For the WHY behind why I make an annual meal plan, please see this post, or this one.
Integrating Low-Carb Into Our Annual Meal Plan
Wow…I must say that this low-carb cooking (for the Modified Atkins Diet for Seizures for Owen) is a whole different ball game than what I’m used to. I’ve learned that I’m definitely a carbaholic, and have been eating many of my meals with Owen, so he has someone eating what he is, and I don’t get as many carbs.
I have a whole different post on my low-carb cooking adventures started, so I’ll save the details for another day. But, I included some links that I’ve been using here so I can find them when I cook!
Our big picture goal is to minimize the amount of double cooking I have to do. That means more and more of our meals are being wrapped around a protein that I can then have higher carb sides for most of the family, and lower carb ones for Owen and I. It’s made life easier! I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the number of quality low-carb recipes there are online. What a blessing!
We are shooting for about 7 carbs a meal for Owen, in case anyone is wondering. Though as long as he is under 25 a day, we have some play with how it all works out. Also, he gets lots of fat. And of course protein.
One of my priorities this year will be to have a big batch cooking day one week. So on pancake day, I’ll cook a whole bunch of both regular and low-carb and then freeze to make breakfast simpler the rest of the month. This won’t work for every meal of course, but the ones that can be frozen are going to get frozen this time around. With the kids getting older, school will start taking more time, and I won’t have as much time to dedicate to the kitchen.
Some New Features From This Year’s Annual Meal Plan
Saturday afternoon’s Fend for Yourself lunch (or leftovers)
Most of the kids can make something to eat now. Sydney loves herself a PB&J taco, and can easily make them. I’m looking forward to a meal off! Well, at least a meal of only worrying about a few people.
Sack Lunch Sunday
We’ve been notorious for being late to church Sunday night. Bryan came up with this idea, and it’s been working really well! We get some sides for the kids that they don’t normally eat (juice boxes, chip bags, etc.) and it’s a special treat to eat on the bus. We can make these up on Saturday and just leave them in the fridge.
Did I mention that eating on the bus is SO much better than the Suburban? The kids have space to themselves, and Owen can’t take anyone’s bread. Woo-hoo!
Yogurt Bar
This has been fun! I set out homemade yogurt, fruit (blueberries the last two weeks, we’ll see what comes in my Bountiful Basket order next time around), chocolate chips, honey, seeds and nuts, vanilla, jam, and peanut butter and let the kids go to town. They’ve had so much fun creating different flavors of yogurt. Ellie just helped me make a big batch of granola, so that’ll be a topping option as well.
Breakfast for Dinner
The kids and I love this meal, Bryan, not so much. But with his new job, he doesn’t get home in time to eat dinner with us on Wednesdays and still make it to church. And waiting until after church is just not a good idea. So we’ve adjusted the budget a bit, and he grabs something to eat on his way home, and the rest of us enjoy our breakfast again. Such simple dinners, it’s easy to get out the door on time this way!
Without further ado, here is the updated menu around the farm. We’ll try it for a few weeks and see how it goes.
Sunday (Simon’s Day)
Breakfast:
Breakfast casserole
Lunch:
Crockpot (trying out some new low-carb options from this site)
Dinner:
Sack lunch (Owen’s on a low carb tortilla or Muffin in Mug style bread)
Monday (Sydney’s Day)
Breakfast:
Pancakes (low carb version)
Lunch:
PB & J “Tacos” (tortilla wraps)
On Low Carb tortillas for Owen w/sugar free jelly & PB
Snack:
Muffins, Muffin in Mug style for Owen
Dinner:
American Night
Tuesday (Jeffrey’s Day)
Breakfast:
Oatmeal
Lunch:
Homemade Pizza
Low Carb Crust for Owen
Snack:
Popcorn
(not sure for Owen yet…)
Dinner:
Seafood Night
Wednesday (Owen’s Day):
Breakfast:
Yogurt Bar
Lunch:
Chicken, egg or tuna salad on crackers, bread, lettuce or tortillas
Snack:
Low carb pudding (Chia seed, flax seed, or something along those lines!)
Dinner:
Breakfast for Dinner
Thursday (Ellie’s Day)
Breakfast:
Baked oatmeal with fruit; “Oatless” oatmeal with berries for Owen
Lunch:
Leftovers OR Hotdogs with Peas & Carrots
Snack:
Crackers, cheese & meat
Dinner:
Noodle Night
Friday (Jayme’s Day)
Breakfast:
Hashbrowns & Sausage (hashbrowned turnips for Owen)
Lunch:
Egg Fried Rice
(Cauliflower rice for Owen with more protein in his)
Snack:
Jello with Fruit (Sugar Free for Owen mixed with whipping cream instead of cold water for fat boost)
Dinner:
Asian Night
Saturday (Brynna’s Day):
Breakfast:
Hashbrowns & Veggie-egg scramble
Lunch:
Leftovers OR Cook For Yourself Day
Snack:
Cookies
Dinner:
Fiesta Night
Now for a breakdown of our rotations:
American Night
(Trying for lower carb options all around here—there are only so many nights I can cook twice!)
Hot Dogs & Salad
Meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes and fruit salad
Sloppy Joes, coleslaw, chips
Baked chicken (or fried every once in a while!), low carb bread option (this, or this are ones I’ve played around with, and I’ll keep tweaking!)
Burgers (beef, venison, fish, whatever…), Oven Fries (turnips or Sweet potatoes as well as white spuds), salad
Crab Alfredo & linguine I have a few low carb fish stick recipes I’m going to try, and I’m still trying to figure out what will be low carb with some of the other meals. Probably will just change some sides up. Waffles (low-carb version—I’ll plan on making BIG batches of “normal” and low-carb once a month to pull out of freezer rest of month) & bacon Mac & Cheese with hot dogs or hamburger Low-carb options: Egg Rolls(wrapper recipe) or Potstickers with rice or riced cauliflower This site has some really good low carb ideas I can use for ideas for Owen, especially for orange chicken…thought I haven’t tried it yet. Enchiladas Low-carb tortillas were a great find! Only the nachos will need to be a completely different meal. I’ll probably just go taco salad for Owen that night. Wow—my learning curve seems a little steep. I keep telling myself it is only July. By January it should all be flowing smoothly! (Well hopefully much before then, but you get the idea!) Now to make a shopping list and hit the stores before implementing this new annual meal plan. Have you redone your menu plan lately? Any good finds? Do you know any simple low-carb meals in any of my themes that I should try out?
Fish sticks
Broccoli & Shrimp
Creamed Tuna & Peas on toast
Baked or pan fried fish with baked potato and broccoli
Breakfast for Dinner:
Ham Steaks & Fried Eggs
Dutch Blitz (Need to try low-carb version)
Homemade Sausage Biscuits, Owen’s on an almond flour biscuit (which again I can make up a big batch once a month and freeze!)
Biscuits & Sausage Gravy Noodle Night:
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Tuna Casserole
Pizza Casserole
Spaghetti squash for spaghetti & meatballs
Low-Carb “Pasta” salad
Low Carb tuna casserole
Cauliflower mac & cheese with hot dogs Asian Night
Mandarin chicken over brown rice with sauteed cabbage
Egg Drop Soup
Orange Chicken
Asian Beef & Cabbage
Fiesta Rotation
Tacos or Taco Salad
Nachos
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