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    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Jan 10, 2016 | Modified: Feb 19, 2016

    Real Food Meal Planning: Winter Weeknights #1

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    I was sitting having a coffee and meal planning for the week, and I figured since I was doing all the ground work for a healthy and nutritious week, I may as well share it with you guys, right? Even if you just use one meal for your from scratch inspiration, it's better than nothing, right?

    So here it is. This is what my little family will be eating this week, and I hope you guys will join us, in spirit at least 🙂

    If you haven't engaged in meal planning before, it's pretty simple. Pick what you want to eat for the week, write a list for the grocery store, shop for what you need and get on with it 🙂 I hope you find some inspiration. Have a great week!

    MONDAY

    Nutty-Ginger-Tamari-Quinoa-Salad-5-of-9

    Ok guys, let's start the week off right. Meatless Monday with some Nutty Ginger Tamari Quinoa Salad from Bam's Kitchen.

     

    TUESDAY

    salmon-with-lemon-dill-and-parsley-102-800x5332

    This Baked Salmon with Lemon, Dill and Parsley from Simply Fresh Dinners will be ready in twenty minutes from start to finish.

     

    WEDNESDAY

    One-Pot-Chicken-Fajitas-and-Rice-6-of-6

    Pop the chicken in the marinade before bed on Tuesday night to give this chicken a pop of flavour to die for. One Pot Chicken Fajitas from The Girl and the Kitchen is a great dish to celebrate hump day in style.

     

    THURSDAY

    Sweet Potato and Corn Chowder

    Now I don't know about you, but by Thursday I am usually starting to waiver in my determination to cook from scratch every night. So I have made Thursday night my super quick dinner night. This Sweet Potato and Corn Chowder will do the trick. If you have a bit of extra time, you could always whip up some 40 Minute Honey Wheat Dinner Rolls as well, and feel super awesome 🙂

     

    FRIDAY

    Spicy-Rice-Noodle-Salad-2

    It's Friday! Yay 🙂 Let's celebrate by having some fake-out. This Spicy Rice Noodle Salad from Omnivore's Kitchen is quick and easy to prepare, perfect for a chilled out Friday night. Of course, if you have little ones, cut down on the spice. If you like a little meat, you can always add some grilled steak to the top.

    Have a great week, and happy meal planning 🙂

    « Vegetarian Tortellini Soup
    Easy Beet Balls »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Yona Williams says

      January 26, 2016 at 8:02 pm

      Wow… Sweet Potato and Corn Chowder sounds extremely delicious. I also love the thickness of this soup. I love the combination of ingredients.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 26, 2016 at 10:31 pm

        Thanks Yona!

        Reply
    2. CourtneyLynne says

      January 26, 2016 at 1:05 pm

      Oooo being the total foodie that I am this is my kind of post!!!! Everything looks so yummy 🙂

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 26, 2016 at 10:32 pm

        It was a pretty delicious week CourtneyLynne 🙂

        Reply
    3. Danielle says

      January 25, 2016 at 7:34 pm

      Thursdays dinner, the soup, looks so tasty! IT's so freezing here and that sounds like it would be a great warm-up!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 26, 2016 at 10:34 pm

        It is definitely the perfect soup for cold weather, we have had it a number of times this winter, and it has become a bit of a favourite (mainly because it is so easy!)

        Reply
    4. Heather says

      January 25, 2016 at 12:26 pm

      The quinoa salad and the spicy rice noodle salad look delicious! Even though it is winter, I am drawn to salads. I figure my body must be telling me to eat more veggies - and that can't be a bad thing!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 26, 2016 at 10:35 pm

        Oh I totally get that Heather! I think I overdid it with the heavier meals at the start of winter, and have been craving lighter salads a lot lately too.

        Reply
    5. MyTeenGuide says

      January 25, 2016 at 2:33 am

      Everything looks delicious! I don't do meal planning, but these are great ideas. I am always looking for new ideas to prepare food.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 26, 2016 at 10:36 pm

        I have become such a meal planning junkie lately 🙂

        Reply
    6. Jen says

      January 24, 2016 at 7:30 pm

      I love fajitas but I haven't attempted them because I don't have that sizzle pan! I am going to try to make them in the oven now. thanks!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 7:56 pm

        They turn out great in the oven! Not the same as the version you would get in a sizzle pan, but you still get those flavours, and it is much easier with them being in one pot 🙂 Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    7. Michelle says

      January 24, 2016 at 5:32 pm

      I love everything about this week's menu! Those chicken fajitas sounds great.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:12 pm

        Thanks Michelle! The chicken fajitas are pretty delicious - and the fact that they can all be done is one pot is an added bonus in my books for sure 🙂

        Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 7:57 pm

        Thanks Michelle 🙂 The fajitas are pretty delicious!

        Reply
    8. laura londergan says

      January 24, 2016 at 5:32 pm

      wow this week's meals look so good. I am especially liking wednesday's chicken dish as that is my fave to have and I eat it quite often.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:13 pm

        I am a big chicken fan as well - these fajitas are delicious!!

        Reply
    9. krystle cook says

      January 24, 2016 at 12:54 pm

      The salmon looks delicious as does the rest of the recipes. I just wish my family wasn't so picky. I swear my son could eat spaghetti everyday if we'd let him. I really need to start meal planning though!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:16 pm

        Oh I am so lucky mine aren't picky eaters - it would make meal times so much more difficult (plus I do not have the patience 🙂 )! Meal planning definitely makes the weeknight dinner debacle go so much more smoothly!

        Reply
    10. Molly says

      January 24, 2016 at 10:20 am

      Oooh, your family is going to be eating so well this week! I would want to be joining y'all everyday of the week, but especially tomorrow night haha!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:17 pm

        Haha thanks Molly 🙂

        Reply
    11. Stacey says

      January 24, 2016 at 6:19 am

      Love the balance of fish, chicken and veggies. We just had some ah-mazing wild caught salmon last night. That's a favorite. I 'm going to check out the quinoa salad - looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:18 pm

        Yum, I love wild caught Salmon - it can be hard to find around these parts, but so worth the search! I can highly recommend the quinoa salad - it is simply delicious!!

        Reply
    12. Rose Sahetapy says

      January 24, 2016 at 4:40 am

      All those meals are not only delicious but so appetizing! The week meal planning is a great idea, and make the work in kitchen a lot easier in preparing and organizing.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:19 pm

        Oh I definitely agree Rose! If I don't meal plan I ALWAYS lose the will to cook by Thursday night. If I know I have everything on hand, I stick to my plans 🙂

        Reply
    13. Siniciliya says

      January 24, 2016 at 2:49 am

      Totally love your plan! I am also into making plans in my new nutrition plan

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:19 pm

        It makes such a difference hey!

        Reply
    14. Jamie H says

      January 23, 2016 at 9:48 pm

      This is so helpful! I used to meal plan like crazy, but after having 3 kids in 4 years, I got burnt out. I feel like I'm finally ready to tackle meal planning again-- I can't wait to try the One Pot Fajitas!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 6:20 pm

        Oh wow, you are super woman! I had two in two years, and that burnt me out as well 🙂 The one pot fajitas are really delicious - both my little ones loved them, which is a huge bonus!

        Reply
    15. Ana De- Jesus says

      January 23, 2016 at 11:45 am

      Are you a vegetarian I am thrilled that there are recipes that cater to me to as I am a veggie. I love the sound of the sweet potato chowder and the tamari quinoa.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 24, 2016 at 8:01 pm

        Hey Ana, we actually aren't vegetarian, I like to think of us as being more flexitarian....we eat vegetarian/vegan dishes maybe 5 times a week, and chicken (sometimes red meat) on the other nights. I would totally go 100% veggie, but my husband is a total carnivore, so we compromise! I am glad you could find some inspiration, it can be hard as a vegetarian, as everything can get so meat oriented these days!

        Reply
    16. Donna1 says

      January 18, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      That would be a great idea actually, would make it a lot easier to pick meals for the week! I have just finished up with this week, and I have to say, it was particularly delicious - and saved me so much time, in that I already knew what I would be doing each night!

      Reply
    17. Mila says

      January 11, 2016 at 8:11 am

      Thank you for featuring my One Pot Chicken Fajitas in your meal round up!!! Everything else looks fantastic too!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 11, 2016 at 3:04 pm

        Very welcome Mila, I am looking forward to trying it out on Wednesday 🙂

        Reply
    18. Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says

      January 11, 2016 at 5:07 am

      Hi Donna,

      Such a great meal plan for the week and starting it off with Bam's awesome quinoa salad is the best! Thanks so much for including my salmon recipe. I love it's simplicity. So many advantages to meal planning and I especially love the money that you can save. Looking forward to more of your ideas!

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 11, 2016 at 2:39 pm

        Thanks Robyn 🙂 I have been looking forward to this salad for a while! My mum is arriving from Australia on Tuesday, and is obsessed with salmon, so your recipe will be the perfect welcome dish!

        Reply
    19. Bam's Kitchen says

      January 10, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      Hi Donna, Thanks for starting a meal planning 101. I am making a grocery list as we speak and it is so helpful. Your sweet potato corn chowder with homemade buns looks amazing. Thanks so much for thinking about us on your meatless mondays. Take care, BAM

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 10, 2016 at 7:22 pm

        Oh you are so welcome BAM 🙂 I have been wanting to try your salad since it popped up on my feed a few days ago, so very excited for monday night's dinner!

        Reply

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    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

    Forget about hunting down weird ingredients and making trips to specialty shops.

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