Weekly Menu Plan January 21-27

Welcome back to another weekly menu plan! This week isn’t quite as hectic as last week was so I’ve added in one of my favorites – Chicken Lasagna. It’s a little more labor intensive than most of the recipes I make on a weekly basis but it’s a fun change from the usual.

Chicken lasagna is a bit different in that it doesn’t have any tomatoes or tomato sauce in it. It’s a white lasagna with a Bechamel sauce instead. We add spinach to ours but you can try broccoli or skip the veggies entirely if you’d prefer. Just remember to boost the seasoning a bit to make up for it.

Now, let’s get on with the menu plan!

WEEKLY MENU PLAN

YOUR GUIDE TO THE MEALS IN MY MENU PLANS:

FF = FREEZER FRIENDLY

SC = SLOW COOKER

MF = MEAT FREE

PLO = PLANNED LEFTOVERS

MA – MAKE AHEAD

BBQ – GRILLED FOOD

I’m also planning extra simple meals on Saturdays and Sundays so that we truly can take a Sabbath and spend some time focusing on family and fun!

This Week’s Meals

You will find that most of these meals are under $10 based on prices (sale prices where possible) in London, Ontario, Canada. We are feeding a family of 4 – 3 adults and 1 toddler, all with healthy appetites. We generally have some leftovers from our meals and if these aren’t being used as part of another meal, they are used for lunches throughout the week.

Prices are based mostly on those at No Frills and FreshCo, the two grocery stores we frequent most often. This week Shopper’s Drug Mart has a few good deals and there are 3 of those very close to where we live and the grocery stores. Note: at this time of year, we are mostly using frozen vegetables as they tend to be better quality and have more nutrients than fresh.

Monday

Simple quiche (FF)- we make two and use the leftovers for breakfasts and lunches. One is ham and cheese and the other is broccoli, cauliflower, and cheese. Serve with a simple side salad.

Eggs – 8 for $1.25 ($1.88 a dozen weekend deal/$2.49 for the rest of the week at Shopper’s Drug Mart), 2 frozen pie crusts – $2.79 (box of 2 for $2.79 at No Frills), frozen vegetables – $0.50 ($1.97 a bag at No Frills), deli ham – $0.85 (two pack from No Frills for $5), cheese $1.32 (Black Diamond Cheese Bars at Food Basics for $3.97 each). Salad – $1 (dark leafy greens on sale at FreshCo for $2.49 a container), homemade salad dressing with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and spices on hand – $0.22 TOTAL $7.93

Tuesday

Lemon garlic roast chicken (PLO) with potatoes and carrots. Spinach (we’re trying to get more of our dark leafy greens!).

We’ll make two chickens to have leftovers for both the chicken lasagna and for leftovers. Walter loves to eat chicken for breakfasts and lunches and the rest of us will have chicken or chicken salad sandwiches.

Chicken – $6.00 (Whole chickens are $1.88 lb at FreshCo), potatoes – $0.97 (we still have potatoes left from last week but the 5 lb. bags are on sale at Metro for $2.99 and the naturally imperfect ones for $1.98 at Foodland), carrots – $0.87 (we still have carrots leftover but the naturally imperfect 5 lb bags are on sale at No Frills for $1.97), onions – $0.50 (we still have some leftover – if you need to buy some, Foodland has them for $1.59 for 3 lb). Spinach – $0.83 (142 g container at FreshCo for $2.49 or containers of frozen chopped spinach are available at most stores for $1.77 to $1.99) . Garlic, butter, lemon, other seasonings – $1.02 TOTAL $10.19

Wednesday

Meatloaf (FF), egg noodles, butternut squash, peas

I’m going to double the meatloaf recipe but take half of it and form meatballs from it. These go into the freezer for another meal.

Lean ground beef – $2.77 (1 lb package from NoFrills. If you use regular ground beef, it’s on for $1.99 lb at Sobeys), egg noodles – $0.99 (we have some on hand but Sobeys has them for $1.99 a 375 g pkg and Loblaws has Rooster Instant Egg Noodles for $0.98 for 400 g), peas – $0.88 (stocked up when they were $0.88 a can), butternut squash $1.44 TOTAL $6.08

Thursday

Chicken lasagna (FF), side salad, garlic toast

This makes a large 13 x 9 pan so there will be leftovers for lunches.

Leftover chicken from Monday $3.88, lasagna noodles $0.66 (stocked up during last week’s sale at $0.88 a box), chicken broth – $0.50 (I make this myself and keep it in the freezer but NoFrills also has it on for $1.47 for 900 ml), ricotta or cottage cheese – $2.49 (cottage cheese is the cheaper option -500 g for $2.49 at Shopper’s Drug Mart), spinach – $1.25, onion – $0.50, assorted seasonings, butter, flour, milk – $1.25 TOTAL – $10.53

Friday

Maple Mustard Pork tenderloin, roasted sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts.

Pork Tenderloin – $3 (on sale at FreshCo for $2.88 lb), sweet potatoes -$1.46 ($0.97 lb at No Frills), Brussels sprouts – $1.45 (on hand, frozen, $2.88 pkg), assorted seasonings, maple syrup, mustard – $0.96 TOTAL – $6.87

Saturday

Monte Cristo sandwiches (SS), raw veggies and dip

Bread – $1.49 (weekend only at Shopper’s, $1.99 a loaf), cheese – $1.50, deli ham – $0.94, eggs – $0.63, yogurt – $0.48 ($1.99 for 750 g at Food Basics), assorted seasoning and milk – $0.42, cucumber – $0.50 ($0.79 at FreshCo), carrots – $0.66. Total – $6.62

Sunday

30 Minute Sheet Pan Beef Fajitas, (SS) fruit cocktail

Beef strips – $4.88 ($4.88 lb at Sobeys), vegetables – $0.97, seasonings – $0.27, tortillas – $1.97 ($2.99 a package at Food Basics), fruit cocktail – $0.99 (on hand, stocked up when $0.99 a can, Sobeys and Foodland have it for $1.99 a can, Valu-Mart which is out of the way for us, has it for $1.50 a can). Total – $9.08