Week 1 Meals

On the menu:

Breakfast - oatmeal with sweet potatoes or a tbsp of preserves, cereal with almond milk

Lunch - avocado sandwich, chicken sandwich, leftovers, chicken salad

Dinner - Baked chicken with vegetables, peppers and onion pasta, vegetable lo-mein, dirty rice, lentil soup

Snacks and dessert - apples with nut butter, fruit, jello with whipped topping

Grocery Items on Hand

lentils

canned tomatoes

onion

pasta

oatmeal

sweet potatoes

rice

bread

dressing

jell-o

cereal

almond milk

canned vegetables

Items to Buy

1 avocado

tomatoes

cabbage

celery

bell peppers

carrots

lettuce

1 box chicken broth/stock

1 cucumber

1 whole chicken or package of thighs, depending on price/value

1 pkg mild Italian sausage (sale at Publix)

1 container of chicken livers

1 bag potatoes

whipped topping

Estimated Cost

34.00

Actual Cost

Remaining Budget

NOTES:

I'm trying to incorporate as many of the pantry items I have on hand as possible, so I made this menu based on what was on sale and what was in my pantry and fridge. The rice I will always have on hand as I stockpile whenever Publix has their BOGO on Uncle Ben's converted rice. I know that I could always go into an Asian market and get some bulk rice very cheaply, but I'm diabetic, and the converted rice raises my glucose the least out of all the varieties. It's harder to live in a budgeted amount when having to incorporate more fiber and vegetables in your diet, but it's do-able, especially with seasonal selections.