This weekend was gorgeous and we spent as much of it outside as possible. I went hiking with Koda and Hailey. We rode our bikes to breakfast and enjoyed sushi on wine on the back deck.
We accomplished some chores around the house and attended a friendβs 2nd birthday party. Cupcakes for everyone!
And I, of course, had the joy of meal planning and shopping!
On the menu this weekβ¦
Sunday– Mexican Layered Bowls (post coming soon!)
Monday– Sweet Potato Chili
Tuesday– Stuffed Peppers with Guacamole
Wednesday– Grilled Salmon, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli
Thursday– Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs
Friday– Goat Cheese & Pistachio Chicken, Green Beans and Tomatoes
Saturday– OUT
*As always, meals subject to change days
I started at Healthy Home Market. My tendency is to start here to get as much on my list as I can because I really like the quality of the food. However, they donβt have everything (for example, green beans) and sometimes I know prices are cheaper elsewhere (like Cabot cheese at Target), so I leave Target for last as a catch-all.
Eden Organic large diced tomatoes $3.49, Eden Organic diced tomatoes $2.49 each, local honey $4.39, organic lemon juice $1.99, organic lime juice $1.99, organic red quinoa $1.78, brown rice $0.81, raw almonds $10.40, pistachios $3.78, organic black beans $2.70
organic spaghetti squash $7.00, 4 organic red bell peppers $9.52, 2 organic green peppers $2.84, organic garlic $0.77, organic broccoli $3.99, organic oranges $5.99, organic carrots $1.59
ground turkey $5.59, Applegate Farms bacon $5.19, natural chicken breasts $4.46, grass-fed ground beef $6.99, Kerrygold butter $4.79, organic sour cream $3.39, organic green leaf lettuce $2.99, organic frozen edamame $3.39, organic frozen corn $2.79, Ezekiel english muffins $4.49, cherry tomatoes β actually from Joshβs Farmers Market
Healthy Home Market Total: $114.31
Green beans, cilantro, tomatoes, avocadoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, sweet potatoes, onions, red onion, local eggs
Joshβs Farmerβs Market Total: $20.34
organic tortilla chips $2.84, Pace salsa $4.99, Texas Pete $1.47, frozen wild salmon $10.94, Jackβs Fresh Salsa $3.29, kalamata olives $3.99, feta cheese $2.99, Cabot cheese $2.46
Target Total: $23.97
Weekly Total: $158.62
Once I got home, I dove head first into food prep. I ended up spending 3 hours preparing for the week between grocery shopping and food prep. It sounds like a lot, but my entire week is set and as I always say, it feels INCREDIBLE knowing I donβt have the think about food until next Sunday.
I made a double batch of Greek quinoa salad. Iβm so excited to have this to layer on top of greens for an easy, quick lunch!
I also cooked the black beans, washed the lettuce, washed and chopped the broccoli, cooked up the brown rice, made chocolate coconut almond butter and marinated the chicken for dinner.
Iβm feeling set up and ready for another week of eating for balanced blood sugars. The no-flour-of-any-sort is wearing on me a bit (PIZZZZZZAAAaaAA) but hopefully itβs making a difference.
One last thingβ¦
WHOOSH!!! What was that? Just the sound of the budget limit flying past me. 
I canβt wait to share the wrap up of Augustβs budget, things I learned and other final thoughts later this week.
How long does it take you to shop and prep for the week?
Or do you prefer to wing it?
Karen says
You are so good!! As much as I would love to prep every week, a lot of times I find myself just winging it. We had such a busy weekend that I wasn’t able to prep anything but hopefully today, I can get to some prepping. Happy Monday!!
Kerry says
The spaghetti squash and meatballs sounds yummy! Do you put a sauce on it? What kind? And do you have a recipe for the meatballs? I get meal ideas from you all the time π Thank you!
Brittany Dixon says
Slacker alert- I use jarred marinara π I’d love to make my own, but there isn’t always time for that. I’m trying a new meatball method, so I’ll let you know how it turns out!If I mess up, I usually just turn it into meat sauce- haha!
Lindsey says
I usually do our meal plan up Friday, then make the list Saturday morning before I go to the stores. Those two things don’t take long, maybe 30-45 mins total. Shopping depends, usually I go to our main grocery store weekly, sometimes the farmer’s market, Costco every other week and then speciality stores here and there. So some weeks the shopping part can be 45 mins other weeks its a couple hours or more.
Hanna says
Your meals for the week sound great! I meal plan on Saturday mornings and then I grocery shop during the girl’s naptime. It takes me about 2 hours total to make a list and shop. We only have a few grocery stores in my small town so I tend to buy all of my groceries at Publix. On the weeks that we need to restock our household items (paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products, etc.) I go to Wal-Mart.
Brittany Dixon says
Publix is great though! My parents have one by their house, and I think it’s they have great food. Plus, their bakery bread is so delish! I hear they are expanding into NC, so hopefully we’ll get one soon!
Heather says
I’ve been trying to work on a weekly food menu and budget for our family, but often find it hard to come up with new ideas that everyone will enjoy. That, and figuring out pricing of various items at different locations and then figuring out how and when to hit our various stores. I’ve noticed you’ve been buying Target’s new Simply Balanced line – we’re so glad that Target has this now. My kiddo is addicted to all of the freeze-dried fruits and veggies, which is good since he hasn’t been wanting to eat any fresh produce. Did Hailey ever go through a stage where she’d suddenly stop eating the fruits and veggies she once really liked? I’m at my wit’s end on what to give him!
Brittany Dixon says
As for meal planning, I often stick to our regular meals and occasionally add new ones in. I’ve made Mexican Layered bowls and sweet potato chili so many times I could do it in my sleep! I know we like those, though, so it takes care of two days pretty easily. I suggest reusing favorite meals and over π
As for H, she went through a finicky stage where one day she’d down tomatoes, then not touch them the next day, but I kept offering and it passed. Even now, she hasn’t had milk in a month or so, then had some the other day and loved it, so now I guess I’ll buy it again. I’d just keep offering and if they don’t want it, that’s fine, but they get to sub it with a similar choice (example: broccoli instead of green beans, not fruit snacks ;)).
Paulina says
Lately we’ve been just winging it. We spend a few minutes to see what we’re running low on and make a list with that plus the usual food. My husband usually does the groceries on a week night while I’m putting our kid to bed. He’s pretty quick, and usually stops at Meijer, Costco, and a smaller market all on one trip.
I have an off topic question! What kind of birthday plans are you doing for Hailey? My daughter turns 2 in a little over a month and I don’t want to have a huge party again. I’m thinking a late afternoon party with snacks and cake/cupcakes and limiting it to 2 hours long. Doesn’t it seem like kids b-day partys are such a big event nowadays? Compared to when we were kids? Or maybe I’m just old and forgetful.
Brittany Dixon says
We are going SUPER low key this year. My folks are coming up and I plan to make a big deal about it with family (balloons, lots of attention, etc), but we aren’t doing a party at all. I’ll make cup cakes and she’ll have a candle and present, but that’s the extent.
If you’re old and forgetful, I am, too. I remember slumber parties when I was older and always getting to pick where we went out to eat for dinner, but nothing over the top! I’m fine with that π
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I cannot wait for the post on the Mexican Layered Bowls! Those sound right up my alley!
Andrea says
I find myself trying more new recipes now that I’m meal planning. I actually plan a new recipe and plan it for a day I know I have time to play around (last Wednesday’s Moussaka took almost three hours to get on the table!!). My next meal planning challenge…tackling partial ingredients. For example, there is no recipe I know of that uses a whole can of tomato paste. So I’m trying to plan meals that will use up an ingredient before it goes bad.
Brittany Dixon says
I would have loved to try your Moussaka- sounds so fancy!!
As for tomato paste, it freezes perfectly. I use half the small can, then wrap the remainder of paste in plastic wrap. Next time I need it for a chili, I just pull it out of the freezer and right into the pot!
Andrea says
I sent you a FB message to the Healthy Slice FB page with the recipe attached. A little lengthy/involved to type out. I forgot to mention you really have to read the recipe and sequence the steps yourself. For example, they have you preheating the oven in step 1…it takes me over an hour to get to the point where the oven needs to be pre-heated. And while the eggplant is “resting” with the salt on it, I start the meat sauce. While the meat sauce simmers away, usually the eggplant is just about ready to start the sauteeing/browning process. And as soon as I’ve cooked enough eggplant to cover the bottom of my pan, the meat sauce is ready and I can add half of it to the pan and continue cooking the eggplant.
My tomato paste is currently in the freezer. Perhaps where I’ve gone wrong is that I forget it is in the freezer. π
Halsy says
That sushi looks great! I have been doing a poor job of meal prepping on weekends! I need to get back into it. I have been a little lax with the meal plan lately too… It shows as I went $30 over on the grocery budget. Ive been so tired and running after a toddler all day makes the fatigue worse…apparently I have low
Vitamin D levels. I’m still confused because we get out of the house on a stroller walk/playground for about an hour everyday. I don’t eat dairy (besides yogurt) and recently had to eliminate eggs (toddler has a severe egg allergy) which are both the main vitamin d source so I guess it makes since. Wow…I didn’t realize how expensive organic peppers are! We grow our own bit have had a poor yield so we haven’t been freezing them and we usually have a few gallon size bags of jalapeΓ±os and bell peppers when fall comes to get us through most of fall/winter but not this year! I guess peppers will not be on our menu much this winter. I might just have to get some extras at farmers market to freeze!
Brittany Dixon says
I’ve heard that something like 95% of people are vitamin D deficient. I totally just made up that stat, but I remember hearing it was a HIGH percentage. Do you supplement?
I’d tried growing my own red peppers because they are so dang expensive, but I yielded about 1 pepper for the summer- haha! I really should learn, though, because you are right, they are pricey!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I usually write down things I need or am close to running out of during the week. Then finish that list up with all the other things I need Saturday morning while picking out a few dishes to make. Then I will usually hit the store sometime that weekend.
Sarah says
Promise you’ll share the chocolate coconut almond butter recipe? Please, pretty please! We had guests this weekend so I am totally behind on food prep and shopping. Thinking of having an “eat out of the fridge/freezer/pantry” kind of week to eat up some odds and ends.
Brittany Dixon says
Oh I certainly can, but it’s so simple that it’s barely a ‘recipe’ – haha!
I love the eat-up-the-odds-n-ends weeks! It cleans things up and saves money! Enjoy π
Danica @ It's Progression says
Because I also take the time to meal plan and write out a specific grocery list, the actual shopping always goes really quickly. Once I get home I typically cut up the veggies, prep any fruit (watermelon, grapes, etc.), cook grains (quinoa, brown rice, etc.) and cook meat if we’re having that for the week. I love it all! π
Angela says
I would love to be able to meal plan and meal prep but haven’t figured out a way to make time for it yet… one day I will get my act together!
char eats greens says
When I see these posts, it makes me want to meal plan more. I wish I could buy dried beans and have them cooked within 3 hours though. Investing in a pressure cooker would be a good idea, or I know I can do the boil and let sit for a few hours things too. I think I should definitely start doing this, considering I start school NEXT week, and won’t have time (and I thought I didn’t have time now – HA!).
We always buy that Jack’s salsa and I was SO happy when I discovered it at another grocery store other than the one we regularly shop at for much cheaper. $3.49 vs. the $4.99 we were paying!
Maria says
It typically takes me about an hour to go grocery shopping and about 30 minutes to cut up the fruit/veggies for the week. Though I sometimes cheat and when I don’t feel like prepping, I buy produce that doesn’t require much like berries, apples, and bags of pre-washed stuff. My husband got a free year of grocery delivery service shipping, so I’ve started using that too to save on time – they even offer Target deliveries, so I don’t have go there and spend my whole paycheck.
My biggest gripe about meal planning is that I never know what I will be in the mood for…I guess that’s where flexibility comes in handy!
Avery @ YoungAspirations says
I really need to do this. It just looks like so much more fun when you do it, haha. I could also afford to get more creative with our dinners. We do a lot of meal repeating over here. Love these posts!!
JenRD says
I use an app on my phone to plan the meals for the week and create my shopping list weekly. I usually end up going to Trader Joe’s mid-week for the majority of our meal, and our local supermarket on Saturdays to refresh the produce and get anything else I forgot or TJ’s doesn’t carry. I honestly don’t do too much food prep simply because I can’t find the time to do that in one large block.
Please do share the almond butter recipe! Maya is allergic to peanuts, and store-bought almond butter is so dang expensive in comparison!
Also, out of curiosity, does your hubby watch Hailey while you food prep? Maya (same age) loves going food shopping with me, but does not have the patience to sit still while I prep and make dinner, and is often hanging on my leg, wanting my attention after 5 minutes.
Brittany Dixon says
I’ll definitely share the almond butter recipe this week! Lately, yes, David has been watching Hailey while I food prep and it makes a WORLD of difference. I’ve done it before with Hailey and it usually involves letting her destroy the kitchen π
Stacy K says
It usually takes me about 5 hours to meal plan, shop and prep the baby’s food usually takes the longest.
Have you ever made any type of spaghetti squash pancake? My 10 month old would love it but I’m not sure he would be able to pick up the strands. I love your munchkin meals bc they give me so many great ideas, but I still get stuck. Also when you prep beans etc how long do you think thu stay fresh in the refrigerator? A week? LO loves beans but I like to prep everything on the weekend since I work during the week.
Brittany Dixon says
I haven’t made spaghetti squash pancakes, but it sounds like a cool idea!
Most everything stays fresh through the week. Beans and rice I usually try to eat by Friday, so 5 days? I plan to finish all food by the week’s end since I hate wasting food π
Kate says
You said the no-flour-of-any-sort was wearing on you and mentioned pizza. Pinterest has a zucchini crust pizza recipe and there is a cauliflower crust pizza recipe too. There is no flour in these recipes. Maybe those would interest you?
Brittany Dixon says
I’ve done the cauliflower crust before and it turned out pretty good, but I just miss that thick, fluffy crust! Thanks for the suggestions π
Tara says
Just came across your blog and look forward to reading!
Your fridge is SO organized, love it! I try, but we are constantly cleaning it out.
Q-what are the greens in the jars in the fridge? Are those the herbs you purchased?
Brittany Dixon says
Thanks for stopping by Tara π Yes! When I buy herbs (cilantro and parsley), I store them in jars with water and change the water every few days. They end up lasting over a week in great condition this way!