Meal Planning 2016

If you remember I had set up a goal of being better at meal planning in 2016 and I am not going to say I call it a success yet but I am a heck of a lot closer than I have been in the past.

I really want to be better at meal planning for several reason. 

1. I think life is a lot less stressful when I am not trying to figure things out last moment.  Like worrying if I have the correct ingredients and trying to come up with a menu.
2. I end up not having the correct ingredients frequently and this results in a LOT of additional trips the grocery store where I buy stuff we may not need.
3. I think when I plan a meal in advance that is usually a bit more put together and even healthier.

I think that right now I am scoring about 50% for meal planning on a weekly basis and a few of these meals have been real flops.... not too good for my self esteem.

Anyway this week I am feeling on a roll.  Luke and I sat down on Sunday morning and I through out some ideas and he nixed a few of them but in the end we agreed on a menu for the week - Thank you Pinterest for the assist.

We did all of the grocery shopping (together as a family), 95% of it at Trader Joe's, on Sunday morning.  That worked out really well and if we did everything right we shouldn't need to go back for any groceries this week.

I can say that I already felt less stressed than normal on Sunday (before the week) even began.  I don't remember how my parents did meal planning when I was young but I don't remember them ever being as unorganized as I feel or maybe I just never paid close attention.  I do remember the mystery vegetables.  When I was young my parents worked part time for Green Giant.  Because of their status we got to buy vegetables at the green giant company store.  These were seconds of a sort and for some reason they never bothered to label any of them.  We would buy a flat (I think it was 12 cans) of a specific vegetable but once we got home and they were in the cupboard they always got mixed up and were a mystery to what you were going to eat.  That is a funny memory but it is probably what I remember most about my parents cooking- at least until I got old enough to help.

We have now made it 2 nights into the week and the meal plan has worked so far- and we have plenty of left overs.... 

       Monday-  Minestrone Soup  This turned out so well.  The
                   recipe was huge so we have lots of leftovers. 
                   I served it with naan and that was perfect.
                   Did I mention this was a crock pot meal!
       Tuesday- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos  This recipe we 
                   made tonight and it was awesome. I am going to make
                   it again.  It was a bit spicier than I expected but that
                   made it even better.
       Wednesday-  Left over day,  We already have plenty so that
                  works.
       Thursday-  Baked potato bar night
       Friday-  Mexican Night

So that is our schedule for this week.  What should I be adding.... I love suggestions... just as long as they are vegetarian or can be converted to vegetarian.....

All ready to add to the crock pot.