{November Meal Plan: a little late}

Well, it's already mid-November, but I finally have a meal plan for the month to post.  I did finish it last weekend, as I planned.  But I didn't get it posted because my daughter is taking an online math class this year, and seems to always have the computer when I want to write a post!  Not much in the line of trying new things this month, Thanksgiving is a big enough production to worry about!

Without further ado:

November 7: Breakfast for dinner
November 8: Yellow Soup w/Sourdough bread
November 9: Chicken Alfredo (we forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer, so this ended up being Pizza Night from Little Caesar's instead!)
November 10: Spaghetti
November 11:  Date night
November 12:  Leftovers
November 13:  Creamy Chicken Piccata
November 14: Cheeseburgers
November 15: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
November 16: Salmon Patties and roasted veggies
November 17: Open...Maybe leftovers or maybe a teriyaki noodle dish I just found
November 18: Homemade Pizza
November 19: Leftovers
November 20: Church Potluck (I'll probably make mac and cheese or something like that)
November 21: Tilapia and Rice
November 22: Chicken Tikka Masala
November 23: Stromboli
November 24: Thanksgiving!
November 25: Leftovers
November 26: Still leftovers (or not... depending.)
November 27: Bacon Mac and Cheese (by family request)
November 28: Tilapia and Rice
November 29: Breakfast for dinner
November 30: Burrito/Nacho Night

In looking at the list, I don't feel like my family gave me very many "healthy" options when I asked them for ideas.  But I have some ideas of how to make a few of these a little more healthy than they seem at face value.  And then there are the ones that just aren't.  *wink*  Time to focus on making my lunches more "clean" when my dinners aren't!

{Meal planning fail}

It's November 4th, and I don't have my menu plan done yet for the month.  I feel like I'm flying blind.  So those of you who tell me that I inspire you... Well, I don't always have it all together.  Hopefully that will inspire someone.  We all fail at times, which is actually pretty encouraging, if you stop to think about it.

You've heard of writer's block?  I feel like I have menu planners block.  My last two months were great, and we mostly stayed on track, but leading into November, I am just at a loss.  I've added in a few things here and there, but mostly the month is blank.  Sometimes, even when we are good at something, we still have moments where we fail.

Here's what I do when my own brain capacity begins to fail me.  I reach out and ask for help.  I text my family and ask them to send me menu ideas.  Usually I hesitate to do this, because the responses I usually get are all the comfort foods they love... Which makes for quite the fattening month!  With the holidays coming up, I try to make an effort to eat mostly healthy during the "normal" days, but then my family sends back things like this:

They're so helpful.

My main goal for the weekend?  Finish planning the month.  Otherwise, Red Robin and Papa Murphy's are going to take all my money.  I'll be spending some time on Pinterest, reviewing what we've had recently (last 2 months), and filling in the gaps.  And, planning our Thanksgiving holiday, which will be no small feat.

Wish me luck!!

xo,
Becca