Do you struggle with coming up with a meal plan each week?  Let me assure you, it doesn’t have to be complicated.  One super simple way to make up a quick meal plan for the week is to pick a theme for each night of the week.  It could be something like:  soup, salad, sandwiches, pasta, breakfast for dinner, pizza night, vegetarian etc…  Pick 7 of your family’s favorite types of meals, and then assign a theme to each day of the week.  Then when it’s time to make your grocery list, for example, you can pick a soup you all like for Monday, a sandwich for Tuesday, your favorite pasta for Wednesday, and so on.  It gives you a direction and involves a little less thinking.

If you’d like some assistance with menu planning and grocery shopping, be sure to check out my free printables:
Dinner Planner and Grocery List Printable
Weekly Meal Planner
Printable Grocery List

If you’d like some ideas for earlier in the day:
Breakfast Ideas:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby’s choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal
Breakfast cookies
Quiche
Cinnamon rolls
Pumpkin pancakes
Baked eggs and cheese casserole
Toasted peanut butter & banana sandwich
Coconut Quinoa Granola

Lunch Ideas:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these “entrees”)
Pasta  (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs (We like Hebrew National)
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful Homemaking

This group of ladies and I also try to help you each week with some tasty and family friendly dinner recipes.  Check these out:

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful Homemaking

Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteaks from New South Charm

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful Homemaking

Slow Cooker Luau Meatloaf from Jonesin’ for Taste

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful HomemakingEasy Fish Tacos

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful Homemaking

Easy Frito Casserole from Recipe Treasures

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful Homemaking

Sicilian Lasagna With Peas and Sausage from Tastefully Eclectic

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful Homemaking

No Fuss 5 Ingredient Crockpot Lemon Chicken from A Day in Candiland

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful Homemaking

Peach Breakfast Cake from Cooking with Carlee

If you’re new here, I have some printables you might find helpful in your meal planning:

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful HomemakingThis one is a grocery list and menu planner in one, and is my favorite.  I love having my shopping list categorized by sections of the grocery.

family meal plan, Family Meal Plan for Dinner, Joyful HomemakingThis style lets you plan all three meals and snacks for 7 days.

Take care, have a good week, and keep on keeping on!  🙂

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