weight
  • you want to avoid the fatigue of having to decide daily what to eat
  • you want to use up what you have in your fridge/freezer
  • you want to learn new cooking skills and tips

It is understandable to divert from your meal plan sometimes, isn’t it? The goal is to stay more on than off. Do let us know about how you are getting on and if there is anything we can do to advise you. By the way, what do you have when you feel like having a cheeky takeaway? Have you checked out my fakeaway recipes?

 

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Filed Under: Frugal

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« Meal Planning – Keeping it Frugal
See What we ate This Week- all Home Made and Delicious »

Comments

  1. Kiki says

    October 26, 2018 at 3:36 pm

    Now I’m craving fries!!!

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      October 28, 2018 at 2:18 pm

      We do make them in the oven, so it’s less fatty but just as good.

      Reply
  2. Sarah - Mud, Cakes and Wine says

    October 27, 2018 at 4:07 pm

    I never think of sweet potato mash, this maybe something I need to try. Also the dumplings sound interesting as well. Lots of new things for us to try xx

    Reply
  3. Shoestring Jane says

    October 27, 2018 at 6:16 pm

    Even though I am vegetarian, your beef soup with noodles sounds sublime!

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      October 28, 2018 at 2:18 pm

      Oh Jane. We do make a vegetarian version of this too. In fact, we do it a lot in the winter but we usually blend it so it’s rather smooth and without the dumplings.

      Reply
  4. Louise Fairweather says

    October 28, 2018 at 5:32 pm

    I really need to go through our freezer and see what we actually have in there #mealplanningmondays

    Reply
  5. Tree says

    October 28, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    Everything looks lovely. Especially the soup
    Tx

    Reply
  6. Kim Carberry says

    October 29, 2018 at 1:22 pm

    I have never had a Nando’s before. They do look like delicous meals.
    That soup looks and sounds amazing! Perfect in this weather.
    Kim Carberry recently posted…Our weekly meal plan. 29th Oct – 4th Nov! #MealPlanningMondayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Joleisa says

      November 1, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      We love a #cheekyNandos. I always have a quarter of a chicken, Peri chips and a corn on the cob. I prefer meat on the bones too. You should try it one day.

      Reply
  7. Katy Stevens says

    November 2, 2018 at 7:38 am

    That soup looks amazing! I love a nice Nandos too. Sorry for the delay this week, I’ve been in bed ill for a couple of days x

    Reply
  8. malik says

    November 4, 2018 at 6:29 am

    woo woo woo.. Joleisa.. Once again.. it’s me malik.. wow.. fantastic.. i like chips too.. good meal planning for week.. it’s cool.. i want to let you know i got some meal planning and diet systems.. if you have interest.

    Reply
  9. Sara says

    November 6, 2018 at 3:26 am

    Sounds like you have a delicious week ahead! A good meal plan is so awesome 🙌. That soup looks delicious 😍 and the steamed veggies with dumplings… yum town! Thanks for sharing your food inspiration ♡

    Reply
  10. Steve says

    November 6, 2018 at 11:40 am

    Jo and Leisa, thanks for posting! Your beef soup looks great. Would be awesome on a cold day this winter. Steve
    Steve recently posted…Words of Affirmation: Your Best Guide for SuccessMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Meg says

    November 6, 2018 at 1:01 pm

    Oh man, I gotta try that soup w the jamaican noodles. So yummy looking! I love a good stew or soup.

    Reply
  12. Shareen says

    November 6, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    Meal planning is super important to us as well. That soup looks delish!!!

    http://www.pearlsandparis.com

    Reply

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Hi, we're Jo and Leisa, twin sisters and authors of Joleisa.com. Originally from the sandy beaches of Jamaica we now reside in England where we followed our calling to teach. But sometimes that call changes and our new passion is writing. We're here to give the ups and downs of it all with our lifestyle tips and tricks to help you avoid the sour lemons that can get in our way of frugal budgeting, intentional living and happiness. Join us and learn more about how we found the simplest ways to achieve easy living. Read More…

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