January Monthly Dinner Plan

So, it all starts with Pinterest. My board Food::What's On the Menu? Contains only the meals I am currently preparing. Al the end of the month, they can go to a few places: Food:: Lose it! Recipes (these are the meals I calculated calories for and added the calorie count onto the comments of the pin), Food:: Tried it and Liked it! I didn't add the calorie count but know I would want to remake that recipe again one day. Last option is "delete!" Means, I would not make that recipe again for whatever reason.

Here is the link to my "What's on the Menu?" board (there will be different meals after Jan is over. I also move them off as we finish eating them):
https://www.pinterest.com/ang8169/foodwhats-on-the-menu/

For January- 
 Meal 1: Pesto Pasta with Chicken (I will use either Zoodles or Spaghetti Squash instead of noodles)



Meal 2: Pesto Salmon with Italian Veggies


Meal 3: Spaghetti (for me Zoodles instead of noodles)


Meal 4: Lemon Chicken with Asparagus


Meal 5: Shredded BBQ Chicken (my husband will probably do sandwiches, I'll make a salad with it)


Meal 6: Italian Chicken Packets


Meal 7: Lemon Shrimp Over Cauliflower (Rice or Mashed Potatoes for my husband)

Now what? 

Figure out your portions. For me, this is how I do it: 

I will typically eat about 4 oz of meat, my daughter may eat 2 oz and my husband will eat 6 oz. So, we will likely consume about  12 ounces per night. I am going to round up to 1lb per meal. This helps me start the adjustment of each recipe. First, I copy and paste the ingredients only onto 1 document and I start by adjusting the meat. Then I adjust the rest of the ingredient based on the meat adjustment. For example, if I am doubling the meat portion, I will double all of the rest of the ingredients at well. Also, pay attention to the original servings. I make 12 servings. That means we are eating the same recipe 4 times in a month. We eat each recipe two days in a row, so there is a cook day and a leftover day. Then I won't cook that meal again for another two weeks. 

I will provide a sample of my work to create an ingredient list in the next post...