WEIGHT WATCHERS MENU PLAN: INEXPENSIVE, EASY & HEALTHY !!

The first week of the year is always a time filled with plans and goals for what’s ahead. Mine usually involve more saving, making time to workout and taking more opportunities to play with my kids.

To accomplish all those things, meal planning is a vital part of making our week run like clockwork. I like to sit down with the new ads, survey what’s on hand in the pantry and set a menu for the week that doesn’t involve hours of cooking, but incorporates healthy ingredients. Thanks to coupons, we are often able to just grab meat, produce, perishables and a few sale items at the store.

Following the sale cycles doesn’t just save us money, we also save a lot of time because we aren’t always running out to the store for forgotten ingredients. Here is a healthy menu plan based on the sale items this week (with a few pantry staples thrown in).

Baked Beef Ziti – Recipe

Ground Beef, 93% Lean, $3.77-$3.99 lb (Harris Teeter, Bloom)
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest or Garden Delight Pasta, 12-13.25 oz, FREE (Publix)
Hunts Diced Tomatoes, 14.5 oz can, 58¢ (Harris Teeter)

(7 Points Plus)

Grilled Pork w/ Blackberry-Sage Sauce – Recipe

Pork Loin, $1.69 lb (Harveys)
Blackberries, 12 oz, 99¢ (Harris Teeter)
Chicken Broth (pantry)
Smart Balance Spread, 13-15 oz, 74¢ (Harris Teeter)

(5 Points Plus)

Apple Braised Chicken – Recipe

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, $1.97-$1.99 lb (Publix, Sweetbay, HEB)
Yellow Onions, 3 lb, $1.99-$2.50 (Harveys, Food LIon)
Musselman’s Apple Sauce, 6 pk., 4 oz cup, 89¢ (Publix)
Chicken Broth (pantry)

(6 Points Plus)

Broiled Salmon w/ Rosemary – Recipe

Salmon Fillets, $5.99 lb (Food Lion)
Broccoli, $1.29 lb (Food Lion)

(6 Points Plus)

Ten Minute Taco Salad – Recipe

Jennie-O Ground Turkey, 93% lean, 20 oz package, $3.49 (Publix)
Iceberg Lettuce, 99¢ (Sweetbay)
Slicing Tomatoes, 99¢ lb (Harveys)
Hass Avocado 84¢ (Bi-Lo)
Mission Tortillas, 12-20 ct. $1.14 (Bi-Lo)

(8 Points Plus – toppings will vary the point values)