It’s dawned on me that the way I’ve been planning the menus — by choosing whatever sounds good as I’m making the plan — might be costing us extra money. So this week I tried to buy the groceries first and then make the plan. I felt a little off-kilter, careening through the store with a list that said “protein, protein,” but you know? I think it did save some money.

(And I wasn’t physically careening. Although I did almost knock over a tomato soup display last week.)

So here’s what my coupons, a few sales and I came up with for this week:

Tacos
I thawed a bag of black beans last week and have yet to use them, so this will be primarily black bean tacos with just a hint of ground beef.

Hot & Sour Pork
I had a coupon for a pork tenderloin. So it’ll become this and …

Sweet & Sour Pork
this.

Breakfast for Dinner
This is what happens when I get home and discover that I didn’t plan quite as many proteins as I’d intended.

Grilled flank steak
Rockford believes the warm weather is going to hold out. As a testament to his faith, we’re going to try to do our first grilled meal of the year this week.

Baked chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes
My children are devoted to the McNugget. I’m hoping the Mommy version will be just as big a hit. Also, mashed potatoes are one of the few vegetables Poppy will eat. Although I’m hesitant to call potatoes a “vegetable,” especially when they’re mashed. Does that make me an anti-starchite? Anyway, she’ll eat them. But usually only when Rockford’s mom makes them. So this meal is a big We’ll See.

Black beans & rice
I’m thinking about making some kind of seasoned rice mix I got at the store for this, even though I already know the only part of it that Poppy will eat is plain white rice. (Have you noticed how much my meal planning involves what she’ll eat. I have.) I know that the rest of us will “chomp it up,” as Petey would say.

Pizza
I bought a frozen pizza, and I fully intend to use it.

Spaghetti
Oddly enough, this is one meal that Poppy eats without complaint. Even — especially, even — when there’s sauce involved.

Lasagna burgers
I made these a few weeks ago, and they were delicious. I probably won’t make the cheese and tomato sauce toppings again this time, though. Not that they weren’t good; I just don’t think I have the ingredients on hand. Anyway, I have a few of the burger patties in the freezer, so they’ll make an easy meal.