7-day Menu Plan (all meals!)

Hello my friends! It's the second week of the school holidays and my family is smack-bang in the middle of a Covid infection. No one is eating very much as we've all been feverish and lethargic, but I'm guessing that next week we will be hunnngry. 

I came down with Covid first and am starting to recover, so I'm wanting to get myself organised for next week with a Trim Healthy Mama meal plan that will nourish our recuperating bodies and help me trim away some of my holiday weight gain. (Last week we went on a wonderful holiday up in Northland, paid for by Paul's work, so there were lots of yummy meals out. These were very tasty, but not so great for my waistline.) 

I'm trying to stick to a strict grocery budget as I've got lots of savings goals for this year. However, we do have a freezer full of beef thanks to my sister's farm, so I've got lots of meat to work with. Also, my chickens are laying a few eggs and I've got tomatoes, chillies, kale, NZ spinach, basil, mandarins and feijoas coming out of the garden. Our neighbours gave us a bag of gold kiwifruit and my cousin and aunt gave me several chokos from their gardens, so I will try to incorporate all of that food into our plan.

Another factor I need to throw into the menu-planning mix is that Miss S is now wheat-free. Her orthodontist pointed out to us that she had silent reflux, which was causing one of her tonsils to become infected. Miss S spent a month dairy-free and that didn't clear up the infection, so then she spent a month wheat-free, and that did. 

In summary, my menu plan will need to factor in our grocery budget, Miss S's wheat-free needs as well as my THM needs and our family's recovery-from-Covid needs. Phew! 

Here's what I've come up with for next week's menu plan:

Sunday

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs or scrambled egg whites with toast for the kids and fried tomatoes and choko strips for Emma.

Snacks: Trimtastic Mostess Cupcakes made with zucchini (Trim Healthy Table p. 395)

Lunch: Sandwiches

Dinner: Roast chicken, kumara, new potatoes, green beans and peas

Monday

Breakfast: Cookie Bowl Oatmeal (original Trim Healthy Mama book p. 232)

Snacks: Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies (original Trim Healthy Mama book p. 387); fruit

Lunch: Rice paper wraps filled with grated cabbage, grated carrot, cucumber, coriander and leftover roast chicken

Dinner: Red pesto chicken risotto (cauliflower version for me) using leftover roast chicken

Tuesday

Breakfast: Chocolate chia seed pudding for Emma; Chocolate Friskee made with okra for kids (Trim Healthy Table p. 472)

Snacks: Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies (original Trim Healthy Mama book p. 387); fruit

Lunch: Tuna & basil pesto cole slaw (S) for Emma; Pork dumplings for Miss L and Master J; Rice noodles for Miss S

Dinner: Beef nachos

Wednesday

Breakfast: Chocolate chia seed pudding (S) for Emma; Feijoa smoothies and cereal for kids

Snacks: Fruit

Lunch: Tuna & basil pesto cole slaw (S) for Emma; Oven fries, salami slices and vege platter for kids

Dinner: Beef stir-fry (on konjac or cauliflower rice for Emma)

Thursday

Breakfast: Chocolate chia seed pudding (S) for Emma; Egg-in-a-hole for kids

Snacks: Fruit

Lunch: Tuna & basil pesto cole slaw (S) for Emma; Popcorn, salami & vege platter for kids

Dinner: Leftovers

Friday

Breakfast: Overnight Cinnamon Oats (E) for everyone

Snacks: Fruit

Lunch: Bust-a-Myth Banana Cake (Trim Healthy Cookbook p. 298) topped with Nutty Chocolate Spread; Kale chips

Dinner: Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Saturday

Breakfast: Scottish Breakfast Pancakes - I'm going to try and make a wheat-free version for Miss S

Snacks: Bust-a-Myth Banana Cake (Trim Healthy Cookbook p. 298) topped with Nutty Chocolate Spread

Lunch: Salami and vege sandwiches

Dinner: Steak and Cheese Pie made with leftover beef stew (I've bought some gluten-free pastry for Miss S)