Back to {Home}School Meal Plan Ideas

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Meal planning is one of the easiest ways to organize my day and my week.  I totally slacked on meal planning this summer.  It didn’t seem like we ate at home very much and we were always going in 10 different directions.

However, with our school year starting last week, we are back on the meal planning band wagon.  It just makes life so much easier!  Our days are busy.  I know I’m not alone is saying that from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, I’m on the go.

Often, I think, the hardest part of making a meal plan is figuring out what to make!  In order to help myself get more organized again, I made a list of some of our favorite dinners, lunches, breakfasts and snacks.

Simple Meal Plan Ideas

Dinner Ideas:

1.  Rice & Beans Tacos – this filling could be used in burritos, enchiladas, taco salad too

2.  Stuffed Peppers – I do mine in the crock pot, stuffed with veggies and rice or quinoa

3.  Bean Burgers – topped with avocado and coleslaw, serve with sweet potato fries or a pasta salad.

4.  Vegetable Stir-fry – served with brown rice and egg rolls

5.  Fish Tacos – we don’t eat meat, but we do occasionally eat seafood.  Fish tacos are so good.

6.  Spaghetti {an old standby in everyone’s house!}/Ravioli is also an easy favorite

7.  Leftover Soup – I love to make soup and serve it with bread, cornbread or salad.  I have been doing some soup recipe collecting on my Good to Eat – Soup Pinterest board

8.  Sweet Potatoes – again, I use the crock pot. Serve with a big salad.

9.  Chili – I will admit this isn’t my kids favorite dinner, but it’s so easy, filling, and good that I add it to the rotation anyway.

10.  Baked Potato Bar – my crock pot to the rescue once more, throw them in after lunch and the topping possibilities are endless.

11. Veggie Burritos – cook whatever veggies you have on hand, peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, fajita style and then load up tortillas, pour over some sauce, and back until warmed throughout.

My Pinterest board for more ideas Good to Eat – Dinner

Lunch Ideas:

I will admit that lunch is my least creative meal.  I typically eat a salad every day, and rotate through the same things for my kids.  Thankfully they don’t really care and could eat PB&J or Mac n Cheese everyday!

1.  Pizza Bagel

2.  Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

3.  PB & J

4.  Hot Dogs – We use vegan hot dogs and we do them only once in a while

5.  Mac n Cheese – Annie’s is my kids favorite brand, it’s a little less icky then some other boxed varieties.  A little.

6.  Wrap sandwiches – use your favorite sandwich filling in pitas or a wrap

7.  Leftovers

My Pinterest board for more ideas Good to Eat – Lunch

Snack Ideas:

1. Popcorn

2. Fruit – apples, bananas, oranges, grapes – whatever happens to be in season

3. Cut up veggies – carrots, celery, peppers, snow peas

4.  Peanut Butter on rice cakes – any nut butter would work

5. Pretzels – also mix with goldfish crackers and make a little snack mix

My Pinterest board for more ideas Good to Eat – Snacks

Breakfast Ideas:

1. Muffins – Pumpkin Cranberry, Quinana Muffins

2.  Swiss Oates – if you or your children aren’t big fans of regular oatmeal, give this a try

3.  Waffles – so easy to make ahead and freeze

4.  Oatmeal – we like this in many ways, stove-top, baked, in the crockpot

5.  Shakeology – this has been my breakfast of choice for several years! {The kids have a portion each morning too}

6.  Granola – we love granola, but I don’t make it that often because I lack self control and eat it all 😉

My Pinterest board for more ideas Good to Eat – Breakfast

What are some of your favorite meals for back to school?