February Menu and Grocery list

Here it is, my family's February menu and grocery list. I am hoping to have the first weeks recipes up before Feb. 1st, that way you can try the menu if you would like. Leftover days and clean the fridge days are different in our house. Leftover days are usually just the day before's dinner, clean the fridge days are a smorgasbord of everything that needs to be eaten, I hate throwing food out and this is one way of preventing that.

If you have any questions, please ask. If this helps even one person, I will be ecstatic!

Just for reference, my menu is made for 3.5 people (my husband, 3 year old son, 6 month old son and myself), so adjustments to the menu for more people will naturally increase your budget.

SUN	MON	TUES	WED	THUR	FRI	SAT
						1 Black Bean Soup
2 Bean Burgers	3 Leftovers	4 Fish Tacos	5 Chicken adobo and quinoa/rice	6 leftovers	7 Spicy Thai Noodles	8 Clean Fridge
9 Tuna Antipasto w/ Pita	10 Picante Chicken	11 Fish Tacos	12 Left overs	13 ravioli lasagna	14 leftovers	15 dinner at friends
16 Banana Oat Pancakes	17 grilled cheese w/ tomato soup	18 Fish Tacos	19 Breadsticks and salad	20 Spaghetti	21 BBQ pulled Pork	22 Clean Fridge
23 Sweet and sour pork w/ rice	24 Pancakes	25 Fish Tacos	26 Meat Loaf and potatoes	27 Leftovers	28 taco baked potatoes

I try to do one large grocery trip per month for all the non-perishables and the first weeks veggies and fruits. Then I go 1-2 times per week for the perishables and things like milk, bananas and eggs. I separated each weeks perishables.

Okay, I know the list is quiet large but I have not figured out how to input a better list...yet :-) I keep a number of my staple items in bulk(my food storage) so I decided to make two grocery lists, my list and a more comprehensive one. That way you can compare the two and see how having a stocked pantry can save you TONS. By having a surplus of my staple items, I can wait for them to go on sale before buying them, and yes, I include it in my monthly budget.

MY LIST Large trip: ½ lb steak, cheap cut big bag of fish sticks large bag of corn tortillas 3 lbs chicken breast or thighs** 1 bag frozen broccoli jar of capers 1 bag of frozen ravioli 1 – 16oz tub cottage cheese 2lb block mozzarella* 2lb block pepper jack* 2 gallons of milk apple cider vinegar** 1 – 8oz tub of sour cream bacon	Week 2: 1 bell pepper 2.5 lbs tomatoes apples milk bananas	COMPREHENSIVE LIST Large trip: ½ lb steak, cheap cut dry black beans** bag of onions white rice** 2 cans of garbanzo beans** big bag of fish sticks large bag of corn tortillas quinoa** 2 packages spagetti noodles** 3 lbs chicken breast or thighs** 1 bag frozen broccoli 2 cans od tuna** jar of capers jar of salsa (I make our salsa) 1 bag of frozen ravioli 2 jars of spaghetti sauce** 1 – 16oz tub cottage cheese 2lb block mozzarella* 2lb block pepper jack* 3-4 lb pork roast 2 ½ lbs ground beef** 2 gallons of milk apple cider vinegar** 1 – 8oz tub of sour cream bacon	Week 2: 1 bell pepper 2.5 lbs tomatoes apples milk bananas
Week 1: avocado 2 russet potatoes cilantro green onion bananas 1 bag coleslaw mix	Week 3: Zucchini 1 bag Cole slaw mix fruit	Week 1: avocado 2 russet potatoes cilantro green onion bananas 1 bag coleslaw mix	Week 3: Zucchini 1 bag Cole slaw mix fruit
*the 2lb blocks of cheese is on sale at Safeway/VONS this Friday for $5.00 **these items I usually have in bulk but need to replenish this month. I will probably get 6 lbs of chicken	Week 4: 1 bell pepper 5 russet potatoes bag of onion	**what I keep on hand in bulk	Week 4: 1 bell pepper 5 russet potatoes