The nickname for my husband is an inside joke (my husband actually does resemble Don Draper in many ways, except more grey hair) because in many ways I have become a typical 1950's house wife. Even my mother, who adores me, teases me about my surprising domesticity. Mind you, I have a college degree, I was an independent woman before marrying my husband. I'm an Iraqi War Army veteran. Geeeezzzzzz....... here I am stuck at home with a bunch of kids. Oh, did I mention I run a small in-home childcare to supplement my income? Well, I do. It is great. I hand pick the kids/families and it has worked out well. It isn't lucrative, but it does help the wallet.
So, here I am, a former chef (that is what I was before my second child was born, then I stayed home), a former soldier, playing house.
Turns out my family needs to eat. Well, not only eat, but they expect 3 meals and 2 delicious snacks daily. Then the chef in me says "it needs to a be interesting variety and flavorful", Don Draper and the kids say, "We like junk food." The house wife in me says "make it healthy" and the reality of the situation is that we need to make our family's budget work and we have the ability to save money in the grocery department, because I 1. have the time 2. have the ability to cook from scratch.
There are some blogs I follow. One of my favorite is www.100daysofrealfood.com I am not as dedicated to whole and organic foods as the blog authors, but I try my best.
So, this week I am attempting to keep my budget under $80 for the week.
Truth is I went over budget last week, so I have a freezer well stocked with cooked, shredded and portioned chicken, pork chops and a few pork roasts. Oh, and apple pie and apple crisps.
I have a great schedule. My childcare baby goes home by 1 most Fridays, so I take OP (3) with me shopping. My mom, who lives in the same town as I do, picks up JP (7) for a little one on one with him. WIN all around!
So, here is my initial plan for the week. (Sunday through Saturday)
Sunday
breakfast
lunch
dinner - cheeseburgers, seasoned fries, raw veggies
Monday
breakfast
brunch with friends (Yay!) baked eggs with ham and parmesan cheese, mimosas,
lunch
dinner crockpot butter chicken http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/easy-healthier-crockpot-butter-chicken/ , rice, cauliflower, and homemade naan. (I have chicken, coconut milk, rice, seasonings, and cauliflower in the freezer)
Tuesday
breakfast
lunch
dinner pork chops and pierogi with crinkle cut carrots (all items I have in my freezer)
Wednesday
breakfast
lunch
dinner (Don Draper isn't home) breakfast for dinner - pancakes or eggs and sausage with pineapple chunks
Thursday
breakfast
lunch
dinner chicken tostada with rice and refried beans http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/06/25/recipe-chicken-and-cheese-tostadas/, http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/08/29/recipe-easy-slow-cooker-refried-beans/
Friday
breakfast
lunch - Leftovers !!!!
dinner - Don Draper is at a wedding and JP and I are at a wedding rehearsal dinner. OP will be with my parents
Saturday
breakfast
Lunch and dinner - we'll be at a wedding! We'll eat leftovers if we are hungry!
breakfast is usually fruit and peanut butter toast or cereal with milk.
mid morning snack is a fruit and a cookie or crackers
lunch at home is leftovers, lunch for Don Draper and JP is pb&j (all natural pb, all fruit strawberry jam and whole grain white... I make homemade "uncrustables", a fruit, a veg, a salty treat and a sweet treat.
afternoon snack is fruit or veg and crackers or pretzels.
The boys drink milk at breakfast and dinner and water all the other time.
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