A few weeks ago someone asked in the comments how closely I actually stick to my menus each week. It made me laugh because Nate frequently jokes he’s going to start a blog called “whatweREALLYatefordinner.com”.
Sadly for Nate I’m foiling his big blogging plans and just telling you myself what we really ate. And it’s actually pretty darn close to the weekly menu plans I share each Sunday! I think part of the reason my menu plans happen {for the most part} is because I include leftovers and eating out in the plan. I also look at the schedule for the week and plan around nights that I know cooking will be unrealistic.
Click more to read the full exposé!
I kept track of what we ate over 4 weeks…there are two nights in the first week that I can’t remember because I started keeping track during week 2.
WEEK OF MAY 17:
MONDAY:
PLANNED: Breakfast for Dinner REALITY: Don’t remember!
TUESDAY:
PLANNED: Texas pulled pork sandwiches topped with coleslaw REALITY: Yes
WEDNESDAY:
PLANNED: Kitchen sink quesadillas REALITY: Yes
THURSDAY:
PLANNED: Spaghetti REALITY: Yes
FRIDAY:
PLANNED: Leftovers REALITY: Yes
SATURDAY:
PLANNED: Eat out REALITY: Of course!
SUNDAY:
PLANNED: Something on the grill REALITY: I wasn’t keeping track, don’t remember what we had!
WEEK OF MAY 24
MONDAY:
PLANNED: Paninis REALITY: Yes
TUESDAY:
PLANNED: Ricotta Pasta with Tomatoes al Forno (Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats) REALITY: Yes
WEDNESDAY:
PLANNED: Tacos REALITY: Costco Rotisserie Chicken (ended up at Costco that day)
THURSDAY:
PLANNED: Leftovers REALITY: Yes
FRIDAY:
PLANNED: Breakfast for dinner REALITY: Ate at Buca di Beppo with a coupon!
SATURDAY:
PLANNED: Eat out REALITY: Last minute houseboat trip to Napa – grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob
SUNDAY:
PLANNED: Chicken Caesar Salad REALITY: Driving home from Napa, grabbed food on the road
WEEK OF JUNE 1
MONDAY:
PLANNED: Tacos REALITY: Girls had kitchen sink quesadillas w/leftovers and I made a big salad for Nate & I using up leftovers
TUESDAY:
PLANNED: Breakfast for dinner REALITY: Had the tacos we were supposed to have the night before
WEDNESDAY:
PLANNED: Chicken Salad Sandwiches REALITY: Yes
THURSDAY:
PLANNED: Hawaiian Pizza REALITY: Spaghetti (which was planned for the next night)
FRIDAY:
PLANNED: Spaghetti REALITY: Forgot Nate & Cate were going camping, they ate at the campout, I walked to the local gourmet grocery store for soup and baguette
SATURDAY:
PLANNED: Eat out REALITY: Hot dogs on the grill
SUNDAY:
PLANNED: Hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill REALITY: French Toast, using leftover bread from Friday night
WEEK OF JUNE 8
MONDAY:
PLANNED: Hawaiian Pizza REALITY: Yes
TUESDAY:
PLANNED: Chicken Parmesan REALITY: Orange chicken (from Costco freezer) – which was actually planned for Wed night
WEDNESDAY:
PLANNED: Orange Chicken REALITY: My good friend Natalee brought us dinner because I was a crazed working mom
THURSDAY:
PLANNED: Leftovers REALITY: The girls had leftovers, Nate and I got Caribbean takeout
FRIDAY:
PLANNED: Hamburgers/Hot Dogs on the grill REALITY: Chicken Parmesan
SATURDAY:
PLANNED: Eat out REALITY: BBQ with neighbors
SUNDAY:
PLANNED: Indian food REALITY: Yes (Chicken curry & naan with veggie)
Hello! My name is Jane Maynard and you've landed yourself on my blog, This Week for Dinner™. Every Sunday I share a weekly menu...and then count on you to share your own! You'll also find other deliciousness that I hope you'll enjoy!
I’m glad to know someone else doesn’t always stick to their menu – we tend to get off track when I forget to thaw the meat I need to use to prepare that night’s meal. After much trial and error (and fast-food “whoops” meals) I’ve learned to keep things like bacon and eggs (for breakfast for dinner) and homemade frozen soup (soup and sammies are a fan fave at my house)on hand.
I’d say that’s pretty good though! You stick to it most of the time, but life always throws some curves and it’s good to be flexible. Thanks for sharing that with everyone!
You stick to yours better than I stick to mine! Usually I end up making most of the meals I plan, just in scrambled order, depending on what I feel like eating!
Thanks. I requested this and you guys do a good job sticking to the menu without being set in stone.
I love that you added this, I was just thinking the other day that so often life happens when you make plans and sometimes you have to make changes. You seem to do a great job sticking to it though.
I can barely plan my wardrobe, let alone a whole week of meals. HAH! I’m going to have to learn how though when I start this six week body make-over!
It’s really nice that your mealplan is flexible though, and I noticed that even though you didn’t have the planned food on the planned night all the time, you tend to incorporate it somewhere in the week, which is good as less food goes bad!
Excellent job sticking close to the plan, I know mine would be all over the place!
Oh my goodness…we clearly have similar strategies! http://shutupandcook.wordpress.com/the-meal-plan/