This week's menu plan, and my impromptu eat from the pantry challenge!

photo credit

Even though I use coupons, I spend way too much time at the grocery store, and buy too many items that I could do without,

Since my husband's hours have been severely cut back this past month, I have had, and will need to continue, to tighten my budget some more.

This week, I wrote a menu plan. And I am sticking to it, since it will not involve any extra grocery store stops. My pantry and freezer are pretty well stocked (except for some veggies that I will get next week).

Monday:
B: Egg, chorizo and cheese sandwiches
L: PB&J sandwiches, baked cheetos
D: Spagetti-os and Campbell's Healthy Choice gumbo soup

Tuesday:
B: Oatmeal bars
L: Grilled cheese sandwiches
D: Whole wheat pasta w/pesto sauce and chopped spinach

Wednesday:
B: Oatmeal
L: Tuna sandwiches
D: Pizza (my husband has been gone since Monday, and my 2 year old has specifically requested that he take his daddy out to dinner at "poppas place" (he calls my dad poppa, and we go to pizza often with him).

Thursday:
B: Cold cereal with milk
L: Grilled cheese sandwiches
S: Popcorn
D: Spaghetti with curry marsala sauce, salad

Friday:
B: Oatmeal with shredded carrot
L: Mac n cheese with green beans
S: Popcorn
D: Chicken nuggets with almond crust, honey mustard, green beans

Saturday:
B: Cold cereal with milk
L: At birthday party
D: At birthday party (or food taken from birthday party).

Sunday:
B: Oatmeal bar
L: Whatever :0) Sunday's are always hectic days.
D: Pork roast

*My son eats yogurt almost every day for snack, and if we are out, we have toast.

This menu doesn't look as healthy as we normally eat, but I am trying to use what we have on hand so that I:

 1. Do not have to go to the store.
2. Can make room for a healthier pantry when I do go grocery shopping.

Are you a meal planner? Do you find that it helps, or hinders?