Meal Planning: 3/13 thru 3/19

Brand new to Meal Planning?

Start reading about Meal Planning (scroll down to "A Day in My Life" on the right-hand side of this page) or just click here in order to familiarize yourself with the steps and to get started!

Have you seen "reduced for quick sale" on drastically reduced items before? It's normally reserved for things that are about to expire and/or things that the packaging is being redesigned, either way, the store needs to reduce their inventory quickly and that means huge savings for YOU! I took advantage of so many "reduced for quick sale" and "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" items this week not just because there were such a great deal but because my pantry needed restocking! I made sure to check all expiration dates and ended up with items good until 2012. I completely blew this week's budget; however, overall from recent weeks, I'm well under my average spending of $150.00 per week.

Safeway: $186.23

[Budget: $150.00]

Texas Toast croutons
Stubb's chicken marinade (on sale $2.99)
Marie's blue cheese vinaigrette dressing (on sale $1.49)
(2) Muir Glen organic tomato & basil pasta sauce (on sale $4.99 plus $1.00 coupon, limit 2)
(2) La Victoria verde salsa ("reduced for quick sale" Buy 1 Get 1 Free)
Pickles (on sale $3.99 plus $0.50 coupon)
Parmesan cheese (on sale $0.99)
Aged Balsamic vinegar
Crushed garlic
Organic fresh basil (Buy 1, Get 1 Free)
Organic fresh thyme (Buy 1, Get 1 Free)
Enchilada sauce ("reduced for quick sale" $0.99)
Black beans
Hoisin sauce ("reduced for quick sale" $1.99)
Fruit loops cereal (on sale $1.49)
(3) Wanchai Ferry orange chicken ("reduced for quick sale" $1.99)
Taco shells (on sale $1.99)
Organic minneolas (on sale $0.99/lb)
Red bell pepper
Onion
Organic tomatoes (on sale $1.99/lb)
Bananas
Fat-free milk
Mini drumsticks frozen ice cream treats (on sale $3.99)
Dreyer's no sugar added 100% fruit popsickles (on sale $2.99)
Dreyer's rocky road ice cream (on sale $2.49)
Jell-O sugar-free jell-o
Jell-O sugar-free pudding
Guacamole (on sale $1.99)
(6) Stoneyfield yogurt (on sale $0.79)
(2) Fage with fruit (on sale $0.99)
Fiber One cinnamon apple muffin mix (on sale $1.99)
Barilla mini penne (on sale $0.88)
(2) Jiffy cornbread mix
Brown sugar pop tarts ("reduced for quick sale" $1.49)
(2) Sargento sliced deli cheese (Buy 1, Get 1 Free)
(2) String cheese (Buy 1, Get 1 Free)
Tillamook block mild cheddar cheese (on sale $2.49)
Organic raisins
Seedless green grapes (on sale $1.49/lb)
1/2lb turkey breast
1/4lb ham
Babybel cheese (on sale $3.99)
(3) Organic strawberries (on sale $2.99)
Slider buns (on sale $1.99)
Organic baby carrots (on sale $1.49)
Jiffy peanut butter
Organic blueberries (on sale $2.99)
Bagel thins (on sale $2.49)

Weekly Meal Plan
Hawaiian turkey sliders - didn't actually have these last week, had breakfast for dinner
Shredded chicken tacos with chips & guacamole
Meatloaf with mashed potatoes
Turkey goulash with salad
Leftovers
Orange chicken over rice
Dinner with friends for birthday party

Check out these and all my recipes on the right-hand side of this page under From My Kitchen!