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November 30, 2011

Meal-Planning Mayhem

Well, “mayhem” is probably too strong a word…and, in the spirit of full disclosure, I’m no expert meal-planner, by any stretch.

Still, over the past couple of weeks it’s become clear that I need to adjust my calculations in making my weekly grocery list.

I usually sit down at some point and make a list of what I’ll need to buy, keeping in mind the staples we use every week, and meals I plan to make.

On average, I probably make three meals a week. There are some meals that we consume in one sitting, but there are plenty of meals – soups, stews, roasts, and casseroles – that I make in larger portions, from which we can eat leftovers a time or two.

It’s not that my family has started to balk at leftovers [I shudder at that horrific thought!]…it’s that my girls are eating like HORSES these days!

Following our Thanksgiving meal, for example, I made a chicken pot pie (or hen pot pie, if you wanna get all technical). Once upon a time, Hubby and I could have made close to three meals from that. Factoring in the girls, I banked on it for two meals.

I will admit I didn’t have a full spring in my step when they asked for seconds…and then thirds!

C’mon girls…don’t you know Mama’s got a meal plan going here?


I sent what was left of the pie to work with Hubby today, and I’ll be heading to the grocery store a day earlier than planned.

While I’m thankful that the girls eat well – and that they like Mama’s cooking – if this is what they’re consuming just shy of three years old…I can’t begin to imagine my grocery bill when they’re twelve!

Yes, it’s time to adjust the calculations on my spreadsheet. (I kid!...kinda…)

10 comments:

Carrie said...

That's funny because I had the same problem this week thinking I could make spaghetti last two days, but on the second day the girls kept asking for more and hubby wasn't yet home so I kept giving them little bits at a time thinking I could save him a decent portion. He ended up being a bit hungry that night. :)

Just Another Mom of Twins said...

LOL! And it's only going to get worse as they get older...my son eats more than I do sometimes...healthy stuff but STILL!! Laugh out loud! I know what my parents meant when they'd tell me that I was going to eat them out of house and home...
:)

Just Another Mom of Twins said...

LOL! And it's only going to get worse as they get older...my son eats more than I do sometimes...healthy stuff but STILL!! Laugh out loud! I know what my parents meant when they'd tell me that I was going to eat them out of house and home...
:)

yettie said...

Girl, if you have a spreadsheet please share. My girls have started eating like horses so now I'm in a state of near panic trying to plan family meals and grocery lists.

It's amazing how much food can go into those little tummies though, isn't it?

Mandy said...

I wish, only sorta-kinda, that we had this problem! Picky eating over here has my shelfs lacking variety and color. I've never been able to plan my meals ahead. Every time I try Thursday will come and chicken won't sound too appetizing. As a result I always have about 5 meals on hand, a stocked panty, and I shop twice a week. Plus I feel better only spending $40-$50 a trip. Sadly that used to be our weekly shopping budget for a family of two, with lots of junk food included!

Renae said...

We have days like that here, too. But they're not consistent- sometimes they eat a ton, sometimes hardly anything at all. But we definitely don't have near the amount of leftover food that we used to have. Which means I have to actually plan ahead to make sure I'll have something to eat for lunch these days. :o)

Unknown said...

I was just talking about this same issue with my coworker lately! We rarely have leftovers lately - not that the kids usually ask for 2nds but just their initial portions are getting bigger (plus we've been eating more health-consciously lately so not cooking as much to begin with).

Adam is our odd duck though - he pretty much refuses to eat dinner every. single. night. Unless its hot dogs, chicken nuggets or pizza. He is one seriously picky boy lately!! They say he eats like a horse at daycare though...so I think he stocks up there so he can skip dinner at home!

Johanna at The Baker Twins said...

Would it help to tell you that it might be just a phase? At least for a while...
Mine were the same way - they ate like grown men until they were almost 3 and a half. Now they eat much more proportionally to their size! :) It takes a lot of food to grow lots of inches in just a few months!

Marcia (123 blog) said...

Johanna's comment gives me hope - I also thought these kids are eating more than we do sometimes.

And I do the same - I used to cook 400g of whatever, now I'm cooking 500g and I see I'll have to move to 600g soon :)

Anonymous said...

hahaha. i wonder when my kids will eat what i cook. m will try most things, but t NEVER. that kid has totally regressed and only wants to eat things that are a drinkable consistency. seriously. like those baby foods in a pouch? or applesauce? or milk? yeah. that's about it. he still digs shredded cheese, but on top of the chicken chili i served last night? no way! wouldn't touch the stuff. maybe it's teeth?

sounds like your girls have always been good eaters? t used to be, but i always have a hard time. there's a fine line for me: eat what i serve or be hungry v. eat whatever you want because you can't survive on air. ack!