Beaglelady, we all jump at the chance now and then to eat cheap food. I do hope the hot dog and soda aren't a frequent lunch for you, although we can enjoy a "fun" meal occasionally.

Most of my life, I've brown-bagged it, with lunch out from time to time as a reward for doing so, such as when office colleagues suggest going out. There are a number of items that can be made at home much more cheaply than bought somewhere, such as tuna salad. I've also learned to stock up on a few items in cans (I like sardines; I admit not everyone does), packets of soup, etc. That way I always have something in a "stash" so as to avoid the pricey meals out.

Dinner last night was chicken-vegetable soup and spaghetti with meat sauce.

I brought some of the leftover spaghetti for my lunch, today.

Tonight is clean out the fridge night.

For lunch DH took sweet and sour pork with rice, cookie and an apple. I'll eat some for lunch. I have about two quarts of homemade soup and we can have cheesies, tortilla shells with cheese melted in the microwave. We still have grapes to use.
Dessert will be a few cookies that are left.

Tomorrow I have three pork chops. They are rather big, so there should be plenty for the four of us. In addition, I'll make some kind of slaw to go with it and roasted potatoes.

DD had made fried rice for herself and friends who were visiting, yesterday, for lunch, and saved a portion for me for my dinner. I reheated a frozen tamale for her dinner.

Thanks Striving for the explanation

I'm late (as usual) in posting but here goes...

Mon: taco salad using leftover taco meat from Fri; mango, avocado, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, etc

Tues: hot dogs, fresh homemade bread, raw veggies
Wed; Hungarian goulash, rice,
Thurs: can't remember
Fri: out
Sat: leftover goulash for lunch, walleye/salmon; sweet potato fries, raw veggies for supper
Sun: pancakes/sausage for lunch, pizza/chicken buffet for supper
Mon: teener casserole (hot dish), raw veggies
Tues: cube steak/wraps, mango, sweet potato fries, raw veggies

Wed: l/o casserole for lunch; stirfy/rice for supper
Thurs:fish/pizza
Fri: fish/pizza
Sat: roast
Sun: potluck for lunch, supper tba

I need/want to cut down on the amount of beef I consume. Not for religious reasons but for health. I think this could be part of the cause of my weight gain. DBIL raises beef and so we get a full beef for very little money. For the past year we've had a full freezer of beef with 2 lockers full at the meat market. Plus dh is a beefeater.. So its just too easy/economical to pull beef out of the freezer... ( not to mention I have a hard time finding chicken the way we like it)

I also see that I rely way too much on raw veggies. I like cooked veggies, but just never seem to think of it until the food is on the table...

We have a breather coming in our schedule so I will try and use that time to get in the habit of steaming some veggies...

I made a huge batch of cold tuna salad today. We will have this for dinner tonight and tomorrow night. I could eat this for several days and probably will. lol

Maureen, what about looking at some of the Asian recipes that use beef as a flavor, not a main ingredient? Such as a variety of beef and veg stir fry options? That would be a great way to keep using your most economical meat, but stretch it out with more veggies.

Well-raised beef is quite healthy... what gets me are the carbs I like to eat best with it! That'll get my weight up if I don't watch it. Portioning the beef, and going for veggies as sides, instead of, say, a baked potato or mash, helps.

I'm still putting off my BIG grocery shop. Hey, it's a chance to clean out the freezer, right? I did get a good buy on some pork, so that's about done in the oven. Pairing it with jasmine rice, green beans, peas, possibly some steamed parsnips for DS, and a batard of crusty bread and butter... YUM.

We didn't get to the pork yesterday, as I was really tired. I found enough stuff in the fridge to clean it out and make for a mish mash dinner but nutritious.

Tonight we're having the pork marinaded with teriyaki. I'm making a potato casserole and steamed broccoli.

Tomorrow is shopping day, as I'm out of a lot of basic ingredients.

Today we used up the oatmeal for breakfast. Tomorrow we'll have to eat cold cereal and that will not go over well. I'll probably make a smoothie to go with it and to help reduce my frozen banana storage.

i went grocery shopping on fri. i spent 8876 of which over 40$ was stocking up on candy. another 21$ for cleaning products

72 reese pb cups 1669
48 lg snickers 2379

cascade 899
all detergent 1199

folgers decaf 1099
6 qts half and half 199ea
lettuce 169

meals this week were
tue all i ate was 1/2 frozen pizza

wed yogurt
chef's salad

thu cereal and half and half
grilled cheese

fri chef's salad
pork chop, noodles, scallopped corn and garlic roll

mary

i went grocery shopping at food lion on sat. i spent 3950

i got
ritz crackers 379
fl saltines 167
cheeze its 445
s o oatmeal cookies 99
fl corn flakes 249
potato bread 2 for 400
hot dog rolls 319

3 vienna sausages 150
frozen pizza 399
hot pockets 250

milk 299
2 yogurt 60 ea
2 bananas 37
1 summer squash 86
3 tomatoes 455

mary