When we first moved to California I called my local recycling facility to find out what types of plastic were recycled. I found out all plastics (good news!) were recycled and picked up by trash service except for take-out containers (bad news!). Take out conatiners are made with such a weak compilation of plastics that nothing can be done with them. That’s scary, especially considering the hot, steaming food that is served in them. This can’t be good.
We don’t order much take-out but that first week in CA we ate it almost every night. My stash of unrecyclable containers from that week is horrible….I can’t even reuse them b/c I am so worried about what they leach into our food…
In order to prevent the need to rely on take-out I’ve come up with a 6 week rotating menu. I’ve used a form of this menu for years because when the kids were really young I found it overwhelming to food shop and cook 3 healthy,varied meals a day for them. Between tthis menu, an ample stash of trader joe’s frozen foods, and dinner out on saturday nights at our favorite french place in town (with kids!!) we haven’t had takeout in the last 8 weeks. My gift to you…..Bon Appetit!
| MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY |
| SAUSAGE,BROCCOLI,EGG NOODLES | PEROGI, OLIVES,HARDBOILED EGGS, SWEET POTATO | CHICKEN PICATA, CORN BREAD, SALAD(TOMATO, BASIL, FETA) | SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS, PARMESAN CHEESE, ZUCCHINI | QUESADILLA, SALSA, GUACAMOLE,CHIPS |
| PASTA WITH PESTO,BROCCOLI, | QUICHE, PUMPKIN BREAD, MINI CARROTS | BRWON RICE STIR-FRY, CUT VEGGIES, SESAME SOY SAUCE | BAKED ZITI, RICOTTA, MARINARA SAUCE, MOZZARELLA,STRING BEANS, SUGAR SNAP PEAS | CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, CHEESE AND CRACKERS |
| EGGPLANT PARMESAN butternut squash hard boiled egg | PAD THAI RICE Noodles SCRAMLED egg carrot, zucchini, broccoli | FRIED BROWN RICE Peas, corn,onion,asaparagus, sweet and sour sauce | COUSCOUS,ROAST CHICKEN, broccoli | STEAK, PEAS FRENCH FRIES, SALAD |
| BURRITOS Tortilla cheese veggies beans | ORZO WITH DICED, ROASTED VEGGIES, parm cheese | SWEET POTATO, HOMEMADE MAC & CHEESE | BAKED POTATO, cheese, sour cream,broccoli | HOMEMADE FISH STICKS, HOMEMADE POTATO FRIES,corn on cob |
| HUERVOS RANCHEROS Corn tortilla, Beans, eggs cilantr, pico de gallo | SHRIMP SCAMPI spaghetti or rice, parsley bread crumbs, lemon, white wine, butter | MINI HAMBURGERS cheese,mini-rolls, ketchup | RAVIOLI cauliflower w grated cheese | PIZZA and MAC N CHEESE cucumbers,carrots |
| CHEF SALAD, hard bolied eggs, deli meats, cheese, lettuce greens, croutons | SALMON BUTTERNUT SQUASH, french fries | EGGPLANT PARMESAN shredded mozz., marinara, bread crumbs,snow peas, salad | TORTELLINI SOUP (chicken noodle w totellini) | PASTA W VEGGIES, MARINARA, CHEESE, GARLIC BREAD |
Wow Michelle…my family, including myself, thank you! This will greatly increase the 10 meals I rotate each week. Just don’t have the time to think or be creative when it comes to cooking.