Happy Monday everyone! I thought I’d start putting my Monday Meal Plans into a weekly blog post where I could link to any recipes I’m using in case you want to cook any of the same meals. Why do we love Meal Planning?
Planning your meals in advance is a great way to make sure you’re putting together a good balance of meals, saves money and steers you away from eating the same old stuff week in, week out. The boys also really love having a menu on the wall as it makes them feel like they’re in a cafe – it certainly feels like I’m working in one a lot of the time!
Sam’s Cooking Challenge
My 12-year-old son Sam’s challenge for 2018 is to prepare and cook a family meal for us one night every week. His Granny gave him Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients Cookbook for Christmas, so we thought this would be the perfect simple approach to build on his kitchen skills. Both of my boys are pretty confident in the kitchen, and I feel passionate that they’ll be able to cook anything they set their mind to by the time they leave home in years to come.
Last week Sam made Easy Sausage Carbonara which was a roaring success. Arlo was his assistant chef, and they both produced a delicious creamy bowl of pasta. There was a bit of sibling rivalry about the fact that Sam was in charge, but we got there in the end! This week Sam’s chosen to make Crispy Garlicky Chicken, which I have to say looks incredibly yummy! Check out my instagram feed on Tuesday to see how he gets on!
Slimming World Update
These are the Slimming World recipes I’m doing this week which have come from the Fakeaway booklet with the latest issue of Slimming World Magazine:
- Apple & Pork Burgers
- Sweet Potato Burrito Bowls
- Beef Randang
I’m also doing Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta – a recipe that seems to be something of a Slimming World classic. I think there are lots of versions out there, but I’ve found this one from Pinch of Nom which I’m going to use as my guide, mixed in with a similar version that some of my Slimming World buddies use.
I’ve lost 1.5lbs this week, that’s nearly all of my Christmas weight gone. Hurray! It feels great to be back into the swing of normal term-time life with plenty of walking and the discipline of meal planning.
I’d like to drop 3lbs off next week so I’m going to work really hard to stay on plan. I’m not drinking at the moment which really helps, plus I can use my Syns for extra treats instead of saving them for wine like I was doing before Christmas. I’ve not committed to Dry January or anything drastic, but I just genuinely don’t feel like drinking right now. I think my body needs a break, plus I feel really productive and I’m sleeping a lot better.
Other recipes
The rest of this week’s menu includes some much-loved family classics which you can find the recipes for here:
Vegetarian Toad in the Hole
Veggie Bolognese
Supermarket Hack
I’ve been going to Morrison’s lately as we have a brilliant big store up the road in Tynemouth, and after trying it out budget wise for our weekly shop, I had a pleasant surprise at the tills when it wasn’t a great deal more than what I would spend at Aldi. Don’t get me wrong, I still adore Aldi, but the amount of energy it takes to fight your way into the car park and then the rapid-fire marathon that is the checkout experience, I felt I needed a week or two off!
My favourite supermarket shortcut as the moment are those packets of pre-prepared vegetables that they sell for making soups. They’re selling two packets for £1.50 in Morries, and that’s a whole lot of veg right there! Last week I used them to make the Vegan Chilli, and this week I’ve made a huge batch of Syn-Free Spicy Vegetable Soup to see us through the week. It saves a lot of time from all of that peeling and chopping and packs all those much needed speed vegetables into my Slimming World eating plan.
What about YOU?
What’s on the menu for your family this week? Have you made any delicious Slimming World Recipes? Let me know in the comments below, I LOVE hearing from you 🙂
Have a great week.
Katie xxx
I’m feeling so inspired about planning my weeks food now. I’ve really fallen out of the practice of planning and now need to start again! I will definitely want to be trying out the apple and pork burgers!
Oooh yes it’s burger night tonight and I cannot WAIT!
I love your blackboard menus and they always make me feel both incredibly hungry and incredibly disorganised. It’s great your two boys are confident in the kitchen. Cooking is such a useful life skill. And wow, not having to worry (too much) about one meal a week sounds fantastic.
Aw thanks Choclette, it’s the one area of my life that’s well organised…
I’ve just got back to blogging our Meal Plan, I love your supermarket hack too. Sometimes those packs of veg have yellow stickers on too which makes them even cheaper. Your Meal Plans are always so tasty, and healthy too.
Thanks Michelle – meal planning is just the glue that holds it all together isn’t it! You are the queen of making the most of your food budget… you inspire me so much!
I love reading your meal planning posts, always makes me feel so inspired. I’m eyeing up the sausage carbonara now…
Katie xoxo
Thanks Katie – that Carbonara was divine… super easy too!
Oh my goodness Katie you are doing so well. I really need to lose 9lb which I know doesn’t sound a lot but it’s just not happening for me!
I’m loving your meal plan – I need to do this. Great post thanks you for sharing I’m now feeling inspired 🙂
It’s so frustrating when the weight won’t shift… I’ve found writing down absolutely everything I eat, eating loads and loads of fruit and veg with my meals and planning ahead is absolutely essential. You can do this!