Hello everyone! So far, so good with full-time work and the weekly menu…the meal plan helps so much! Hitting the grocery store over the weekend before the work week starts is key. Here’s what’s going on in the kitchen this week!

MONDAY:
– Chicken Piccata
– Mashed Potatoes and Salad

TUESDAY:
– Fried Rice

WEDNESDAY:
– Nachos
– Seven-Layer Dip

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– Eat out night

SATURDAY:
– Pat’s Asian Chicken Salad

SUNDAY:
– Grill Night (whatever looks good and is on sale at the butcher!)
– Salad and Roasted Potatoes

Your turn! Share your weekly meal plans below! For real, your menus are so incredibly helpful when I sit down to plan each week, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. Thank you!

Well. Last week I was out of town over the weekend, so I got myself organized, wrote the weekly menu on Thursday to publish Sunday…and then didn’t realize until right now that my menu never published last week. So much for planning ahead! I suppose that just makes planning this week’s menu easier. 😉 

MONDAY:
– Eat out night (due to Mom traveling!)

TUESDAY:
– Spaghetti Bolognese
– Salad and garlic bread

WEDNESDAY:
– Beef Stroganoff
– Side veggie (whatever looks good at the store)

THURSDAY:
– Homemade Hamburgers

FRIDAY:
– Leftovers

SATURDAY:
– Eat out

SUNDAY:
– Dinner at a friend’s (I happen to know they are making salmon with broccoli and rice!)

I started a full-time position this week, which I am incredibly excited about. Don’t worry, the blog isn’t going anywhere,. In fact meal planning is going to be even more important! 

Okay, time to share your menus! Tell us what’s cooking at your house this week in the comments below!

Happy New Year! (I can still say that, right? This isn’t Larry David’s blog so I’m going with it.) Since we still have one more day left in January, I’ve decided it’s not too late to share my new year’s resolution supporting the blog’s Eat Well, Heal the Planet annual goals. Drumroll, please…

That’s right, Waste Less Food is back! I am repeating my 2016 resolution because it’s an incredibly important and impactful one, and I personally could do with recommitting to this goal. If you are new to the blog, each year I choose a resolution where our family’s actions in the kitchen impact the environment in a positive way. For 2020 it is all about wasting less food!

First and foremost, go check out the post I wrote in 2016 the first time I made this my new year’s resolution. There is a ton of great information in that article, including more on the negative impact food waste has on the environment.

Today I want to build on that original post, providing tips for attacking food waste effectively.

#1: SHOP SMART

Being smart about the food you buy is definitely Step 1 in wasting less food.

Yes, that is Cate is 2009. She is now 15. Unreal.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Create a grocery list before you hit the store. This will help tremendously, both with food waste and budgeting.
• Buy ugly produce. It tastes the same, I promise. I often will pick up a piece of produce and go to put it back if it’s not perfect, then force myself to put it in the cart. The ugly fruit wants to be loved, too!
• Buy food from companies like Imperfect Foods. Imperfect Foods sources food that won’t be sold in stores, whether because it is surplus or imperfect (i.e. ugly). I’ve been ordering from Imperfect Foods for quite some time now and love the service. Click here to sign up! (Note: this is my referral link, which means we both get $10 with your first order.)

#2: FOOD LABEL DATES ARE NOT GOSPEL

Ignore dates on packaging. Seriously. The only food that the FDA requires a use-by date for is infant formula – no other food has date labeling requirements. The “use by” and “best by” dates printed on food packaging are a guide for enjoying food at peak quality and is not related to food safety. A “sell by” date tells stores how long to display products and, again, is not related to safety.  

When it comes to determining if a food is safe to eat, use logic, not the date on the package. Color, smell and texture will tell you what you need to know. And always make sure you store food properly to maximize safety and freshness. The USDA has a fantastic article that explains the dating systems used, as well as great tips for knowing if food has spoiled or not: click here to read it! 

#3: COOK AT HOME AND USE LEFTOVERS

Cooking at home has huge positive impacts when it comes to food waste and trash. When our family has had busy weeks where we’ve eaten takeout more, our trash bin fills up significantly more quickly, both with from food containers and random bits of food. There are many reasons why cooking at home is a great choice (Michael Pollan lists a few of them in this interview with the Boston Globe), and reducing food waste is one of my favorites! 

Leftovers are also huge when it comes to food waste. I used to be terrible about using up leftovers, but now (sometimes to my family’s chagrin) I am a champ getting those leftovers eaten! Whether it’s for my own lunch or dinner for the whole family, leftovers are super handy. 

#4: COMPOST!

The first time I made food waste a new year’s resolution, I also committed to composting. Composting is great because if you do end up with some food waste, you are putting it to good use! Rather than sending food waste to the landfill where it will create more greenhouse gases, composting food scraps at home skips the whole extra greenhouse gas problem and you end up with beautiful compost for your yard or garden. You can even compost in a small house or apartment using raised, rotating bins, as they don’t attract critters or cause a stink.  

I searched my blog and realized that I never followed up with you all about our family’s composting experience. I did in fact start composting in 2016 and we still do it! I decided to compost using raised, rotating bins. I highly recommend them! If you decide to go the rotating bin route, make sure the bin has two chambers, one for “cooking” and one for adding materials while the other side cooks.

Click here for a great Composting 101 article from Gardener’s Supply Company. Related, I love Gardener’s Supply Company’s dual-chamber rotating compost bin, which you can buy here. 

#5: MEAL PLANNING IS THE BEST!

Meal planning to the rescue once again! I know I’m biased, what with a blog called “This Week for Dinner” and all, but seriously, people, meal planning is huge when it comes to wasting less food. If your grocery list is based on your meal plan, you are automatically ahead of the game. Buying food that you have a plan for is huge in the fight against waste. If you aren’t meal planning already, hop to it! It’s the best!

Are you ready to waste less food? So am I! Happy 2020!

Time to plan this week’s menu! I have a few carry-overs from last week’s menu, but I did actually cook, so don’t know why! I am traveling this week a few times, so the menu may have to be flexible. Wish me luck! 

MONDAY:
– Salmon (roasted in oven, using the rub from this recipe)
– Rice and salad

TUESDAY:
– Italian Sausage Hoagies

WEDNESDAY:
– Pollo Adobado Tacos (masa and meat from El Nopalito Market) on Fresh Masa Tortillas

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– English Muffin Pizzas

SATURDAY:
– Eat out

SUNDAY:
– Super Bowl Feast! Food mostly TBD but for sure I have to make Sweet Chex Mix or I will have a family mutiny on my hands

You know the drill! Share those weekly menus in the comments below!

Happy Sunday! (Or whatever day you happen to come share your menu!) Let’s just get down to business…

MONDAY:
– Shepherd’s Pie

TUESDAY:
– Corn Chowder
– Grilled Cheese

WEDNESDAY:
– Pollo Adobado Tacos (masa and meat from El Nopalito Market) on Fresh Masa Tortillas

THURSDAY:
– Italian Sausage Hoagies

FRIDAY:
– Eat out

SATURDAY:
– Leftovers

SUNDAY:
– Thai Basil Beef

Can’t wait to see what you all have planned for the week…please share in the comments below! As always, thank you…your menus are so helpful every week when I sit down to plan!

Hello everyone! Menu time!

MONDAY:
– Grammy’s Orange Chicken
– Rice and salad

TUESDAY:
– Baked Potato Bar

WEDNESDAY:
– Island Pork with Coconut Rice
– Salad

THURSDAY:
– Indian Butter Chicken
– Rice and Roasted Vegetables

FRIDAY:
– Leftovers

SATURDAY:
– Eat out night

SUNDAY:
– Grill Night with Salad

Okay, awesome people, share your menus in the comments below. Ready, set, GO!

Happy New Year! Might I suggest meal planning as an awesome resolution, including posting your meal plan here every week to keep yourself accountable? Sounds like a great idea to me! 😉 Here’s my menu for the week. Comment section below is begging for you to share yours, too!

MONDAY:
– Chicken Gumbo with Tasso and Andouille Sausage

TUESDAY:
– Blackened Fish (whatever’s on sale and looks good at the butcher counter)
– Long Grain & Wild Rice and Salad

WEDNESDAY:
– Cora’s Mexican Ground Turkey Tacos

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– Sausage, Peppers & Onions Sandwiches

SATURDAY:
– Eat out night

SUNDAY:
– Grill Night with Salad

Thank you for sharing your menus and have a great week!

Happy holidays! I hope you are all having as nice of a week with your favorite people as I am. Let’s get to this week’s menu, shall we?

MONDAY:
– Nigiri Night (we have bluefin and yellowtail a friend gave us, going to sear it up and serve with sushi rice…the kids love it!)

TUESDAY:
– New Year’s Eve Snacky Feast (Salad, chicken tenders, etc.)

WEDNESDAY:
– Chili and Cornbread

THURSDAY:
– Carne Asada Salad

FRIDAY:
– Leftovers

SATURDAY:
– Eat out night

SUNDAY:
– Grill night with salad

Please share your own meal plans in the comments below! And Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays! We are celebrating Christmas this week and I’m getting ready to cook a few of our traditional recipes. Can’t wait to see all your meal plans for the week, too!

MONDAY:
– Homemade Honey Goat Cheese Pizza

TUESDAY:
– Chinese Food Takeout (Maynard Family Christmas Eve Tradition)

WEDNESDAY:
– Swedish Meatballs with boiled red potatoes and lingonberry jam (Wallin Family Christmas Eve Tradition, but on Christmas Day!): I will be using GF panko bread crumbs for a small batch for myself…last year I used GF breadcrumbs and the meatballs were definitely not as good as the original made with real bread crumbs, so I’m going to try a different brand for this year’s GF batch. Hoping they will be better than last year, crossing fingers!
– Swedish Cardamom Bread (both in bun form and braided loaves…I’m also going to try to create a Gluten Free version of the buns, wish me luck!)

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– Leftovers

SATURDAY:
– Eat out night

SUNDAY:
– Grill night with salad

Please share your food plans for the week in the comments below! Can’t wait to see what everyone’s different holiday traditions are!

We have two birthdays this week in our family, which means getting up early to make pancakes and eating out a couple of nights. It’s going to be a fun week!

MONDAY:
– In N Out (birthday dinner request from one of the birthday kids)

TUESDAY:
– Restaurant of choice (TBD) for the other birthday kid!

WEDNESDAY:
– Grilled Salmon (using the rub recipe from Zesty Salmon Tacos)
– Salad and rice

THURSDAY:
– Chili

FRIDAY:
– Honey Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Pizza

SATURDAY:
– Leftovers

SUNDAY:
– Grill night
– Salad (Cruciferous Crunch from Trader Joe’s with goat cheese, dried cranberries and Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing)

Your turn! Share your menus below! Thank you!