Weekly Meal Plan + Sunday Meal Prep

I used to think meal planning would make cooking so boring (if everything is planned ahead, where’s the spontaneity?), but in reality, meal planning has had the opposite effect.

Now that I plan meals in advance, I’ve actually been feeling more creative in the kitchen . . . coming up with new combinations (like the pulled pork tacos we’re having on Tuesday), working in seasonal ingredients (like the artichokes on Wednesday), and finding new shortcuts (Instacart I love you forever)!

Even better, meal planning makes “Sunday meal prep” much more effective. If you plan your meals on Saturday, you can shop for groceries (or get them delivered) on Sunday morning and then spend the afternoon cooking a few things in advance. Or a bunch of things!

Yesterday I made Easy Lentil Soup, Pulled Pork, Easy Bolognese Sauce, Gluten-Free Egg Casserole, No-Knead Bread Dough, and Among Friends Baking Mix’s chocolate chip cookies. I also cut up fruit and washed and cut romaine lettuce. Already, the week is feeling much more manageable!

Here’s this week’s meal plan:

Monday

Grilled salmon and shrimp with Central Market remoulade sauce

Greek salad (lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, feta, pepperoncini, vinaigrette)

Simple white rice (rice-cooking tips available here)

Easy lentil soup

Fruit

Tuesday

Pulled pork tacos

Cilantro lime sauce

Central Market prepared fresh guacamole + chips

Simple cole slaw (shredded cabbage tossed with cilantro lime sauce)

Leftover white rice

Fruit

Wednesday

Easy Bolognese sauce

Zucchini noodles or pasta

Wilted salad (iceberg lettuce, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parmesan, pepperoncini)

Steamed artichokes with butter

Fruit

Thursday

Delivery, leftovers or chicken nuggets

Friday

Grass-fed beef burgers with fixin’s

Carrots and cucumbers with ranch

Fruit GIANT ICE CREAM SUNDAE BECAUSE IT’S FRIDAY!!!!!!!!