Menu Plan

Here is our 6 week meal plan as promised.

But first, I do my main shopping generally every other Friday at WalMart on Adam's payday. The food I purchase is for the following 2 week period, starting Monday. So the plan is that on the Thursday before payday I need to look at the upcoming menu and make any adjustments that are needed. Like, Memorial Day showed Taco Ring. I should adjust that for a cook out. If we're going to be gone on vacation or a temple trip, I need to adjust the menu and then the shopping list for those dates.

And without further ado...

Week One
Monday - Tacos
Tuesday - Spaghetti, Salad, Pears
Wednesday - Cream Cheese Chicken and Rice
Thursday - Waffles
Friday - Canadian Bacon/Pineapple Pizza
Saturday - Crock Pot Pork Chops, honey dill carrots, applesauce

Week Two
Monday - chicken enchiladas, spanish rice, corn
Tuesday - Hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, fruit cocktail
Wednesday - Lasagna, salad
Thursday - Tator tot casserole, green beans, applesauce
Friday - Biscuits and sausage gravy
Saturday - "Sunday Roast"

Week Three
Monday - Taco Ring
Tuesday - Spaghetti, salad
Wednesday - Haystacks
Thursday - French Toast, Fruit Cocktail
Friday - Canadian Bacon/Pineapple Pizza
Saturday - Swiss setak, green beans

Week Four
Monday - Smoked sausage, glazed carrots, potato pearls
Tuesday - Shepherd's pie
Wednesday - fish, rice, salad
Thursday - Anniversary Chicken, salad
Friday - pancakes
Saturday - Stew

Week Five
Monday - Pan fried pork chops, applesauce, rice
Tuesday - spaghetti, salad
Wednesday - tacos
Thursday - ROTATION MENU
Friday - Canadian Bacon/Pineapple Pizza
Saturday - Hamburgers, tator tots

Week Six
Monday - Turkey loaf, potato pearls, green beans
Tuesday - Cashew chicken, rice
Wednesday - Stuffed shells, salad / or fettuccini
Thursday - Pulled BBQ, green beans, chips
Friday - cheddar broccoli potato soup
Saturday - NEW RECIPE

ROTATION MENU (rotate through these recipes)
Asian Ribs
Chili
Bulkokee
Fajitas
Stir fry
Chicken Azteca

3 month food supply preparation

A little bit ago, the First Presidency changed the directives on food storage. First step is to build a 3 month food supply that is part of your normal, daily diet. Next, store drinking water. Third, establish a financial reserve. And fourth, "build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, rice, and beans." For more information, see ProvidentLiving.org
We did a lot of work under the "old" food storage program, which focused more on the long term storage. So now, we (mostly me actually) have been focusing on the 3 month food supply. I thought I would share what we did and how it turned out. First, I sat down and made a dinner menu plan for 6 weeks (I am focused on dinner because the leftovers can be lunch and breakfast is generally cereal which we have a lot of right now). I then made a list of the ingredients from the recipes for Weeks 1 and 2, then 3 and 4, and finally 5 and 6. I added like ingredients together and came up with a minimum needs list for each 2 week period (we are paid every 2 weeks so that's how I shop for groceries).
Then I compiled all 3 lists twice (twice because 2 times 6 week makes 3 months basically). I then figured out what I needed to purchase, which is often different from what the sum was because of packaging verses recipe requirements. This is now my 3 month food storage checklist. I did the same thing for each 2 week period to have a shopping list for each pay period while I'm building my supply. Eventually, I'll be doing my "shopping" from the food storage and then using my 3 month supply shopping list to figure out what I need to buy each pay period, except fresh produce. I don't include produce because most won't last 3 months before going bad (aren't I smart?).
Tomorrow, I hope to post my actual 3 month list for you to get an idea of quantities for your family. I'll also post my menu plans.