Foodie February: Low Carb Cooking Challenge (FREE CALENDAR!)

Tip: Our Low Carb Menu Plans are on sale NOW, so snag your set!

The PPP 2026 February Recipe Calendar is here and we are ready for a challenge! 

Ready for a challenge? IT IS TIME! 

We’re calling this February “FOODIE FEBRUARY” and I’m challenging both your family and mine to seriously consider eating most meals at home this month. There’s just something about gathering around the table, eating a good meal, and connecting with your family. I’m challenging all of us (me included) to slow down and savor this nightly routine.

If you’re like me and feel like you’ve discovered soooo many things you’d forgotten about in your freezer as we cleaned it out last month, this is the time to clear those out and save a bundle. Our families will eat better, save a ton of money, and enjoy meals around the dinner table each night.

Like these YUMMY Smashed Burgers – a HUGE hit for everyone who’s tried it!

I was doing the math, and for a family of 5 to eat out at some fast food places, one meal right now can easily add up to $50-$60 and more. That’s one third of the cost for our average weekly grocery haul for our Monthly Grocery Membership (which gives you all the groceries you need for five meals and a dessert + leftovers. Crazy)!

If you feel like your finances are overwhelming and you don’t know where to begin, this right here is the place to start. 

Here’s the plan if you’d like to join us for the challenge this month:

1. If you haven’t already, inventory your pantry, fridge and freezer and note any recipes you can make using what you already have on hand. This freezer inventory printable makes this job a lot easier!

2. Commit to either a certain budget for eating out each week for your family or a certain number of meals to eat out. If you normally eat out twice per week, consider scaling back to just one meal out per week (or maybe consider a less expensive restaurant alternative!)

3. If you’re not sure what to make, our brand new LOW CARB Menu Plans are perfect for this challenge and might slim your waistline a bit too .

We’ll kick off the month with a week of meals from the Low Carb Menu box plus the Low Carb section of our Sides Box!  PLUS, don’t forget the Celebration box because you’ll need it for the AMAZING Valentine’s Day Menu and the FREEZER box to join us for Freezer Friday (2/6) & get those freezers stocked full of delicious meals! We will start off with Week 1.

The best part?

Our BRAND NEW Low Carb Menu Plan is available now to save you even more as you get started! You can totally join the challenge even without the menu plans, but these will make cooking even easier if you struggle with what to make at home. For less than the cost of one single meal at Chick-Fil-A, you’ll have all of your meals mapped out for the next TWELVE weeks.

Low carb never tasted this good, or felt this easy. Every recipe in this plan has fewer than 20 net carbs, and an impressive 58 meals come in under 10 net carbs, making low-carb eating simpler (and more delicious) than ever!

Created and tested by busy moms who know that healthy eating has to be practical, this low-carb meal plan uses everyday ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes—no complicated steps or specialty products required. The Low Carb Menu Plan Box includes 12 weeks of organized meal plans and grocery lists, so you can skip the stress, cut the carbs, and enjoy mealtime again.

Note: the PPP team will be making many of these recipes also on Instagram and Facebook Live with you throughout the month!

Print your February 2026 Menu Plan Calendar

Here’s what we’re making this week Feb 1st-Feb 7th:

• Smashed Burgers (Recipe of the Week!!!) – Well, let’s start out with a SMASH! Literally! These Smash Burgers are on rotation for the menu planning team, and I’m sure they’ll be on yours once you give them a try. Who said low-carb wasn’t delicious.
• Asian-Style Chicken Salad – Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight supper! We have 2 recipes this week that use rotisserie chicken, so go ahead and get a total of 6 cups of shredded chicken prepped and ready to go for both meals today.
• Mini Breakfast Souffles – You may want to double this recipe so you’ll have a few extra for breakfast this week. So yummy!
• Easy Zucchini Lasagna – I’ve tried several zucchini lasagnas over the years, but I haven’t been impressed until now. We tested until we came up with one that really stands up and satisfies (and isn’t soggy). Be sure to get all the extra moisture off the zucchini before you start layering them. Even the kids won’t notice the extra veggies!
• Chicken Enchilada Salad Bowls – I say yes to Chicken Enchiladas any which way and any time! Another quick and easy weeknight dish. 🙂
• No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake – I also say yes to chocolate and cheesecake any which way or any time, ha! You’ll need to be patient, as this one requires refrigeration for several hours. It’s worth it, though! Save some carbs (10 net carbs) for this delectable treat!

On Friday February 6th, we will make some yummy recipes for our first FREEZER FRIDAY in 2026. We will be using the recipes from the Freezer Menu Plan Week 1. I can’t wait for Week 1 again, it has some of our favorites like the Pesto Tortellini to stock my freezer!

• Tuscan-Style Chicken Spaghetti – Here we go! To be honest, I’m a little nervous about this one, but if I can make a spaghetti squash, I know you can too! Let’s do this together. 🙂
• Lettuce Wrap Sandwiches – Your favorite lunch meats and condiments, but on a lettuce wrap. We can do this.
• Greek Chicken Bowls – ALWAYS, always a favorite of mine! I love every flavor profile in this recipe. Yum, I can’t even wait!
• Cajun Shrimp & Cauliflower Grits – I know, I know, if you love grits like us southerners, you’re probably saying, what??? We can do this, girlies! If you aren’t counting carbs (as is my husband’s case, ha), then go for it with regular grits. The Cajun shrimp has a ton of flavor, which makes this recipe a real winner!
• Tex-Mex Scramble –Great for breakfast, brunch, or breakfast for dinner! So much flavor and goodness in this recipe.
• Keto Mixed Berry Crisp – 167 calories and 7 net carbs per serving! I’m definitely making this one this week. The recipe has blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, but if you want to stick with just 1 berry variety, that will work great too. Just be sure to use 4 cups of whatever berry you’ve got a hankering for.

Here’s what we’re making this week Feb 15th-Feb 21st:

• Ultimate Reuben Bowls – A reuben in a bowl! Yum! 15 minutes from start to finish on this one, and dinner is done!
• Blackened Shrimp with Asparagus – I love a one-dish meal (especially one that is only 239 calories and 4 net carbs)!
• Sheet Pan Beef & Broccoli – Whip this one up in less time than it takes to order takeout (and it’s better for you, too)! Serve over cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option, but it can also be served over long-grain rice. Grab a box of fortune cookies for a fun treat to go with this one.
• Loaded Portobello Mushrooms – If you’re like me, you might be a bit intimidated by these big mushrooms. I found this video on how to prepare them that will help. After that, this recipe is so easy. If you’re looking for a meatless meal, this is the one to try! Great reviews too!
• Turkey Meatball Casserole – Super kid friendly and just 5 net carbs! Let the kiddos have theirs over noodles. Add a side salad and you’ll be all set!
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – Yes, please! Your kids will thank you. 🙂

Here’s what we’re making this week Feb 22nd-Feb 28th:

• Sausage, Pepper & Onion Frittata – Breakfast for dinner, you bet! Great for brunch too. 🙂 Plus another one-dish recipe!
• Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole – Your favorite appetizer in a casserole! Fan-stinkin-tastic!
• Italian Grinder Salad – Oh y’all!! This is ridiculously good! Like, I might not be able to stop eating it, good!
• Rosemary Beef over Cheesy Polenta – This recipe is a restaurant-quality dinner! Plus, Mrs. Potts does most of the work for you, cooking the roast all day. Did you know that cornmeal and polenta are the same thing? I didn’t. Be sure to watch and stir while it cooks (it also likes to pop, so keep the temperature low).
• Creamy Pesto Chicken – We love pesto over here! This one is just creamy and delicious.
• Raspberry Coconut Bars – We LOVED them. I’ll walk an extra mile to reward myself with one of them. 🙂

Let us do grocery shopping for you! We make it so easy.

If you’re tired of spending all of your time in the grocery store, you’ll love Grocery by PPP! This brand new grocery experience combines all of your favorite PPP Menu Plans AND grocery shopping – all from the comfort of your home (or practice, the office – wherever you might be!). Simply select the recipes you want on your menu that week (or use our monthly menu plan), choose your grocery store and select pickup or delivery. It is as simple as 5 clicks – with no aisles, no ads, and no stress! Plus our monthly calendar is now included with your membership! You’ll get access to every single recipe that is included on the calendar each month making menu planning even easier!

Grocery by PPP seamlessly integrates with Walmart, Instacart (which includes stores like Aldi, HEB, Publix, Whole Foods, and MANY more)  and Kroger and its affiliates, so there is an option for everyone! If you prefer to shop in the store or to use a store that isn’t included in Grocery by PPP, you can also print out your custom grocery list and shop directly in the store. It is seriously a game-changer! 

Phew ~ I think that’s it! If you’re ready to actually make dinner at home, with your family gathered around and yummy, good-for-you food on the table, grab your Low Carb Menu Plan and join us as we start cooking. I can’t wait to start Low Carb Cooking with you, and am cheering for you, your family, your food 🙂 and of course your finances!

P.S. Just in case you’re interested, you can also still get our Slow Cooker Menu Plans, One Pot, 5 Ingredient, and Freezer Menu Plans in the PPP Shop. These have all been VERY WELL LOVED, and with all four plans, you could pretty much have all your menus planned for ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR. I love that!

Looking for more menu planning tips? Here’s how I menu plan each week in 5 simple steps. And if you need a little more motivation today, here are six genius tricks to help you save money by cooking at home. I’m cheering for you!