Menu Monday, January 2

Photo source: livegreentwincities.com

 Today we are taking down the Christmas tree.  Although I really enjoy the decluttering of packing up decorations and getting the house back to normal, it still leaves me feeling a little melancholy.  January can be like that for me.  The lights are down, the parties are over...it just seems to make this time of year so much darker.  Add to that the cloudy days of the Pacific Northwest and you've got yourself an emotional Molotov cocktail.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about ways to help get through these dark days in better spirits.  One of those ways is by getting lots of Vitamin D from sunshine as well as eating butter and other fats rich in Vitamin D.  I'm still looking for a Vitamin D supplement that I believe is worth the bucks so if you are taking one that you think is the stuff, please let me know!

By the way, if saving money on your grocery bill is on your radar for the new year, menu planning can save you a lot of money.  Running into the grocery store more often the once a week gets expensive...especially if you are doing it while you are hungry.  Research has shown that if you go shopping while hungry, you buy more.  Also, when you have a meal plan, you don't panic because you know what you are making for dinner, and that keeps you from getting take-out or going to a restaurant for dinner.  By far, meal planning has got to be one of the things I do that relieves the most stress!

So here's our menu for the week:

 

Monday:

Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ peaches

Lunch – Tuna melts, carrot sticks, apples

Dinner – Leftover black-eyed peas, brown rice, cornbread, greens from New Year's Day dinner (I know...it wasn't on last week's menu plan.  But it was so good, I'll share the recipe with you soon!) 

Tuesday:

Breakfast – Fried eggs, blueberry muffins, oranges

Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Porcupines, brown rice, green beans 

Wednesday:

Breakfast – French toast with applesauce and maple syrup

Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Crustless salmon quiche, hash browns, green salad

Thursday:

Breakfast – Oatmeal w/ cranberries

Lunch - Leftovers

Dinner -  Harvest apple pork chops, boiled red potatoes, peas

Friday:

Breakfast – Scrambled eggs, cinnamon bread toast, grapes

Lunch – Cheese, raw veggies & apples

Dinner – Cheeseburger macaroni, coleslaw, fruit salad

Saturday:

Breakfast –  Soaked whole wheat pancakes, maple syrup, sausage, orange slices

Lunch – Homemade summer sausage, cheese, raw veggies & fruit

Dinner – Homemade pizza, green salad

Sunday:

Breakfast – Soaked whole wheat waffles w/ strawberries, bacon

Lunch - Leftovers

Dinner – BBQ burgers, homemade french fries, green salad, mock frozen yogurt