I stumbled across a post over at "I'm an organizing Junkie" called Menu Plan Monday and boy is she a girl after my own heart! Great idea. So I am going to jump on board this week. :) I am also including 1 recipe.

Here is our menu plan:

Breakfasts: oatmeal, homemade blueberry muffins, hardboiled eggs, cereal, and smoothies. These will be mixed up during the week.

Lunches: mac n cheese, sandwiches, quesadillas, french toast & scrambeled eggs (breakfast for lunch), homemade pita pockets with tuna or chicken salad filling, salads for hubby and I.

Dinners: Tilapia w/orzo and fresh basil on a bed of fresh spinach, taco salad, green chile chicken enchiladas, homemade deli style sandwiches and fries, spaghetti and salad.

Snacks: carrot sticks, celery sticks w/pb, homemade pumpkin muffins, crackers, fruit.

Let me explain my menu planning strategy. I have spent so much time in the past assigning each snack and meal to a specific day to balance things out etc. However often times what I have planned for one day my family will say they really don't want and would rather have something else from a different day. So instead I come up with meals for the week making sure to balance out nutrition etc. and then make sure I have enough ingredients on hand for the meals I planned and then we can decide each day. It makes it easier on me, and I know that the I will have all the ingredients on hand. That said let me make one thing clear, I do NOT make an individual thing for everyone. Whatever meal I make is what is served that night. I refuse to become a short order cook. I love to cook but let's be reasonable. lol

Here is the smoothie recipe I make for my kids usually daily for breakfast along with something else. I love it because I put their vitamins in it and it is awesome! This recipe makes a LOT so if you have leftovers simply put them in an icecube tray and add a popsicle stick and freeze for yummy fruit bars after dinner. :)

15-20 frozen strawberries (I get mine in a big bag at Costco for a reasonable price)

3/4 cup frozen blueberries

3/4 cup plain yogurt (if you want a kick you can substitute a different flavor, we love peach)

3/4 cup orange juice

3 tbs ground flax seeds

2 whole bananas

mix it up in your blender and serve. totally yummy!

Jenna