Benjamin Gardening: A Year Of Eating Locally Challenge-Meal Plan + Food Costs: Week of July 1, 2018

If you’re just tuning in, this is our 1 year challenge in which I share our weekly meal plan as we try to eat primarily locally grown food. You will see that I often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not. Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines. Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time. You can read more about meal planning here.

Read the entire series here.

Last week is a bit of a blur. J had a minor knee surgery the Friday prior so things were a tad erratic as we weren't entirely sure what to expect. The good news is, he's doing very well and back up and running. Well, not running, but you know what I mean. Actually, he is completely against running even when he hasn't had knee surgery, so that will never be a true statement. But I digress.....

Raspberries are here!! Both red and black varieties, and they are sooooo good. Summer squash is up and running. Well, for the farmer's at the market they are. My 4 plants have teeny tiny squash on them. I'm sure in no time they will be the size of a baseball bat, but for now, I'll get them at the market. Cherries and peaches made their debut in the stores a couple of weeks ago. The prices have finally dropped to what I deem reasonable, so they went on the shopping list. I'm not aware of anyone local who grows cherries or peaches to sell.

This week it's quite hot and very humid. Upper 90's to just over 100 degrees + high humidity = a very unhappy group here at Cobble Hill. Not one of us has an appreciation for it. The poor chickens are miserable and the dogs are bummed about not being able to hang out on the deck much. It goes without saying that the grill will be used a lot this week. Sunday was a high of 104 degrees with the heat index. Needless to say it was a HOT day to be a vendor at a farmer's market which is why I opted not to take a photo of my market veggies. That and I forgot my cute little market basket. Instead I bring you a photo of beautiful lettuce growing in the ground.

On to the menu!

Weekly Meal Plan:

Sunday

Breakfast - Breakfast Burritos

Lunch - PB&J Sandwiches, Kohlrabi Sticks, Cherries

Dinner - Grilled Buffalo Shrimp, Veggie Stir Fry & Rice

Monday