Happy 2018! How did we get here?
This is one of my favorite posts to share each year. While it stays similar, I swap in and out around 40–50 lighter meals I loved over the past year and remove ones I didn’t make as often. I refer to this post endlessly during the year, especially when I’m stuck thinking of dinner ideas.
On our best weeks, planning and shopping for three full meals works perfectly. It keeps our menu feeling fresh, usually leaves just enough leftovers, allows for a night or two of spontaneous eating out when schedules change, and often makes room for a beloved breakfast-for-dinner night.
My main goal this year is to make sure our meals are balanced, include vegetables regularly, and — most importantly — are planned. Our meal planning service, Sweet Peas Meals, helps a lot, but with Max now aware of everything going on, I want him to remember us eating balanced, delicious meals together at the table as a family.
I’d love to hear your favorite meals and meal-planning tips in the comments — how do you plan your weeks? xo
1. Crunchy Taco Kale Salad
2. Smoky Gruyere Butternut Squash Soup with Chickpeas
3. 30-Minute Portobello Fried Brown Rice
4. Chipotle Lime Shrimp Tacos
5. Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls
6. 30-Minute Shallot, Spinach & Goat Cheese Pasta
7. Thai Beef Bowls
1. Smoky Sweet Potato Burgers
2. Cauliflower Crust Pizza
3. Sesame-Crusted Shrimp with Mango Quinoa
4. Baked Falafel with Spicy Feta Dip
5. Lightened-Up Beef Enchiladas
6. Zoodles with Cherry Tomato Sauce
7. Slow-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Spicy Garlic Chickpeas
1. Garlic Brown Sugar Flank Steak with Chimichurri
2. 30-Minute Thai Chili Salmon Skewers
3. Goat Cheese Whole Roasted Chicken
4. Bang Bang Shrimp with Napa Cabbage Slaw
5. 30-Minute Buffalo Chicken Soup
6. Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Burgers
7. Potato Wedges with Squash and Lentils
1. Salmon with Thai Curry Peanut Sauce
2. Rosemary Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Salad
3. Summer Grain Bowls
4. BBQ Shrimp and Lime Avocado Toast
5. Late Summer Corn Tortilla Soup
6. Burrata Pesto Whole Wheat Pasta
7. Kale Caesar on Parmesan Pizza Crust
1. Grilled Avocado Kale Salad
2. Spinach & Red Pepper Bacon-Wrapped Eggs
3. Crockpot Mini Turkey Meatballs
4. Asiago Portobello Burgers
5. Crispy Shrimp & Mango Spring Rolls
6. 20-Minute Turkey Taco Nachos
7. Thai Chicken Enchiladas
1. BBQ Salmon Burgers
2. Chili Cheese Polenta Bowls
3. Oven-Crisped Cheddar Chicken Fingers
4. Minestrone Pot Pie with Whole Wheat Biscuits
5. 30-Minute Greek Chicken Lettuce Wraps
6. Broiled Fontina Toasts with Poached Eggs
7. Thai Crunch Chicken Salad
1. Toasted Sesame Quinoa with Chicken
2. Spicy Parmesan Shrimp Skillet
3. Chicken Pot Pie Soup
4. Crispy Kale Grilled Cheese
5. Marinated Flank Steak with Caprese Salsa
6. Pineapple Cashew Fried Rice
7. Asian Turkey Burgers with Spicy Lime Mayo
1. Mushroom Melts with Mustard Aioli
2. Winter Citrus Butter Salmon
3. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
4. Beer-Glazed Citrus Chicken
5. Spinach Artichoke Linguine
6. Warm Brussels Caesar Salad
7. Pulled Pork Tacos with Chili Slaw
1. Smoky White Bean Chicken Chili
2. Chili Garlic Beef Stir Fry with Coconut Jasmine Rice
3. Crunchy Chicken Spring Rolls with Blood Orange Sauce
4. Cashew Chicken Chopped Salad
5. Shrimp Zoodle Bowls
6. Shrimp Burgers with Chipotle Cream
7. Stuffed Peppers with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce
1. Slow Cooker Barbacoa Tacos
2. Chicken Avocado Salad with Peanut Dressing
3. Gruyere, Fig Jam & Arugula Breakfast Sandwiches
4. Grain Bowls with Maple Chipotle Sweet Potatoes
5. Brussels Sprouts Tacos with Caramelized Shallot Salsa
6. Chipotle Lime Chicken Skewers with Avocado Ranch
7. Butternut Squash Skillet Lasagna
1. Open-Face Steak Sandwich with Avocado Horseradish
2. 30-Minute Asian Chicken Soup
3. Butternut Squash Galette
4. Chipotle Lime Whole Roast Chicken
5. Pan-Crisp Salmon with Light Dijon Cream
6. Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper Pizza
7. BBQ Quinoa Salad
1. Marinated Chickpea Panzanella
2. Thai Coconut Curry Shrimp Noodle Bowls
3. Grilled Chicken Artichoke Skewers
4. Farfalle with Marinated Feta & Arugula
5. Chipotle Kale & Mushroom Tacos
6. Pulled Chicken Guacamole Sliders
7. Zoodles with Chicken Feta Meatballs
1. Smoky Sweet Potato + Black Bean Tacos
2. Roasted Chicken Ramen
3. Toasted Sesame Ginger Salmon
4. Sweet Potato Cream Pasta with Crispy Kale
5. Salmon Citrus Avocado Salad
6. Braised Short Rib Beef Stew
7. BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
1. Butternut Squash Enchiladas
2. Creamy Cauliflower Soup
3. Roasted Chipotle Chicken Taco Stacks
4. Crab Cake Sliders with Pineapple Kiwi Salsa
5. Lemon Chicken Risotto
6. Crockpot Pulled Pork Chili
7. Thai Curry Pomegranate Chicken
1. 20-Minute Cajun Salmon with Salted Lime Butter
2. Springtime Cobb Salad
3. Spicy Lime Chicken Enchiladas
4. Butternut Squash Lettuce Wraps
5. White Chicken Quinoa Chili
6. Jerk Shrimp Tacos
7. Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Arugula & Poached Eggs
1. Roasted Jalapeño Cheddar Turkey Burgers
2. Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes
3. Tequila Shrimp Taco Salad
4. Hawaiian Chicken Fajitas
5. Thai Butternut Squash Soup
6. Skillet Chicken with Peppers & Peanuts
7. Caramelized Peach Caprese Salad
1. Honey Mustard Chicken Chopped Salad
2. BBQ Salmon & Crispy Chickpea Salad
3. Easy Double Bean Burgers
4. Pizza Supreme on Cauliflower Crust
5. White Bean & Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers
6. Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Grilled Cheese
7. Crockpot Smoky Brisket Tacos
1. Brussels Sprouts Breakfast Hash
2. Green Goddess Salmon Sliders
3. Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowls
4. Roasted Corn Caesar Salads with Yogurt Dressing
5. Buffalo-Style Quinoa Sliders
6. Simple Summer Chickpea Salad
7. Mini Chicken Meatball Soup
