Menu Planning Monday: My Menu Plan for the week of 1/26

menu plan monday

Can you say CRAZY BUSY WEEK?  That is the best way I can think of to describe this one!  We’ve got something EVERY night (and some nights we have more than one thing!)  We’re also expecting another cold front.  Depending on where you live, this may not seem like a very big deal, but here in Texas it was 75 yesterday and it’s expected to be in the 20s tomorrow!!  I’ve tried to combine a mixture of comfort foods and slow cooker or quick fix meals to hopefully make this all work.  I’m also on my second week of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge, so I needed “healthy” recipes that fit within those parameters!

Here are some of my 24 Day Challenge menus from my previous challenge:

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

Do you like what you see here?  Make sure you also check out my favorite recipes board on Pinterest–> Melissa’s Bargains favorite recipes on Pinterest

creamy-chicken-enchiladas

SUNDAY:  Creamy chicken enchiladas – My husband’s birthday is actually tonight, but we celebrated on Sunday because I was going to be home long enough to actually cook!  This is one of his favorite meals and it’s a family favorite, too!

MONDAY: Eat out – today is my husband’s actual birthday, so we’re going to try to fit eating out somewhere in between the other things we have going on today!

TUESDAY:  Slow Cooker Pepperoni and Chicken – This is a new recipe for me.  I’m looking forward to trying it out because it has ingredients I know my kids will like, it’s low calorie, and I can make it in the slow cooker!

creamy-tortilla-soup

WEDNESDAY:  Tortilla Soup – Yes, if you follow my menu planning posts, we actually had this one last week, too, but given those cold temperatures that I talked about earlier and the fact that this is a family favorite, it’s going on the menu again!

chicken-licking-pork-chops

THURSDAY:  Slow Cooker Chicken Lickin’ Good Pork Chops – This is ANOTHER family favorite and SO easy to make!  I love it when my slow cooker does all the hard work and we have a yummy meal waiting for us when we get home!

FRIDAY:  Slow Cooker Turkey Chili – I have promised myself that I would blog this multiple times now, and it seems like every night when we actually eat this, we’re in such a hurry and I never get around to it!  This is another favorite that’s super easy!

SATURDAY:  Italian Green Beans and Chicken Bake  – this is an easy, “go to” recipe for us!  One week, I decided to try Kraft Fat Free Zesty Italian dressing to lighten things up and it became a favorite!

What’s on YOUR menu plan this week?

Menu Planning Monday: Advocare 24 Day Challenge Recipes

menu plan monday

I’m hoping to pull myself together so to speak this week.  I attempted to start the Advocare 24 Day Challenge only to be hit with a number of setbacks.  I got sick.  My kids got sick.  Work was super stressful.  My husband went out of town.  The timing was off.  So, I’m attempted to be prepared this week with meal planning and I’m planning to actually start my Advocare 24 Day Challenge tomorrow!  Wish me luck!

Here are some of my 24 Day Challenge menus from my previous challenge:

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

Do you like what you see here?  Make sure you also check out my favorite recipes board on Pinterest–> Melissa’s Bargains favorite recipes on Pinterest

slow-cooker-hobo-stew

SUNDAY:  Slow Cooker Hobo Stew – This is a “twist” on traditional beef stew because you use meatballs!  My kids love it and it’s a great way to get them to eat some extra veggies, too!  Throw everything in the slow cooker and it does the work for you!

MONDAY:  Skinny Three Cheese Penne Pasta – This is a new recipe for us.  My kids love pasta and I’m always looking for “healthier” versions.  I can’t wait to try this out!

slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup

TUESDAY:  Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla soup – This is a family favorite and I LOVE it because it’s a “dump and go” recipe!

WEDNESDAY:  Slow Cooker Pepperoni and Chicken  – This is another new recipe.  I’m excited to try it because it’s a slow cooker recipe and because it has things that I know my kids love, so hopefully they will love this, too!  Plus, it’s only 211 calories!  WOW!

THURSDAY:  Braised pork chops I got this recipe from my mother in law awhile ago – I think she may have gotten it from a Martha Stewart magazine (or online)

melt-in-your-mouth-meatloaf

FRIDAY:  Slow Cooker Melt in Your Mouth Meatloaf – My son LOVES this recipe!  We never have leftovers when I make it!

SATURDAY:  Skinny Lemon Chicken – This recipe looks yummy!  I’m planning on serving it with roasted asparagus and green salad for me and a side of pasta for the rest of my family.

Advocare 24 Day Challenge Recipes

menu plan monday

This week’s Menu Planning Monday post is taking on a different twist.  It’s a New Year and one of my goals is to really focus on losing weight.  I did my first Advocare 24 Day Challenge in September.  I lost 12 pounds and I felt great!  Unfortunately, then the holidays started to kick in and life got busy and I didn’t stick with things the way that I had intended to.  I’m planning to get back on track starting NOW!  This week’s menu will feature Advocare 24 Day Challenge Recipes!

One of the challenges I always face when I decide to focus on losing weight is finding recipes that my family will eat as well.  I’m strapped for time anyway, and I definitely don’t have time to cook two different meals.  Most of these recipes are tried and true and have “worked” for our family.

Here are some of my 24 Day Challenge menus from my previous challenge:

Advocare 24 Day Challenge Week 1 menu

Advocare 24 Day Challenge Week 2 menu

Advocare 24 Day Challenge Week 3 menu

Advocare 24 Day Challenge Week 4 menu

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

Do you like what you see here?  Make sure you also check out my favorite recipes board on Pinterest–> Melissa’s Bargains favorite recipes on Pinterest

Advocare 24 Day Challenge Recipes

 

italian-green-bean-and-chicken-bake

MONDAY:  Italian Green Bean and Chicken Bake – My family absolutely loves this recipe and I do, too.  Plus, it’s super easy to throw together.  To lighten up the original recipe and make it “challenge friendly,” I use Kraft Fat Free Zesty Italian salad dressing (we make it like this all the time now, even when I’m not doing the challenge) and sweet potatoes.

TUESDAY:  Turkey meatballs – I have tried this recipe before a few times now and it’s easy to make and kid friendly, too (plus we actually like it!)  I will serve these with grilled asparagus and a side of whole wheat pasta.

WEDNESDAY:  Simple Turkey Chili – I make this in the slow cooker.  It’s easy to make and yummy, especially considering this cold weather we’re having right now!

THURSDAY:  Baked Orange Chicken – I love orange chicken and my family does, too.  I can’t wait to check out this “skinny” version.

sweet-potato-foil-pack-tacos

FRIDAY:  Sweet Potato Foil Packs – Long before I discovered Advocare, I came across this recipe on a friend’s site, and I was intrigued.  To be honest, my only experience with sweet potatoes had been at Thanksgiving and they weren’t exactly my favorite.  This recipe has become a favorite with my entire family and  I love that I can “sneak” spinach into meals and my kids actually enjoy it!  I will be skipping the cheese and sour cream, but the rest of my family can enjoy that part!

easy-slow-cooker-lemon-chicken

SATURDAY:  Easy Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken – The key word here is EASY!  This recipe is seriously yummy and so easy to make!  Only 3 ingredients and the slow cooker does the work!  We’ll have steamed zucchini and yellow squash with this one!

Menu Planning Monday: my menu plan for the week of 11/17

I’m trying to get back into the Menu Planning Routine with some family favorites!

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

Do you like what you see here?  Make sure you also check out my favorite recipes board on Pinterest:

Melissa’s Bargains favorite recipes on Pinterest

– See more at: http://www.melissasbargains.com/category/menu-planning-monday/#sthash.PGKbvtBf.dpuf

SUNDAY:  Lasagne – I use the recipe off the box of barilla noodles.

MONDAY:  Cashew Chicken I have had this on our “to try” list for awhile now.  It sounds SO yummy and I can’t wait to try it out!

TUESDAY:  Spirit Night – it’s Spirit Night at my kids’ school, so I get the night off from cooking!

easy-slow-cooker-taco-soup

WEDNESDAY:  Easy Slow Cooker Taco Soup – We have a busy night tonight!  I love that this will be ready to eat when we get home!

slow-cooker-chicken-dumplings

THURSDAY:  Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings ANOTHER busy night with basketball practice and an open house at the school.  This is easy to throw together and it will taste yummy when we get home!

FRIDAY:  Chili Dog Casserole – I know it sounds weird, but it’s easy to throw together and a HUGE hit with the kids.

fabulous-baked-chicken-chimichangas

SATURDAY:  Baked Chicken Chimichangas – My kids have been BEGGING for this!

Menu Planning Monday: My menu plan for the week of 10/13

This week I’m experimenting with cutting fat and calories from some of my family’s favorite recipes!

See my menu plans from previous weeks here–> Menu Planning Monday

You can also view hundreds of meal plans each week at Orgjunkie.com

Do you like what you see here?  Make sure you also check out my favorite recipes board on Pinterest:

Melissa’s Bargains favorite recipes on Pinterest

 

SUNDAY:  Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Prego Hearty Healthy Low Sugar sauce  – My family has been very patient with my experimenting and “dieting” but every now and then, they want some “comfort food”  I made spaghetti but used whole wheat pasta, ground turkey, and low sugar sauce and it was still a hit!

MONDAY:  Taco Soup – It’s Texas and I’m still hopeful that it will start to feel like Fall one of these days!

Ingredients:
1 1/2-2 lb. ground turkey
1 packet Ranch dressing seasoning mix
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can corn
1 can pinto beans
1 can Ranch style beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
1 can Rotel
1 can water

Brown the meat and then add combine the meat and other ingredients in a crock pot and to cook it on low all day. When we’re ready to eat, I will serve it with tortilla chips, sour cream, and cheese.

NOTES: With just one can of water, it will be very thick. Add more if you want it thinner. I drain the corn and pinto beans before adding them. I don’t drain the Ranch style beans because they are seasoned!

slow-cooker-steak-stroganoff

TUESDAY:  Slow Cooker Steak Stroganoff – This is a family favorite and it’s super easy to throw together!

melt-in-your-mouth-meatloaf

WEDNESDAY:  Melt in Your Mouth Meatloaf – My kids love this!

italian-green-bean-and-chicken-bake

THURSDAY:  Italian Green Beans and Chicken Bake  – I love this recipe because it’s SO easy to throw together!  I skip the butter and use fat free Zesty Italian Dressing

FRIDAY: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

stacked-green-chicken-enchiladas

SATURDAY:  Stacked Chicken Enchiladas