Welcome to the latest Family Meal Plan (Real Life Edition) – a flexible, doable look at what we actually ate this week, as a family of 6. This isn’t a perfectly curated plan or a “cook every night” situation. It’s easy recipes, repeat meals, a pizza night or dinner out, and a plan that works around real life. I share breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and a full cost breakdown so you can see how it all comes together during busy days.
Breakfasts this week
- Made a double batch of eggless waffles – easy to reheat on busy mornings.
- We made Serbian crepes (palacinke) – these are also really great reheated.
- We also had chocolate muffins from Nanas the kids ate before school.
Lunches this week
- 5 ingredient ramen with a fried egg – a super easy delicious lunch, recipe is in my cookbook too!
- Tomato and pepper soup – I made this from a cookbook I checked out at the library and gotta tell you, it just wasn’t that good. We made grilled cheese and the grilled cheese was the only thing that saved this.
- Leftovers
Dinners this week
- Skillet cheddar turkey burgers – these are such a great quick dinner option – kid friendly.
- IP Chicken and dumplings – you can make this in the IP or stovetop, this is so good and comforting.
- Butter and tomato poached white fish – more of an adult dinner, super delicious delicate white fish!
- Sloppy Joes – the best sloppy Joe’s, I’ve been making these for years! We serve potato chips on the side.
- Sheet pan pizza – A big family favorite -the best pizza everrrr, perfect for pizza Friday!
- Lamb meatballs with yogurt sauce – they have ground lamb at Aldi for $6.99 sometimes, and when they do I buy like 5 lbs and make the lamb meatballs ahead, and then freeze them. Then I’ll put them in a slow cooker with the tomatoes. Perfect for days when the kids have sports or extra curriculars.
Snacks this week
- We have apples from the orchard. Easy snacks that work for snack plates (we make epic snack plates on this beautiful plate for the kids after school) and the most gorgeous technicolor frosted cookies. I got this apple slicer that changed the game!!
- I also made chocolate coins with leftover melted chocolate with toppings of mini marshmallows and pecans, so good
The Cost Breakdown
Groceries: $130 (Aldi)
Restaurant: $70 (Coopers Hawk – just went with 2 of the kids, delish, they have this black and blue salad that’s insane.)
- Join me for Here’s to the Weekend, the SweetPhi newsletter, where I share easy recipes, weekly favorites, book recs, and little things making life sweeter – delivered every Friday.Here is the family meal plan in action:
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