Last week was incredibly busy catching up at home after our week away. Lots of cooking, cleaning, decluttering, walks and sorting out childcare for my return to work in 7 weeks. I hope to have more time to write a couple of blog posts this week.
Last week we kept our groceries to $80 for the week using what we had at home first. This week I want to keep our spend low again. I'm also trying to participate in the Plastic Free July Challenge. I know I won't be able to go completely plastic free but I will aim to minimise our single use plastic as much as possible. I am allowing myself to use things we already have at home that are in plastic packaging because it would be counter-productive to buy more. The end of the month will be harder as we will have a smaller stockpile and will have to get creative with plastic-free alternatives. I think my shopping list reflects the challenge.
I've done a check of the pantry and freezer and come up with the following menu plan.
Meat free Monday - Fried rice
Tuesday - Lasagne and salad. I was going to do bolognaise but we don't have much pasta and it comes in plastic. We do have lasagne sheets left and they are in cardboard so this choice will reduce our grocery bill and our plastic use.
Wednesday - Chicken breast and veges
Thursday - Quiche and salad / veges
Friday - My birthday - Thai takeaway
Saturday - I'm out for dinner. Hubby and the boys can find something in the freezer
Sunday - Nachos, we didn't end up having this last week because we were at a family bbq for lunch and didn't need much dinner. We just cooked for the kids.
Breakfasts will be porridge, weetbix, toast or french toast
Lunches will be chicken and veg meatballs, soup (from freezer), omelettes, leftovers and smoothies
Snacks will be fruit, vege sticks, pikelets
Shopping list: Eggs, tissues, olive oil spray, jam, tinned pears, milk, tomatoes, watermelon, bananas, zucchini and carrots.
I've had to leave icing sugar, mixed herbs and pasta off the shopping list due to the plastic packaging. We can make do without all of it.
