It’s time to start the Eating from the Pantry & Freezer Challenge!
I told you last week that I’d be sharing my goals and plans, so here’s what I’ve got in mind:
My number one goal is to clean out the pantry and freezers, especially the freezers! It seems like we’re always throwing stuff out because it gets lost for far too long. 🙁
Also, I think it’s important to say to make this challenge your own. Decide what will work best for you to help you clear out your pantry and freezer while still making it a challenge. Maybe this means you won’t be buying any household items (toilet paper, toothpaste..etc) because you really do have enough to get you through until the end of the challenge. Or maybe you realize that you have a ton of stuff to go through so you can actually do the challenge for 5 weeks. Make it yours!
Now, how am I going to make this happen?
I took inventory of our pantry and freezers (and discovered that I don’t have as much meat as I thought)! Here’s what I’ll be working with:
- Some shredded chicken
- a couple of packs of Ground beef
- Taco meat
- Ham
- Shrimp
- Pulled pork
- Plenty of flour, oatmeal, rice, pasta, quinoa
- Lots of dried beans and lentils
- Lots of frozen fruit (peaches, strawberries, mixed berries, raspberries)
- Frozen vegetables
- Chicken nuggets/fries
- Puff pastry
- Crackers
- Apple sauce
- Premade butter chicken and Coconut curry (No one will eat it but me!)
- Frozen bananas
- And lots more!
I’m actually quite shocked at how much I found and I’m sure I could do this challenge for longer than I have planned!
Don’t forget to join the Simply Frugal Pantry Challenge Facebook group! I want it to be a place where we share meal inspiration, tips and more!
Here’s what we’ll be eating until next Sunday
Wednesday:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal
- Lunch: Tomato soup
- Dinner: Taco bar
Thursday:
- Breakfast: Banana muffins, yogurt, fruit
- Lunch: Chicken noodle soup
- Dinner: Ham, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables
Friday:
- Breakfast: Overnight oatmeal
- Lunch: Smoothies
- Dinner: Chicken in basil cream sauce, Greek quinoa, steamed vegetables
Saturday:
- Breakfast: Waffles with Berry sauce and whipping cream
- Lunch: Cheese Quesadillas
- Dinner: Fettucine Alfredo, Caesar Salad, Raw carrots
Sunday:
- Brunch: Oatmeal/cereal
- Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwhiches
- Dinner: At my parents
On Monday, April 23, I’ll be back with my next menu plan!
Boy, this menu planning is a challenge in itself! But I really do need to make room in my freezer and my pantry, which are both filled to the brim. Overstocked! I asked my husband just this morning, “do we need to make an emergency kit?” He came back with “are you kidding, we have a cold room full of stuff!!!” 😉
So this week here is my menu plan and rather than listing them on the weekday, I have just listed them in groups, that way I can change them around.
Breakfast:
– Refrigerator Oatmeal
– Chocolate Overnight Oats with fruit
– Banana Porridge
– Blueberry based green smoothie
– Strawberry based green smoothie
– Steel Cut Oats with fruit
– Waffles with fruit
Lunch:
– Leftover Salmon
– Spinach Salad
– Chilled Quinoa Salad
– Green Tossed Salad
– Salad
– Pea soup from the freezer
– Mother’s day picnic lunch
Dinner:
– Pasta with Tomato Sauce, fresh asparagus
– Sunday leftovers
– Meatball dinner
– Pita Pockets with meatballs or falafels
– Breakfast for Dinner
– Hamburgers
– Mother’s Day BBQ
Snacks: smoothies, fruit, cut up veggies with hummus, rhubarb muffins, popcorn and lots of water!
Sounds so yummy! 🙂
I love this Pantry Challenge.
You guys must be light eaters.
I’d be starving if I just had soup for lunch.
I’d probably need to have Grilled Cheese Sandwiches & Tomato soup.