Meal Plan Monday

Meal Plan Mondays . . . A million years ago I used to participate in a group of blogs that posted meal plans and/or menu plans on Mondays. Ever since, I've planned my menus and shopped on Sundays and prepped some of my meals then too. Since returning to "outside" work a decade or so ago, this habit has saved me. When we return to school each fall, you can see the shift in the menu.

 

My lunches and breakfasts are either the same each day or built on the same day (because I kind of like that and it saves SO much time and effort). As well, our evening meals are quick or pre-prepped most nights. Tonight is Mac and Cheese. A while back, I switched to my version of a WW recipe because it's faster, simpler and much better for us and no one knows the difference. I encourage you to try is and see if you like it. SO much healthier and easier than the version I made for years, without heating up the oven!

 

Anyway, without further ado, here's my plan for this week, week 4 of our monthly rotation(ish). I've already shopped it and remembered how much my kids love mac and cheese.

Menu Plan Monday

Welcome to another week of healthy eating! Okay, well there may a few meals in here that require temperance, but nothing that will require too much self-control. In some cases, I have included the Weight Watchers Points Plus values in parenthesis. 

Monday:

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner:  Black beans with vegetables and ricotta, over rice and baby spinach

Tuesday:

Lunch - Lemony hummus goat cheese pitas, Red  cabbage slaw, apple slices

Dinner - Cheese grits, blindfolded eggs, fresh fruit.

Wednesday:

Lunch - 

Dinner - Take-out Pizza, salad

Thursday:

Lunch - Filet Mingon, Six Color Rice (based on this recipe)i, mandarin oranges

Dinner - Pasta Thursday - spaghetti with meat sauce, broccoli, fruit for dessert

Friday:

Lunch:  School lunch trays today!

Dinner: Shrimp salad, toast and Mamaw's homemade jam

Saturday

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Weight Watchers Homemade Mac-n-Cheese (6), sliced tomato salad

Sunday:

Lunch: Snack plate

Dinner: Slow Cooker Brisket, (9)  mashed potatoes, green beans

Linking up to OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday; check out all the great menus!  The "real food" low-fat menus are hard to come by but I get tons of inspiration from what other people eat.

Kraft "Homestyle" Macaroni and Cheese

Sometimes I am just a little snarky.  And frankly, some products are just asking for it.

I make homemade mac-n-cheese almost always.  I was raised on it and nothing in a box will do it for me.  Nonetheless, I have "normal" kids who also like the box stuff, so sometimes I buy it for them.  This week, I came home with the title product.  I probably would not have bought it, but I got it for free in a special.  So we tried it.

When I read the directions, I thought, "Hmmm, this sounds suspiciously like making white sauce."  When I opened the "special seasoning," it tasted a lot like flour.  Then I added the "cheese sauce."  I tasted it of course.  It tasted like a cross between Cheez Whiz and Velveeta.  The bread crumbs were dry, bland and apparently unseasoned.

Here is the thing, with the exception of using the "cheese product" instead of actual cheese, you are basically making homemade macaroni and cheese.  Most times when I make it, I top it with buttery cracker or bread crumbs and run it through the oven for a bit.  But if I'm in a hurry, I do it all stove-top like the aforementioned product. 

So I guess my real question is why anyone would buy this product and not just make homemade mac and (real)cheese?  And if you love the creaminess of processed cheese, you can always use velveeta for half the cheese.  It will not take any longer, I promise.  I spent more time trying to open the "easy open" sauce packet than I would grating the cheese! 

My homemade mac-n-cheese has 8 easy-to-pronounce ingredients:  Macaroni, skim milk, cheese, butter, flour, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.  This "homestyle" product has at least 23 ingredients, including canola oil and several stabilizer, colors, and preservatives.  (I say "at least 23" because I am generously assuming their bread crumbs and macaroni are the same as my "at home" versions.

So please, people, do me a favor.  Do not buy this stuff.  We have to stand up for home cooking sometime!  And if you do not buy it, you will save money, come out even on calories, save or break-even on time and enjoy a savory dish made with love!  If you need a recipe, let me know.