HOW TO MEAL PLAN | SIMPLE RECIPES FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR

I’ve gotten lots of requests to do a grocery shopping haul on my YouTube channel, so I just posted that video, but wanted to include the layout and recipes for how I meal plan with the coordinating recipes for one week for a family of four. I figure there will be two meals we either eat leftovers or get takeout, but so there are 5 days of dinners and 7 days of breakfasts and lunches are all at home. I work from home, so all these meals and recipes are very simple and fast since we’re always so busy. The full grocery shopping list is at the bottom in case you want to duplicate this meal plan for your family. FYI: I know sales/prices can vary based on produce and whether or not you buy organic, but this entire list was just under $200, and I always get organic dairy products and other organic options as much as I can.

Watch my meal planning video on YouTube here:

BREAKFAST

I am not a morning person, so breakfast in our home is very fast and simple. The kids get their choice of carb, with fruit or yogurt and milk. My husband, Adam, and I enjoy coffee in the mornings, and keep it simple with either toast and peanut butter or sometimes I’ll make fruit and oatmeal. 

Here are the carb options for the kids:

• Muffins
• Eggo French Toast
• Eggo Pancakes
• Eggo Waffles
• Wheat Toast
• Cereal
• Oatmeal

Fruit + Yogurt options:

• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Apples
• Pomegranate 
• Fruit + Veggie pouch (for on the go)
• Yogurt pouch (for on the go)
• Note: I’ll change up the fruit depending on the season and sales, but these are what I got this week!

LUNCH

Since being pregnant, I realized I function much better when I eat small snacks throughout the day. Our kids like to snack a lot too, so these lunch options are more geared toward the kids. Adam will be at work and do lunch on his own, so when I’m home I usually snack on fruits, cheese sticks, protein bars, yogurt with granola, or occasionally have soup. 

Kids’ Lunches:

• Mac and cheese
• Grilled Cheese
• PJB or Sunflower butter and Jelly Sandwich
• Quesadillas
• Soup

Sides:

• Fruit or Yogurt listed above
• Broccoli
• Carrot Sticks
• Goldfish

 

DINNER

Chili:  

• 1 lbs ground turkey/beef
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can chili beans
• 1 packet McCormick Organic chili powder
• 1TBSP chopped garlic  
• Cook for 4-6 hours on high in the slow cooker. Serve with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream. 

Chicken Alfredo + Fettuccini:

• 1 lbs chicken breast
• 1 jar garlic basil Alfredo sauce
• 1 TBSP chopped garlic
• Cook for 4-6 hours on high in the slow cooker. Serve over fettuccini topped with mozzarella cheese. 

Red Sauce + Rigatoni:

• 2 jars tomato sauce
• 1 lbs ground turkey/beef
• 1 TBSP chopped garlic
• Cook for 4-6 hours on high in the slow cooker. Serve over rigatoni, topped with mozzarella cheese. 

Burgers + Salad:

• 1 pack of four 1/4 lbs burgers
• Hamburger buns
• Sliced cheese
• Italian Salad Mix
• Grill or pan fry burgers (can season with garlic or ranch seasoning for extra flavor). Melt cheese on patties. Serve on buns with side salad with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. 

Beef w/ Broccoli:

• 1 lbs beef strips
• 1 bottle stir fry/terriyaki sauce
• 1 package broccoli florets
• 1 TBSP chopped garlic
• Cook beef and sauce for 4-6 hours on high in slow cooker. Steam broccoli and mix into beef and sauce just before serving. Make a package of beef ramen noodles, drain broth, and serve beef and veggies over ramen. 

 

SHOPPING LIST

• 5 Apples
• 5 Bananas
• 1 pack strawberries
• 1 pack raspberries
• 2 packages pomegranate seeds
• 5 Organic Yogurt Pouches
• 5 Fruit and Veggie Pouches
• 1 bag carrot sticks
• 2 bags broccoli florets
• 1 bag salad
• Mini muffins
• Eggo French Toast
• Eggo Pancakes
• Eggo Waffles
• 1 loaf Wheat bread
• 1 package burger buns
• Rice Chex
• Vanilla Granola
• Protein Oatmeal
• Olive Oil Butter
• Coffee K Cups
• Vanilla Almond Milk Coffee Creamer
• 2% Milk
• Whole Milk
• Chocolate Milk
• 4 flavored greek yogurts
• 3 Luna protein bars
• Olive Oil
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Mac + Cheese Cups (4 pack)
• Sliced Cheddar Cheese
• Peanut Butter
• Sunflower Butter
• Grape Jelly
• Tortillas
• Soup (I got black bean, chicken quesadilla, and chicken noodle)
• Shredded Mozarella Cheese
• Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
• 3 lbs ground beef/turkey
• 1 lbs chicken breast
• 1 lbs beef strips
• Goldfish Crackers
• Tortilla Chips
• 1 bottle teriyaki sauce 
• 1 package chili seasoning
• 1 tub chopped garlic
• 1 jar Alfredo basil sauce
• 2 jars tomato sauce 
• 1 can chili beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 box rigatoni
• 1 box fettuccini
• 1 pack beef ramen