A Weekly Meal Plan for Your Busy Family: From Quick Monday Salad to Sunday Funday Tacos

I used to grocery shop in a very disorganized way, trying to plan meals as I walked through the aisles. Now I save time and money by planning complete dinners for seven days before I leave the house.

I check what I have on hand and make notes for possible substitutions. Just in case I goof, I include a “wildcard” meal for a quick nutritious dinner in a pinch.

Hit All Food Groups Every Day

Remember that growing children, as well as adults, need protein, vegetables/fruits and whole grain carbs for proper nutrition and happy tummies.

Keep this in mind as you shop for a variety of healthy foods for your family, and use the following meal plan as a guide for your upcoming dinners.

Monday on the Go

If Monday’s a busy night at your house, you’ll love quick and easy Classic Alaska Salmon Macaroni Salad from the folks at Alaska Seafood. Serve with sliced tomato on crisp romaine lettuce, breadsticks optional. Leftovers will make a great lunch tomorrow.

Tuesday Plan for Chicken

We enjoy a lot of chicken dinners at our house, so I’m always on the lookout for easy recipes to try. With Easy-Delicious-Tender-Microwave Boneless Chicken Breast from Cooks.com dinner will be ready before you have a chance to call, “Come and get it!”

Slice and freeze leftover chicken for a head start on Friday’s dinner. Serve with my new favorite rice, Minute Multi-Grain Medley, and some steamed carrots and green beans.

A Meatloaf Meal for Wednesday

Rachel Ray’s Classic Meatloaf is sure to become a family favorite. The ground beef, pork and veal combine with the ketchup and brown sugar for mouthwatering goodness.

We like to have baked potatoes with our meatloaf, so 5 to 10 minutes before I put the meatloaf in, I put scrubbed, fork-pricked potatoes directly on the center oven rack. (Spray potatoes first with cooking spray for extra crispy skins.)

With a side of steamed broccoli and some crunchy carrot sticks, we’re all set.

Thursday Meatloaf Melts

Meatloaf is even better the second day, and these Meatloaf Patty Melt Paninis from Kathy Strahs at Panini Happy take leftovers to new heights. We like to set up the snack tables and put on a movie to watch while we dig into this favorite comfort food.

If you don’t have a Panini grill, use your fry pan and make like you would grilled cheese sandwiches. Brown the meatloaf first for added flavor. I like to serve with either a cup of tomato soup garnished with dill, or a glass of V-8 Juice (I prefer the low-salt version).

Friday Scrounge Day

In our house, Friday dinner is a compilation of leftovers from the previous week that can be put into omelets or a casserole. Remember Tuesday night’s chicken breasts? Chop the leftover meat for Grandma’s Chicken Casserole from Betty Crocker.

I like to throw about a half cup of low-salt canned corn into mine. With a side of al dente steamed asparagus, you’ll have a crowd pleaser.

Plan a Saturday Feast

A feast by today’s standards need not be expensive or exotic. It’s simply a substantial meal that stretches your cooking efforts to the following day.

Basic Pot Roast is a great dish to stretch into Sunday. This recipe from Epicurious serves 6 to 8 with leftovers. In the last 30 minutes I like to add carrots and small whole red potatoes. Serve with a side of steamed frozen peas for a hearty meal.

Sunday Funday Meal

Shred your leftover pot roast and get ready to make some a fantastic taco dinner. Use a store-bought taco making kit and substitute the shredded pot roast for the ground beef. We ate it this way in the southwest and have been loving it at home ever since.

Top your tacos with shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese, diced bell pepper and tomato, sliced black olives and a dollop of sour cream for a fun dinner kids can put together themselves. Eat early, use paper plates to minimize clean up, and enjoy a family evening.

Wild Card: Plan for Pancakes in a Pinch

My go-to “Wild Card” meal has gotten me out of a lot of jams. I keep a batch of homemade pancakes in the freezer* next to a package of pre-cooked turkey sausages.

I’ve always got a bottle of pure maple syrup, some non-fat Greek yogurt and assorted fruit in the house to top off my “emergency” dinner. To re-heat frozen pancakes, I place them side by side on a plate and microwave on high 1 minute at a time until heated. Microwave times vary.

* To freeze pancakes, cook and cool. Place in zipper bag in a single layer with waxed paper between layers. Once frozen, pancakes may be stacked for more compact storage.

Don’t Forget Dessert

Dessert doesn’t have to be daunting, nor is it a no-no. Dessert was part of every meal in my childhood, and it didn’t make any of us obese or spoiled.

Warm a dish of applesauce with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve half a pear with a dollop of cottage cheese. Make dessert a simple and healthy extension of a tasty meal, like my mother did, to foster a healthy food attitude in your family.

Remember your favorite recipes here on rememberstuff.me.