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Weeknight Meal Planning – So much of what motivates me to plan our weekly meals in advance goes back to the pantry. Saving time and money is motivation enough for me to stay on the dinner planning train most weeks. But believe me, there are weeks when I get off the train, out of boredom or overindulgence or apathy, and we support it. This isn’t without a few consequences, usually a lot of fear of takeout and dinner, but we all live. It’s also a good reminder why meal planning is beneficial to us at this stage of the game. As an enjoyable exercise, I never regret doing it.
Here are six general steps I follow week after week to plan our weeknight menu. There’s nothing scary or unique about my process, but it’s a great system if you’re new to meal planning or feel overwhelmed and uninspired by the whole thing and need your mojo back.
Weeknight Meal Planning
A friendly reminder – the point of planning a weeknight menu is to make life easier. As with anything, finding your groove can take a little practice. There is no right way other than the way that works for you.
Week Of Weeknight Meals: March 2023
Give yourself permission not to eat dinner every day. Aim to cook no more than 3 to 4 nights a week, building in a few nights to eat leftovers, clean out the fridge, have breakfast for dinner or entertain.
In our house, this usually translates to cooking two dinners a week, a night to catch up on leftovers from one or two nights, clean out the fridge/breakfast for dinner, and Friday almost always has TBD leftovers (either for takeout or a pantry recipe). ).
Check your week. Consider after-school activities, late work meetings, trips, etc. Decide how many evenings will be spent cooking and when to plan leftovers, store-bought rotisserie chicken, or pb&j and carrot sticks. Write the dinner plan on your family calendar or put it on the fridge.
Explore what’s in the fridge, freezer and pantry. Prepare whatever pushes its quality (tender bell peppers; 4-month frozen pork roast) or whatever you have lying around the pantry (five cans of black beans) and find a way to incorporate it. in your menu. This is a great way to reduce food waste.
How To Make A Quick Healthy Weeknight Dinner
Check weekly grocery ads for protein deals and focus on seasonal produce. Poultry, fish and other animal proteins are often the most expensive foods. If saving money is a priority for you, choosing sales and seasonal items is a great way to narrow down your menu focus. If turkey is a weekly plan, write pasta with meat sauce or chili into your plan.
Are you trying to feed your family more meatless meals, fish once a week, more green vegetables? Let it influence your menu when it makes sense. If you want to eat more fish but don’t have the time or patience to cook salmon, make a tuna salad sandwich the night before.
After viewing the weekly announcements and considering dining priorities, fill out your entire menu. Rely on your favorite family staples — safe pasta, tacos or burrito bowls, frittatas, slow cooker hits — and save new recipes for busy weekend dinners. Think of a place where you can cook once and eat twice. If you’re a creature of habit and routine, create a four-week cycle menu and stick to it. Assigning theme nights reduces decision-making fatigue and provides plan structure (eg, Monday is pasta night, Tuesday is taco night, etc.).
Dinnerware is dedicated to helping busy moms get dinner on the table after weekday dinner, however it’s defined for you and yours. Feeling stuck on your weeknight meal plan? You’re not the only one! Filled with weeknight meal ideas, this list will provide great inspiration to add flavor and variety to your weekly routine. From sweet stir-fries to baked pasta…it’s all delicious, easy to cook and nutritious!
Weeks Of Family Friendly Meal Plans To Make Right Now
I am no stranger to meal plans. Every Saturday afternoon like clockwork Aaron takes her upstairs to put her to bed and I sit down with my laptop and homemade oat milk ready to tackle the week’s agenda. With no shortage of food blogs and digital recipe posts, though, why do I always feel like I’m reaching for the same weeknight dinner ideas?! I posted something to this effect on Instagram stories and two types of responses poured in.
The first is your own weeknight recipe ideas, staples that hit your table week after week. A second cry, often from the same person, was my only cry for help. Several dozen “Please share!” Later and I was editing this article. Almost all of this week’s dinner recipe ideas came from you on Instagram, and I’ve featured a few of mine. Did we miss your favorite?! Leave it in the comments!
This sheet pan dinner will show you how quick and easy it can be to get a salmon dinner on the table any night of the week.
As you might guess from the title, it’s quick and easy to make. Made with a zillion veggies from my CSA like broccoli, carrots and bell peppers. Extra delicious with a simple sesame-soy-ginger sauce.
Free Weekly Meal Plan Template — Kelly Powers
ThisSkillet Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs is a wonderful one-pot meal. A mouth-watering recipe made in 30 minutes and only 262 calories per serving!
These delicious tofu-filled BBQ bags let you keep veggies on a budget. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, these little bags will be delicious!
This curry is quick and easy to make and is full of vegetables. Served with summer squash, swiss chard, tomatoes, carrots, peas and farro with coconut milk.
Make a baked potato bar for your next party, raffle or tailgate. It’s a fun and festive way to feed a crowd, and the upside possibilities are endless.
Weeknight Freezer Plan (10 Meals In 1 Hour)
It’s hot, quick, easy and full of all the good for you protein and veggies. What a way to get your groceries!
This is the easiest 5 ingredient weeknight dinner. Aside from the short list of ingredients, the actual process of putting this together and putting it on the table was the easiest thing ever.
This is a dreamy baked pasta dish – not too heavy, not rich or gooey, tons of crispy edges.
Turkey meatballs with pesto and onions are tossed in a rich and flavorful tomato sauce. Served over a bed of spaghetti, it’s the perfect dinner
Meal Planning Monday #416
If it’s summer and you’re thinking of every way to avoid turning on the oven, but don’t eat a sandwich or salad! The stove is connected to high to make a spaghetti margarita, but only for a few minutes.
Restaurant-style chicken fajitas are a hearty dinner packed with chili and chili lime flavor. Be sure to serve with guacamole, sour cream and salsa.
You won’t believe how easily this comes together in 15 minutes – perfect for those busy weeknights!
There are many hidden vegetables in this Pea, Zucchini and Pesto Orzo. It is a perfect meal and only takes 15 minutes to cook. 15 minute break – no running, no pulling out every utensil in your kitchen. This is a simple yet delicious dinner that requires only a few ingredients.
Delicious Easy Weeknight Meals
Italian Sausage Soup with collard greens, white beans and diced tomatoes. Your whole family will love making this delicious, easy soup, and best of all, it’s only 180 calories per serving! This creamy soup is dairy free, keto and low carb.
We bring you all the spring vibes with this Greek Lemon Chicken Casserole with Mint Goddess Sauce. Grilled (or grilled) Greek chicken served in a bowl with orzo, roasted peppers, avocado, feta cheese, cucumber and the most addictive mint sauce. It doesn’t get any easier or tastier than this grilled chicken…easy, quick, extra colorful, super flavorful, and delicious. The perfect dinner to serve any night of the week!
Chicken and Peanut Sauce is like chicken satay without all the work of baking. Sweet fried chicken served with Thai peanut sauce.
These vegetable spring rolls are fresh, flavorful, and perfectly filling! They only take 20 minutes to throw together and stay fresh in the fridge all week. Don’t even get me started on this delicious peanut butter sauce – you’ll want to put it on everything!
Healthy Meals You Can Make In 20 Minutes
Fresh salmon, pan-seared, then oven-roasted to finish – topped with a delicious balsamic glaze, this glazed salmon recipe is so good!!
A luxury known worldwide and loved by all. A beautiful piece of chicken layered with long-grain basmati rice, then slow-cooked (dum) to perfection. Today we present to you the easiest and best chicken biryani recipe that you will definitely appreciate.
Spicy Middle Eastern chicken, roasted with sesame sweet potatoes, and served in a bowl with hummus, fresh naan, and arugula.
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