Meal Planning II 5 Day Menu

I have lists stashed in all my working locations (bedside table, journals, desk drawers) of weekly meal plans. I get so much joy in planning meals for the week (I know this is not a feeling shared by many), and as the boys return to school, my planning energy grows even stronger in the hopes of keeping a calm and peaceful home life amidst the inevitable craziness of school day demands.

Every season my intentions are to create loosely based weekly plans that can be easily tailored to the week’s schedule. For the beginning of this school year, I have attempted to plan a repeating schedule of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that I hope will help prevent food boredom, will increase food diversity, and make meal prep easier. My hope is to regularly share them here in case you’re looking for some quick, healthy, delicious, and family favorite meals to have during your busy weeks. I hope it helps!

MONDAY

BREAKFAST: Overnight Oats- Trader Joe’s Organic Rolled Oats with Ancient Grains and Seeds, Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, Coconut Sugar, and Peanut Butter (Topped with fresh fruit in the morning)
PACKED SCHOOL LUNCH: Bare Chicken Nuggets, Sliced cucumbers and peppers, apple slices with Nutella
AFTER SCHOOL SNACK: Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Sea Salt granola, strawberries, dollop of Peanut Butter
DINNER: Shrimp Fajita Bowls- Sautéed shrimp with taco seasoning, roasted peppers and onions, avocado slices, romaine lettuce, and tomatoes with a side of tortilla chips

TUESDAY

BREAKFAST: Fried egg topped with shredded cheese and salsa, Annie and Jack’s sausage patties, toast
PACKED SCHOOL LUNCH: Peanut butter and jam on whole grain bread, baby carrots with hummus, grapes
AFTER SCHOOL SNACK: Cottage cheese with peaches
DINNER: Pasta with bolognese sauce (loaded with vegetables)

WEDNESDAY

BREAKFAST: Fried egg topped with shredded cheese and salsa, Annie and Jack’s sausage patties, toast
PACKED SCHOOL LUNCH: Chicken taquitos, guacamole and tortilla chips, mandarin oranges
AFTER SCHOOL SNACK: Simple Mills bar with peanut butter
DINNER: Summer Picnic Dinner- fried chicken, corn on the cob, and tomato-basil salad with burrata cheese

THURSDAY

BREAKFAST: Scrambled eggs, pumpkin muffins, berries
PACKED SCHOOL LUNCH: Salami, mozzarella, Trader Joe’s savory thin crackers, baby carrots, olives, grapes
AFTER SCHOOL SNACK: Homemade chocolate chip cookies and milk
DINNER: Farro with crispy tofu, grapes, arugula, and feta

FRIDAY

BREAKFAST: Yogurt bowls- whole milk plain yogurt, cashews, pistachios, almonds, dollop of peach jam, raisins
PACKED SCHOOL LUNCH: Sesame bagel with cream cheese and cucmbers, berries, pepper strips, chocolate chip cookie
DINNER: Homemade pizza (we use Trader Joe’s pizza dough) topped with pepperoni, kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts