Monthly Meal Plan for February

Cooking ahead, shopping the sales, and meal planning all work together for easier meals and calmer evenings.

Going into February the boys and I are doing a big freezer cooking day this week. I figure this is a great way to teach the older ones some kitchen skills, fill the freezer, and do our meal planning — all in one fell swoop.

Originally, I was going to let them choose all the meals individually. But, since The Cookbook (coming September 2012) contains several freezer cooking plans, it was just easier to let them choose that way. We get a range of meal options, plus the grocery list and freezer cooking plan are already done for me. Super plus! (Cookbook recipes are italicized. Wait for it….)

I probably don’t need to tell you that they chose the most carnivorous of the “Everything” plans, so I’m supplementing some of the meals with meatless nights to have pasta or beans and rice. But, as “luck” would have it, all the meats on that plan are on sale this week at my local stores. Score one for the Mama!

By cooking ahead, shopping the sales, and planning our meals in advance, we’re more likely to eat more healthfully as well as more economically than if I flew by the seat of my pants. As I plugged meals into the calendar, I also kept in mind Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras so that I could plan more festive meals for those days.

Now, of course, we need to do the shopping and the cooking first, of course, but this is the plan at the moment.

Here’s the plan for the rest of January:

29. Birthday Menus chosen by the Birthday Boy Man

30. Chicken Stir Fry, Rice

31. Chili in the Crockpot, Cornbread

Here’s the meal plan for the month:

1. Grilled Med Steak, Couscous, Pita Bread
2. Pasta Bar, Salad or Veg, Focaccia
3. Pizza Night, ChiChi’s Salad
4. Spicy Shrimp and Tomatoes, Rice, Veg
5. Tortas, Veggie Dippers
6. Chicken Teriyaki Skewers, Quinoa Salad
7. Burrito and Quesadilla Bar
8. Caribbean Pork Tenderloin, Rice, Veg
9. date night – Pizza for the kids
10. Pasta Bar, Focaccia
11. Steak with Gorgonzola Herb Butter, Baked Potatoes, Veg
12. Tortilla Soup with Shrimp, Cornbread
13. Herb-Crusted Pork Roast, Rice, Veg
14. Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Broccoli, No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake (Valentine’s Day!)
15. Soup Night, Good Bread
16. Date Night – quesadillas, veggies and fruit
17. Pizza Night, ChiChi’s Salad
18. Beans and Rice, Chips, Salsa
19. Tortas, Bean and Rice Salad
20. Herb Butter Chicken Tenders, Quinoa Pilaf, Veg
21. Jambalaya Pasta with Sausage and Chicken, Beignets (Mardi Gras!)
22. Soup Night, Good Bread
23. date night – Pasta Night
24. Pizza Night, Veggie Dippers
25. Teriyaki Chicken Skewers, Rice, Stir-fry
26. Seasoned Steak with Herb Butter, Roast Potatoes, Salad
27. Beans and Rice, Quesadillas
28. Soy Ginger Pork Tenderloin, Rice, Veg
29. Soup Night, Good Bread, Monster Ice Cream Sundae (Leap Day!)