$75 Weekly Shopping and Menu 1-7-18

Okay, this week is going to be a little different.

Last week I mentioned we were starting a Daniel Fast with our church, and that happens this Thursday. So we’re spending the next few days preparing by eating all the unapproved foods in the kitchen.

If you’ve never heard of the Daniel Fast, it’s a 3-week fast that’s basically a strict vegan diet. The basics include:

• All fruits
• All vegetables
• Whole grains (Brown rice, quinoa, etc.)
• Beans and legumes
• Nuts and seeds
• Water

No meat, no dairy, no bread. So, my grocery posts will look a little different the next 3 weeks! Allison isn’t participating, so that’s why you’ll see some non-fast foods.

Our menu may also look a little “boring”. Not to say that a vegan diet is boring; but in terms of fasting, I want to make it about connecting more with God rather than “Hey, look at all these cool things I can make because I miss chicken!”. You’ll probably see a lot of the same meals.

I also didn’t do all of my shopping this weekend. Because the fast starts on Thursday, I didn’t want to buy all the fresh produce last week only to have it spoil. So Wednesday I’m going to Aldi and prepping all of the produce. Make sure you follow me on Facebook so you can keep up and see pictures of my meal prep!

One more thing: We went to Jungle Jim’s last week (A fantastic international grocery store) and I picked up a huge box of sunflower seeds for healthy fats, and a bag of wheat berries. I’ve never used wheat berries before; does anyone have good recipes?

Here’s what I bought this week:

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Aldi

Milk: $1.49
Pure and Simple Bars (Generic Larabars): $3.99
Fruit juice boxes: $1.99
Lemon juice: $1.89
Wipes: $2.99 (For Allison’s School)
Vegetable stock: $1.89
Dried black beans, 2-pound bag: $2.49
2 cans diced tomatoes: $.35 each
Tomato paste: $.39
Bananas, 2.55 pounds: $1.10
Quinoa: $2.99
Parchment paper: $2.59
Carrots: $1.29
Blackberries: $1.99
Sweet potatoes, 3-pound bag: $1.99
Green grapes, 1.51 pounds: $1.95

Total: $32.14

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Kroger

Folger 1851 coffee: Free with Free Friday Download
Gum: $2.19
Dried kidney beans, 1-pound bag: $1.49
Dried chickpeas, 1-pound bag: $1.77
Brown rice, 2-pound bag: $1.29
Tofu: $1.29
Red onions, 2-pound bag: $1.99
Fresh jalapenos: $.21

Total: $10.23

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Sam’s Club

Members Mark dishwasher tabs: $9.98
Frigo string cheese: $8.98

Total: Free thanks to a gift card from Ibotta!
Weekly Total: $42.37. I’ll be spending the rest on Wednesday on fresh produce.

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Menu

Lunch is always leftovers. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were purchased in previous weeks.

Dinner
Freezer Chicken Fajitas*, rice
Freezer Santa Fe Chicken*, fruit
Freezer Sloppy Joes*
Freezer Mexican Burritos*, frozen veggies*
(Daniel Fast Begins) Wheat Berry Salad (Adding chickpeas for protein)
Burrito bowls (Black beans, rice, lettuce, bell peppers, onions, Pico de Gallo, guacamole)
Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Lunch
Salad (Kidney beans, quinoa, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers)

Breakfast
Oatmeal*
Tofu Veggie Scramble
Carrot Cake Pancakes (For Allison)

Snacks
Larabars
Peanuts* and raisins*
Veggies and homemade hummus

Allison’s Lunch
Carrot Cake Muffins* (From freezer), blackberries, string cheese, Gogurt*, crackers*

What’s on your menu this week? Share in the comments below!