Last week we got a ton of decluttering done at the new house. I got several closets and dressers cleaned out. There’s more to do, but I think my dad needs the space to himself for a while, so we are taking the week off from the house and focusing our efforts on our old place.

Inspired by Megan, this week I am working on eating at home. The kitchen is usually the one area I am really good at organizing. I am really good at meal planning and pantry management, but the move has made that more difficult.

I made a batch of bran muffin mix for breakfasts. I am keeping it in the fridge and making a batch each morning to be served with a piece of fruit and a small bowl of cottage cheese or a hard boiled egg. Normally I like more variety in my breakfasts, but I’m not feeling picky this week.

I made a batch of granola bars for snacks. I have a lot of dried fruits to use up, so this helped make a dent in those. They are healthy, portable and everyone in the family likes them. If we get bored of those we can have popcorn or strawberry smoothies.

Lunches will be tuna salad sandwiches, chicken salad (made with leftover chicken cooked for Tuesday’s dinner) with dried cherries and tarragon and good old peanut butter and jelly served with either carrot sticks or fruit.

I made a dinner menu for the week that mostly uses things I already had in the pantry, fridge or freezer. When I plan ahead I am much less likely to eat out. Here’s the menu.

Monday: Scrambled eggs with cheddar, toast and fresh fruit
Tuesday: Noodles, chicken and veggies with spicy peanut sauce
Wednesday: Dinner at church (this is a weekly thing)
Thursday: Potato leek soup, popovers
Friday: Cheese and spinach enchiladas, Mexican slaw
Saturday: Navy bean soup, cheddar garlic biscuits
Sunday: Pannekoeken with strawberry rhubarb sauce

Probably the only thing I will buy for this menu is cream for the potato leek soup and to whip for the pannekoeken.

How are you all doing with your challenges?