Family Meal Planing 3-28-11

Click here to see previous week's Family Meal Planning! 

We are skipping our grocery budget this week and eating what we have in the house! In January of this year when I made this plan of $150 per week for my grocery shopping I did NOT take into consideration 5 weeks in a month, OPPS!!! Kinda missed the boat on that one, funny actually, but I still can't believe I didn't think about that. Well, since there is only a few of those months per year I am not gonna change my game plan. On the 5th week of the month we will just do a freezer and/or pantry clean out and work with what we have.

With this being the first week of my daughter eating GLUTEN-FREE I did pop into my favorite store; Sprouts; as they are so friendly with gluten-free labeling and spent just $52 bucks (yes, this is not going to be easy or cheap). I am excited though about getting back into my kitchen, it seems like forever since I really made some NEW recipes and did a little experimenting. So, I am excited about that.

Sorry, sun in my eyes.... But this is ME!
Apparently OVERWEIGHT!
Now, I would love to loose 10 lbs
but NEVER in a million years would I think this is
OVERWEIGHT!

But, I would first like to vent a little to my readers, in hopes to educate all of you about this sick world we have when it comes to weight. My husband and I are attending Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey, which we absolutely love. It has totally got us on track by setting up a budget and a game plan for becoming debt-free and paying off our house way quicker then I ever dreamed possible. Along the way there are many other things this class takes you through like setting up Life Insurance and maximizing Retirement and things of that nature. This brought us to setting up our Term-Life Insurance policy and I just found out that my premiums are DOUBLE, yes DOUBLE because of my weight. Okay, so I'd like to show you all a picture of me. Really, OVERWEIGHT? Are you kidding me? I would love to loose 10 lbs, to look better in a bathing suit. But, never in a million years would I of thought this as OVERWEIGHT. I am so appalled and so mad, I can't even think straight. (Okay, that's all thanks for letting me vent, I guess I am going on a diet to loose 20 lbs so I can save $8,000 dollars on my Life Insurance policy!)

Now, let's move onto things that really matter! Thanks for all the prayers for my daughter who had her Colonoscopy and Upper Endoscopy last Friday to check for celiac (it takes 4 weeks for results, so I know nothing yet). WOW that is the hardest thing EVER! To watch your child be put under and go through a simple procedure, I can't imagine those who have far worse events with their children. This was the hardest thing I have ever had to do with my own kids. 

Our GLUTEN-FREE meal planning is under way. I am just testing the waters here but I am slowing moving out all the Gluten-FULL products from my house and movin' in GLUTEN-FREE. I think this is how I am going to eventually cook (although I can't be sure, but that's my thoughts now). I know my son will still want his favorites every now and again, but there is no reason why I can't use gluten-free flour, gluten-free pasta and bread crumbs and things like that. I am sure the next few months will be filled with lots of trial and errors and much learning along the way. I just know that I am ready to begin this journey.

Our Family Meal Plan for this week. I'd love to hear if you have any short cuts, tricks or tips.

Check back and we will link the actual recipe!

(not all recipes will become reality so if there is not a link, we haven't made it yet)

G'ma Simple Spaghetti (we used Corn Pasta, GLUTEN-FREE)
Frog Smoothie (GLUTEN-FREE) & frozen Muffin
Logan County Burgers (on a bed of lettuce, no bun)
Sausage & Eggs
Chicken Crescent Rolls (just for my son)
Apple Sausage Pasta (NEW recipe, GLUTEN-FREE)
Carrot Raisin Breakfast Rice (NEW recipe, GLUTEN-FREE)

click for the recipe: Frog Smoothie

Also don't forget our weekly linky party

this week is "Surprise/Secret Ingredient"
(What can you hide in your food?)

"THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS"

I LOVE Linky Parties, what a great way to mix and mingle with lots of bloggers! Today, I am sharing my Menu Planning & My BUDGET Grocery Shopping with: I'm and Organizing Junkie: Meal Plan Monday, GCC Shopping Round Up, and the recipe today will be shared with: It's a Blog Party Delicious Dishes,  Get Your Craft On, Made from Scratch Tuesday, Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, 33 Shades of Green Tasty Tuesday, Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Titus 2sday Linkup, Tuesday Night Supper Club, Tuesdays at the Table, A Little Birdie Told Me, Tip Junkie's Tip Me Tuesday,  Delectable Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, and Hearth n' Soul Blog Hop