Meal Plan // Week of September 16, 2024

We’ve got a special houseguest this week and that calls for a meal plan with extra tasty food! Grandma will be in town and I want to make sure to feed her well. I also have lunch plans to introduce my mom to True Foods Kitchen in Palo Alto – I know she will love it and I need another look at the Ancient Grains Bowl.  I’m so close to mastering a homemade version of this tasty and very popular bowl.  

The weather in the Bay Area sure changed overnight – it appears to be fall now, although not officially until next weekend.  In fact, I went from wearing a spaghetti strap dress on Friday night to jeans and a sweater on Sunday night! With the change of seasons, it definitely puts me in the mood for cozier food.  I’m not a stew and casserole kinda person, and will always keep salads in the regular rotation, but I was happy to put a few warming, cozy foods on the meal plan.  

We’ve got a few evening water polo games this week so making some of these recipes ahead of time will be key to getting a stress-free dinner on the table minutes after we get home. Perhaps you have an equally busy week with work or kids’ sports? A little extra planning on the weekend is a lifesaver later in the week. Meal planning is not always the sexiest of weekly to-dos, and I don’t always love doing it, but it’s a system I have in place to ensure my family is fed in the least hectic and most loving, nutritious way possible.  

This week’s meal plan:

1

Chicken Shawarma Salad

A household staple and in the regular dinner queue. Salad or wrap – you choose, but that chicken is so flavorful and easy to prepare. I like to marinate the chicken in the morning and roast it at dinner time while I prepare the salad or wrap fixings.

Check out this recipe

2

whatsgabycooking.com

Chicken Larb Bowls

Trying a new recipe here, but my excellent recipe detecting skills tell me this is going to be a delicious, super easy skillet meal. Try it with me or wait for me to update with my recipe notes. May add some steamed broccoli or green beans as a side.

Check out this recipe

3

Pork Carnitas Tacos/Bowls

Another flavorful, easy to prepare and make ahead dish. I enjoy using a dutch oven with a tight fitting lid for this and cooking while I’m home during the day, but it could easily go in the slow cooker and cook on low all day. The key is to get all the ingredients in the pot the night before, let it marinate in the refrigerator and pop it in the oven the next day.

Check out this recipe

4

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

It doesn’t get any cozier than this! This dairy-free creamy soup is simple to prepare using quality canned tomatoes and a great recipe to double and freeze for another busy day. My favorite grilled cheese sandwich is Ezekiel sprouted sesame seed bread, Kerrygold white cheddar cheese and sauerkraut. Yes, sauerkraut! It’s a tangy and healthy addition to this grilled cheese and a fantastic way to get a serving of fermented fiber in your diet. I have only a few ways to incorporate sauerkraut into my dishes and this is one of my favorites. I hope you give it a try!

Check out this recipe

5

Salmon with Orange Mustard Glaze

Sounds fancy but it’s really very simple – I promise. I’m actually making this on the weekend and it's great for entertaining, but simple enough for a weeknight meal with roasted broccoli or brussels sprouts.

Check out this recipe

6

Quinoa Salad with Arugula, Roasted Carrots and Fennel

This is one of my favorite recipes to make fall all the way through spring. It is also perfect for entertaining, especially when you need a gluten free, vegetarian main dish. For a boost of protein, I love to serve it with the salmon recipe above.

Check out this recipe

I’d love to know if you make any of these dishes! Even one or two nights of dinner planned out ahead of time will make for a less hectic, happier dinner hour.

Have a great week,

Christina