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Save yourself some time, money and stress by using this FREE Meal Plan that is full of amazing recipes. Each plan includes 5 dinner ideas, 2 side dishes, 1 dessert and a shopping list making meal planning easier than ever!!
WEEKLY MEAL PLAN #103
Each week, I share with you a FREE meal plan that consists of 5 dinner ideas (Monday-Thursday plus one Weekend meal), 2 side dishes, and 1 dessert!
Included is a grocery list with EVERY ingredient you need for all the items on the meal plan.
This is meant to help simplify menu planning, shopping, and cooking so you can more easily enjoy meals with your family throughout the week!
TIP OF THE WEEK
We love having freezer meals ready to pop in the oven on a busy day.
Baked Spaghetti is on the menu this week and makes a great freezer meal. Double the recipe and, after adding the sauce, cover one pan with foil and put in the freezer to use later.
Other recipes on our site that make great freezer meals are Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole, Pineapple Chicken and Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole.
BENEFITS OF MEAL PLANNING
There’s nothing worse than the dread every time a family members asks, “What’s for dinner??” And your answer is “I have no clue.” Having a meal plan for the week eliminates that completely, which is the number one benefit in my book!
Besides having a game plan in place, there are several other benefits of meal planning, including:
- Cost: When you have a plan set in place, and a specific list of groceries, you eliminate cost wasted on impulse items or produce that never gets used.
- Decrease Waste: No wasted money, and no wasted food! Having a set grocery list will help to avoid both of those issues.
- Variety: Our meal plans specifically include a lot of variety, with Mexican, Italian, Breakfast for Dinner, and so much more! You can expose your family’s palates to all kinds of meals.
- No Indecision: Did you know there’s such thing as “indecision fatigue”? The idea is that when you can’t make a decision on something (like what to make for dinner) it actually makes you mentally fatigued. When dinners are already planned out, though, you avoid indecision completely!
- Health: When you plan for/anticipate making well-rounded meals, you’re much more likely to actually make them rather than defaulting to convenient boxed meals, or unhealthy fast food!
As you can see, there are so many benefits to meal planning!
And if you want to create your own menu, be sure to check out all our recipes and visit our recipe pages, including: Main Dish, Side Dishes, Desserts, Appetizers and Breakfast!
Monday
Mexican Chicken
Mexican chicken is topped with salsa and cheese for a tasty quick meal. It takes chicken to the next spice level!
Try this mouthwatering chicken alongside some yummy Mexican Street Corn or Homemade tortilla chips with Black Bean and Corn Salsa. It’s a fresh but filling meal!
Tuesday
Baked Spaghetti
A simple, delicious, dinner recipe filled with hamburger, sausage, cheese, and more! The whole family will love this baked spaghetti!
Some sides that pair well with this hearty dish are Roasted Green Beans and Cheesy Garlic Bread. This meal will leave bellies full and happy.
wednesday
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Tater tot breakfast casserole is packed with bacon and sausage. It’s easy, delicious, and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
This breakfast dish is pretty darn filling, so we love to serve it with a light smoothie. One of our favorite summer smoothies is our Peach Mango Smoothie which is one of our sides this week. Give it a try! You’ll love it!
Thursday
Chicken Souvlaki
Chicken Souvlaki is a savory kabob infused with Greek flavors. With marinated chicken, onions, and peppers, it’s hearty and delicious.
Since we’re going Greek tonight, serve these kabobs with Greek Pasta Salad, Greek Cucumber Cups or a green salad with Greek Dressing. It’ll be a Greek feast!
Weekend
Sloppy Joes
Saucy and savory homemade Sloppy Joes are a delicious meat loaded sandwich. They are quick and easy, perfect for feeding a crowd!
What goes better with Sloppy Joes than some homemade coleslaw? It’s one of our sides this week and we think you’ll love the minimal work but big flavor of this recipe.
Sides of the week
Our Top Two Choices
A tasty 5-ingredient smoothie, Peach Mango Smoothie is perfect for breakfast or a cool refreshing drink on a hot summer day. With peaches, mangos, peach yogurt, and orange peach mango juice, the flavor is undeniably delicious!
This smoothie is perfect as a cold, healthy snack or side with any meal. Some other refreshing summer smoothies are Pineapple Banana Smoothie, Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie and Watermelon Smoothie. Find all of our delicious smoothie recipes HERE.
This quick and Easy Coleslaw makes the perfect side dish for any picnic or BBQ. It takes just minutes to put this classic coleslaw recipe together, and it can easily be customized with the spices and flavors you love most.
We love this classic version of coleslaw, but we also have some variations of it that are just as yummy! Try our Sweet Coleslaw, Asian Coleslaw and Broccoli Slaw. They all make great sides for summer get-togethers.
Dessert of the WEek
Dessert Kabobs
Dessert kabobs are a simple and delicious way to serve several “mini” treats at once. They are perfect for parties, BBQs and every day!
For more Finger Food Desserts, try:
- Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs
- Mini Fruit Tarts
- Mini Lemon Drop Cakes
- Scotcheroos
- Fruit Kabobs
- Cherry Cheesecake Cupcakes
Download the Meal Plan!
Click the link below to download this week’s FREE Meal Plan!
And remember – if you want to create your own menu, be sure to check out all our recipes and visit our recipe pages, including: Main Dish, Side Dishes, Desserts, Appetizers and Breakfast!
Click HEre to Download the pdf!
