Planning Two Weeks of Dairy Free Meals for a Family

Today is grocery shopping day. My husband and I always sit down together and write a menu for 14 days. I go through my cookbooks and food magazines and pick one or two new recipes to try. We also let the kids pick a few meals. We then write a list from that menu to get us through those 2 weeks. It's a little challenging this time of year because our oldest daughter is in soccer so we have games 3 days a week (2 weekdays and Saturdays) plus one evening they have their performance classes. So that's 3 nights a week that we have to eat on a schedule. We can't just run by the local fast food place or order a pizza, so I try and plan easy, but still healthy, meals that fit into the time constraint.

Here's our menu for the next two weeks: We already have all the organic eggs, beef, pork and chicken thighs in the freezer. The only meat I have to buy is the boneless skinless chicken breasts and salmon.

Sat: Corned Beef on Rye with baby gold potatoes (I was sick with the flu on St. Patty's Day so we decided to have our corned beef tonight. ANd we decided on sandwiches)

Sun: Smoked Paprika Roasted Salmon with wilted spinach and potatoes (recipe from "Food and Wine")

Mon: Tuna salad rolls, veggie and fruit plate (We're headed to Busch Gardens with the kids so we wanted something easy for dinner that can be made ahead of time)

Tues: My Husband's Birthday Dinner-Pulled Pork BBQ (recipe will be posted), homemade Baked Beans, coleslaw, and from scratch chocolate birthday cake

Wed: Spice Braised Chicken Thighs with rice (Recipe from "Food and Wine") and a green salad

Thurs: Taco Night- soft tacos, spanish rice, black beans

Fri: Brinner- Belgian Waffles (I'll add either blueberries or blackberries), scrambled eggs, hash brown potatoes, and fruit- no bacon because it's Lent.

Sat: We're having friends over for a wine tasting night so we're having: BBQ Pork Ribs, pasta salad with apple, pineapple, tomatoes, onions, and a French dressing; Braai toast, and whatever other sides are added. We will have dry roasted almonds and oyster crackers with the tasting, instead of cheeses. I will probably also add a dessert.

Sun: Pot Roast with roasted veggies

Mon: Chili with skillet cornbread-kid's choice

Tues: Empanadas made from the leftover chili- hubby's choice

Wed: Nandos Chicken Sandwiches, salad, homemade chips

Thurs:Oven baked chicken tenders, broccoli, and mashed potatoes- kids' choice

Friday: Crab cakes, sauteed green beans and other sides TBD

What about breakfasts and lunch? Breakfasts during the week are either cold cereal or overnight oats for the kids and husband, I'll have overnight oats or scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Sunday we have animal shaped cinnamon flapjacks. The pan was given to me by my friend before she went home to S. Africa, and I promised her I would make flapjacks every Sunday morning.
For lunch during the week the kids have peanut butter sandwiches or mac and cheese, with fruit. My husband and I have leftovers or I'll make a veggie stir fry or a salad.

My grocery list:
Dairy/Non Dairy/Cold Items: (Remember the kids eat a very small amount of dairy for snacks)
Milk- soy and dairy
Greek Yogurt (for the oldest daughter- can't wait to try the dairy free greek yogurt!)
Cheese sticks (for the middle daughter)
Dairy free margarine

Bread:
2 loaves sandwich bread Nature's Own
Rye bread- Trader Joes
Raisin Bread- Trader Joes Organic
hoagie rolls
burger buns (2 packs)
Tortillas

Fresh Fruits and Veggies:
Apples
Bananas
Green, yellow, red peppers
garlic
onions- white and red
potatoes- red, white, sweet
tomatoes- Roma
Spinach
salad mix
coleslaw mix
pineapple
Carrots
broccoli slaw
Ginger
Avocado

Frozen Items:
Green Beans
Broccoli
mixed veggies
Puff Pastry (YES It's Dairy Free!)
Tator Tots
Fruit


Dry and canned goods:
Oats
dried cherries and cranberries
whole tomatoes (1 can)
Tuna
Crab
chicken stock
popcorn
Mayo
Yellow Mustard
smoked paprika
cinnamon
sea salt
Nando's Peri Peri Sauce
Cran/Pom juice
O.J.
Turbinado sugar
Snack items

Misc. Items:
Coffee
Wine
Paper towels
Method Glass Cleaner
Lysol Liquid Cleaner
Seventh Gen. Kitchen spray

I know the list looks long but remember it's for 3 meals a day for 5 people for the next 2 weeks. I will add a few items at the stores I am sure, but this is the basic list. We did our shopping at BJ's Wholesale Club and Trader Joes today.


Our Purchases from Trader Joes


Our Purchases from BJ's

Now we are stocked for 2 weeks- phew!