Meal Planning, And the not so planning..

I have to admit. I need a new way of meal planning. I search Pinterest, my overflowing kitchen cabinet of Rachel Ray cookbooks and magazines, Taste of Home, etc. until I come up with just enough meals to get us through the week. If I am really good at meal planning that week I will walk around aimlessly in the grocery store until my buggy looks about half full of useless food product and my 3 year old is acting like a complete monkey. I know what you're thinking....she is THAT girl. Yep, I am that girl. The one in the grocery store driving all the "got their stuff together, meal planning" moms insane. Not to mention my 3 foot monkey hanging from the rafters and me yelling, "Jacob" every 5 minutes. Have I mentioned lately what a blessed mess I am. That's me!

We typically only eat dinner at home each night and usually never eat at home on the weekends (disgusting I know). We are such a family around here! I have decided that this awful habit has to stop. I mean my bank account is clearly telling me that the amount of money that we spend on eating out at the fine restaurants and casual fast food joints could be saved, invested, used to pay off debts, whatever you want to call it. It is a pretty costly penny and I love to cook so why not change this!

The problem is I work, Jay works, Jacob goes to school. By the time we ALL get home in the evenings its 6:30pm and NO ONE wants to cook or wait on food to be made! I am really going to try to make ahead as many meals as possible in between church and CG on Sunday's, we shall see the progress on this. The other problem, we are always running in 100 different directions. I know, I know, first world problems, right!

I welcome all meal planning suggestions, ready....GO!
Also, any fun ways to organize these meals into a "weekly menu" that could be blogged is much appreciated! Apparently I am not so smart in this area either.

I did however manage to come up with some rather tasty, if I do say so myself, meals for this week; snacks for the week; weekend breakfast; and lunch options! So here goes, (excuse my lame excuse for an organized menu template, at this time...I simply don't have one), Enjoy!

Next Weeks Dinners:

• Monday-Crescent Chicken, thanks to Comfy in the Kitchen! , Mash Potatoes, & Green Beans!
• Tuesday-Tator Tot Casserole, thanks to Craving Comfort!
• Wednesday-"Fend for yourself, mamma's gone to happy hour!" (yep, it's true!)
• Thursday-Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia, Thanks to Rachel Ray! , Lemon Wedges, & Steam Veggie Mix!
• Friday-Santa Fe Chicken Packets, Thanks to Ready Set Eat! , Chips & Salsa!
• Saturday-Slow Cooker 7UP Chicken & Rice, Thanks to Six Sisters Stuff!
• Sunday-Pepperoni Pizza Monkeybread, thanks to BLOGHUNGRY!

Snacks for Next Week:

• Frozen Yogurt Blueberries
• Frozen Yogurt Strawberries
• Frozen Grapes
• Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing

Breakfast Opts for Next Week (keep in mind we are a family on the go):

• Make ahead freezer smoothies, thanks to the Tidy Nest!
• Yogurt
• Fruit or Fruit Salad (from snacks list)
• Oatmeal
• Cereal
• Granola Bars

And since we are such the gather 'round our table family (and ironically there is a sign on my dinning room wall that says just that, eh?) we almost never eat lunch together. Monday-Friday it's impossible as we are all 3 in different locations of the DFW metroplex and Saturdays & Sundays we tend to be marathoning around the globe trying to do all that needs to be done and sometimes Jay is at work! Joy!

I did however, find a spring green & strawberry salad with maple vinaigrette salad from Perry's Plate that I would like to take to work this week for lunch! Sounds Yum-o!

Now, to do before Monday morning:

1. Make freezer smoothie bags
2. Make frozen\non frozen snacks
3. Mix lunch salad & pack for lunches
4. Make ahead crescent chicken, & tator tot casserole

....To the grocery store at 7am, yes ma'am I am! Then home to prepare these treats for the week!

Have a tasteful week & a little faith....