A lot out of a little.

Just about every time I went to the grocery store in recent memory I have gotten 'in trouble' for spending to much money. At the time we were living on easy things to make, a potato, a veggie, some protein (pre-made veggie burgers, cutlets, nuggets and the like.) After dinner and peeling ourselves off the couch we would then have to make lunch for work the next day... ugg. All in all, it was not a fun process. So I have heeded the call and made some changes to our diet and grocery bill. It started with casseroles.. they were easy ( I used a lot of fake soup) and if I made the right one we could eat it the next day for lunch. Now after yet another change of heart I no longer want to eat fake soups, fake meat products or anything processed. I actually spend less time in the kitchen now and less money at the store! It all starts with my planning. I sit down once a week and plan out every meal. I now cook like there are 4 of us leaving enough for dinner and lunch the next day ( no more making two meals at night!) So this week the menu is.
Sunday: Breakfast: Eggs/toast Lunch: Saturday market! Dinner: Carmel Tofu with veggies
Monday: (Joe fends for himself for lunch) and for dinner a split pea soup and some popovers.
Tuesday: Lunch- Split pea soup Dinner- Indian food (somosas , naan, and navratan korma) .Eric gets credit for giving me this idea.
Wednesday: Lunch- Indian .. Dinner- rice, beans and deep fried plantains
Thursday: Lunch- bean and rice leftovers in a burrito Dinner- homemade pasta with homemade sauce
Friday:Lunch- pasta Dinner- chickpea and sweet potato enchilada casserole.
Saturday: Lunch- casserole Dinner- perhaps a fishless tuna casserole.

When we were on our old diet I would spend 60-75 dollars a week at the g-store. This week will be under 50. Not only does it include all the ingredients for the above but also extras like Joe's breakfast / bananas, yogurt, nuts and my after lunch dessert /nanas, oranges and apples. Also strawberries so I can make a pie, oil so I don't run out, cat food so Alice can eat too and TP because we are in need. This is 40+ extra dollars a month we now have. We can put this money into savings, or spend it at the Saturday Market since we have our eyes on some Oregon honey and organic jam.. or maybe at the Farmers market... hmm the possibilities.... I would like to imagine that we are healthier too... well maybe minus the pie.