Meal Plan Like a Pro

Meal planning saves an unbelievable amount of time and money. Taking the time to think about what your family will be eating keeps you from hitting a drive-through or ordering take out for convenience, spending more money out of your budget. Check out these meal planning tips to save some dough!

After looking at sales flyers for the week, we found some great deals at Aldi and planned out our menu around their sales.

What’s for Dinner This Week?

• Monday – Chicken and Peanut Thai Stir Fry
• Tuesday – Pork Country Ribs
• Wednesday – Beef Stuffed Peppers
• Thursday – Chicken Caesar Salad (5 minute dinner)
• Friday – Brats in a Bun with Sauteed Peppers and Onions with Asian Slaw

When planning meals, also think about ways to same time doing meal prep. For instance, the menu for the week includes chicken for the stir fry and the Caesar salad. Cook the chicken at the same time and refrigerate half of it for the salad. Only 1/2 lb of ground beef is needed for the stuffed peppers. Cook the whole pound and use the other half to make something like nachos over the weekend. Also, choose ingredients that can be used in different recipes. The bell peppers are used for the stuffed peppers and chopped, sauteed peppers will be sauteed to have with the brats. Plan on one really quick dinner because we can always count on at least one day’s schedule not going as planned.

Share your meal planning tips with us!

Be sure to make this delicious and easy stir fry!

For a Far East taste from home, try this Peanut Thai Stir Fry.

Peanut Thai Stir Fry

• Servings: 4-6
• Time: 30-40 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Add Asian flair to your dinner routine.

Credit: Nora Kapche

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless/skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• Salt and pepper
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp minced ginger
• 1 package stir fry vegetables (thaw if frozen)
• 3 Tbsp peanut butter
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• cooked rice or noodles
• peanuts (optional garnish)

Directions

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper and grill over medium heat until cooked.
2. Chop chicken into bite-size pieces.
3. Add olive oil to pan, and saute ginger and garlic on medium.
4. Add remaining ingredients except rice/noodles and peanuts.
5. Stir occasionally until sauce has thickened and vegetables are desired tenderness.
6. Serve over noodles or rice.
7. Top with peanuts.