help me meal plan

[milkmommy]

SO thanks to a human resource error were $800 short this paycheck which means we are scrapping the barrel for this paycheck round. I have groceries they have to last so I thought I'd ask here for meal ideas maybe something I'm not thinking of will be suggested.

Breakfast we have

Oatmeal, eggs, one big box of 3/4 full toaster waffles (and a small GF pack for dd2) one one large box of Cereal for DH to figure out.



Lunch- we have bread and sandwich stuff, possible leftovers ,soups and some hot dogs. fruit/veggies (we can figure out lunches)

"snacks/desserts or extra treats" stove top popcorn, I have a pack of fruit gummies I can dole out for my GF daughter. We have apples bananas and a few other fresh produce which we allow somewhat free range. (We say how much per day for cost reasons but they can choose when and which to have) and a tin of cookies to dole out over the time.



my biggest help will be with dinners

I have to work with assume each package will make a meal.. leftovers are a bonus.



Meat

2 packs ground beef

1 pack ground turkey

2 packs pork "carnitas" meat

2 packs chicken thighs (I could divide these to make 4 meals I think)

1 large can salmon
1 package frozen cheese ravioli (not Margaret safe)



pantry staples

dry beans (red and pinto maybe black)

rice

russet and sweet potatoes

2 packs GF pasta

quinoa

We have common pantry staples like flour/ spices/oil etc..


"prepackaged connivence"

corn bread mix

1 box Mac N cheese (not GF)

veggie and chicken broth

GF bread crumbs

jared pasta sauce


dairy

shreadded cheddar and motzrella cheese (dd2 is dairy free)

sliced cheese (kraft)

butter (my DF kid can have butter)

milk

almond milk


Veggies/produce

frozen peas corn and green beans

onions celery carrots garlic

tomatoes (some canned as well)

broccoli

1 mixed greens salad

1 ceaser salad "kit"


I'll have money to like top of milk or a bit of produce but likely that will be it.
I do have some thing to make Margaret an alternative safe meal if something isn't safe for her. The things we have that aren't she doesn't care for either way.



SO help me create 14 dinner ideas with the above.

We always do meatless/fish fridays and typically at least 1-2 other non meal meals so feel free to suggest those. Monday and Thursday evening are kind of on the run days so meals I can like stick in the slow cooker are ideal (we might eat at different times).

[charla]

Not in any particular order, except you would want to use perishables first:

Meal 1 Chicken thighs, rice, veggies, broth made into a chicken and rice soup, salad kit

Meal 2 Ground beef, beans, garlic, onion, canned tomatoes for chili with cornbread

Meal 3 Leftover chicken and rice soup or chili

Meal 4 Turkey, sweet potato hash with onion and garlic, broccoli

Meal 5 Salmon patties with onion, garlic, bread crumbs, mac n cheese

Meal 6 Burger patties topped with tomatoes and onion, oven fries with russet potatoes, green beans

Meal 7 Mexican style pork quinoa bowls maybe with some cooked dried beans or homemade salsa (from canned tomatoes) or cheese

Meal 8 Rice and beans, homemade tortillas from the pantry supplies, cheese for those who can have it

Meal 9 GF pasta with sauce, salad kit

Meal 10 Chicken thighs, potatoes, corn

Meal 11 Chicken thighs, rice and bean soup

Meal 12 Chicken thighs, and veggie scraps cooked to make more broth, shred chicken, add whatever veg is left, make dumplings or pot pie with pantry supplies

Meal 13 & 14 Surely there will be some leftovers, even if everyone has to have a different meal

[charla]

How is the meal planning going? I'm so sorry for error in the paycheck. That really stinks.

[milkmommy]

Originally Posted by charla

How is the meal planning going? I'm so sorry for error in the paycheck. That really stinks.

pretty well. Our finances turning out to be not as bas.. DH for got about a medical reimbursement and we got $100 from my parents (birthday gift) SO that just allowed us to cover what we needed.

Friday I ended up not really having to do dinner because DH had something at school and they fed him. Cecilia had a teen night thing and they had food which my and Margaret were able to get some of when we dropped her off. So yea

Did chicken and rice last night mega simple but is one of few meals I can put together were no one complains so win win.

We are doing Ravioli and Ceaser salad tonight (it was going to be Fridays meal) because I don't want to wait too log to use the salad.

We would normally do something crock pot for Tomorrow but DH is off for MLK so I might change things up a bit. Were also in the middle of getting our kitchen put back together though so I'll have to see at what stage that is at...

Overall though were doing fine.

[2sunshines]

Just seeing this now. Glad that it's working out so far!

For us, when I need to stretch meat I usually make it in to some sort of saucy stir fry with rice. Rice can make even a few pieces of meat satisfy the entire family.