Meal Plan // October 28, 2024

The Perfect Time to Meal Plan

If there ever was a good time to meal plan, I’d say the next few months would be it! As we reach the end of October, our calendars are filling up, and this season brings more commitments and activities to plan for.

This week I’m doing lots of recipe testing for other projects, so the planned dinners on this week’s meal calendar are designed for convenience. Some meals are meant for one of my family members to prepare, while others are dishes I’ll make in the morning for everyone to enjoy later. Some weeks are just like that!

Planning dinners for busy weeknights is key to keeping evening stress low and ensuring that we have balanced meals. Looking at the family calendar with several evening commitments, this week is no different. With a little preparation, we can make the most of our evenings, even when things get hectic. I hope this meal plan is helpful and you find a recipe or two that inspires you!

Have a great Halloween!

Cheers,

Christina

1

Tortellini Soup – Love and Lemons

This is a trusted site of mine and this soup was exactly what I was looking for this week. I’ll serve with a green salad with white beans for additional protein.

Check out this recipe

2

Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls

I’ll air fry the tofu for a nice crispy texture and add some chicken for any family members wanting more protein. It’s hard to beat a bowl of anything drizzled with peanut sauce!

Check out this recipe

3

Honey Lime Salsa Verde Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Who doesn’t love an easy meal made in the crockpot? We will use this chicken for tacos, rice bowls and quesadillas this week.

Check out this recipe

4

Smoky Black Bean Dip

This is a Food Family Friends favorite and one my family will enjoy during one of the World Series games this week. It’s also perfect for heating up and noshing on while answering the door to cute little trick or treaters.

Check out this recipe

5

Pumpkin Maple Muffins Recipe

My teens love the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin bread mix but homemade is always going to be tastier! This recipe from Alison Roman has that same fluffy texture as the TJ’s mix but is so easy to make at home with pantry ingredients you probably already have. I make them exactly as the recipe is written (sugar and all) and even add a big handful of chocolate chips – what a fun treat for my family during pumpkin season. *Apologies, but the recipe is behind a NYT Cooking paywall – one of my absolutely favorite paid subscriptions! Highly recommended for anyone that loves cooking and high quality recipes.

Check out this recipe

6

Pumpkin Protein Smoothie

I’m making several pumpkin recipes this week and will no doubt have leftover canned pumpkin to use up. The perfect use for a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree is in a protein smoothie! It’s great to enjoy year round for the nutritional benefits, but especially as a healthy festive protein smoothie during the fall.

Check out this recipe