Grocery haul + food prep + meal plan

Grocery haul + food prep + meal plan…. but no Netflix.   There’s no time for that.  I’ve got snacks to eat.

I hit up Target and Whole Foods by myself on Sunday.  I had a list, and miraculously, that list wasn’t covered in crayon scribbles.  It didn’t end up folded into a “turtle shape” (Grace seems to have taken up toddler origami), nor left hidden among the bananas.  As much as I love grocery shopping with the kids (it really is fun), going solo is a bit more… efficient.  

Here’s what I picked up:

GROCERY HAUL

Target

• Mini bagels
• Goldfish crackers
• Happy Baby pouches for Nick
• Gingerbread Larabars
• And boring non-food stuff… like safety swabs and toothbrushes

Whole Foods Market

• Produce: 3 Honey Crisp apples (the biggest apples I have ever seen), 3 Gala apples, 4 pears, 3 lemons, 6 bananas, 2 avocados, 3 tomatoes, 2 navel oranges, 2 sweet potatoes, 1 red onion, spring mix with herbs, kale (the lazy person kind that comes pre-trimmed), 1 European cucumber, carrots, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, heirloom cherry tomatoes, chopped pineapple (see again: lazy), butternut squash, basil, cilantro, salsa fresca
• Dairy: 1/2 gallon Crescent Ridge skim milk, Stonyfield Organic kids smoothies, extra sharp cheddar (shredded), string cheese, plain Greek yogurt, fresh mozzarella
• Grocery: Annie’s Mac + Bees (G’s favorite), tortillas, lemonade, couscous, fresh squeezed apple juice, kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans

FOOD PREP

This week I split up food prep between Sunday afternoon and mid-day Wednesday.  In total, it probably took 2 hours.  If you don’t include doing dishes.  And, like, sampling.

• Kale + strawberry smoothies (with banana, pineapple and chia seeds) pre-blended and frozen in muffin tins (in the future, I’d use muffin liners — these suckers did not want to come out)
• Chopped veggies: cucumber, carrots

• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Caprese salad

• Pitcher of iced tea (David’s Tea organic Peppermint Amour — I sometimes get real fancy and add a splash of lemonade and/or pomegranate juice) – this is how I avoid going to Dunks for ice tea… and driving away with a donut
• Cook quinoa

• Lemon, dill and garlic kale chips (I used dried dill this time — worked perfectly)
• Chai and peanut butter protein bites
• For Grace: pack snack/lunch servings of fruits, vegetables, hummus, beans
• For baby Nick: baked chicken (shredded), crockpot applesauce, steamed pears, roasted butternut squash

MEAL PLAN + WEEKLY MENU IDEAS

Nick (the grown-up one) usually makes his own dinners during the week, while I tend to eat with the kids.  At 5 PM.  Like really young senior citizens.  Grace is getting more and more adventurous, and usually eats at least some of what I would be making for myself (she doesn’t eat meat either). Baby Nick will eat anything he can get his hands on– animal, vegetable, various pieces of furniture– which is fun… and also a little terrifying.

• Baked sweet potatoes with black beans, onions, cilantro + sharp cheddar
• Kale and roasted sweet potato quesadillas with black beans and salsa fresca
• Green salad with apples, walnuts, dried cranberries and crumbled bleu cheese
• Vegetarian chili for lazy people (these are the themes of my life: laziness and good food)
• Quinoa with basil pesto and tomatoes

And now it’s Netflix time.  

Also On Tap for Today:

• 26 make-ahead lunches you can pack tonight from The Kitchn
• Attempting an art project with Grace involving food coloring and shaving cream (Lord, hear our prayer)
• Living room/nap time yoga

What’s your grocery shopping/food prep/meal planning style?  And what’s your go-to weeknight dinner?