I’ve harped on talked about meal planning before because it really can make or break a healthy lifestyle.  Fail to plan, plan to fail and what not.  This weekend that point was really hit home for me.  I was dog-sitting Bronson and didn’t really have any plan for dinners.  You know what happens when I don’t have a plan for dinner?

Loaded nachos.  Or loaded yuca fries.  Oh, loaded yuca fries.

These meals are delicious and totally fine to have once in awhile.  Because while loaded yuca fries are a delicious revelation, you can not live on them alone.  Although I may give it a whirl…

Meal planning doesn’t have to be elaborate.  It doesn’t have to involve hours of prepping or fancy ingredients.  When I plan meals for my week, I look for things that will last a long time so I can cook once or twice and eat for the entire week.

I always have roasted vegetables on hand, spiralized zucchini and sweet potatoes make quick meals when paired with a simple sauce like pesto, and lately, I’ve been roasting whole chickens in the slow cooker for Adam.  That gives me a bunch of meals for the week and beyond.  Just taking a little time on Sunday to see what you have in your fridge/pantry and making a rough menu for the week can make your life so much easier.  And we all want easier right? 

Here are some of the meals that are on heavy rotation around my house.  You can use some of these during your week or change them up to fit your tastes and needs.  And if you don’t manage to get a menu ready for your week, that’s ok too.

There’s always loaded yuca fries 🙂

Recipes for Meal Planning 

Mozzarella & Roasted Tomato Zoodles– Perfect for summer and YAS to zoodles! 

Creamy Pesto Sweet Potato Noodles– Creamy AND pesto-y. Double check. 

Parsley Cream Zoodles– Zoodles for the win. Again. 

Lettuce Taco Boats– Use chicken, fish, egg salad, cauliflower rice, copious amounts of guac….

Deep Dish Pizza Muffins– I make two batches, then freeze one for quick dinners whenever.

Green Summer Rolls– These bad boys made a comeback last week and I’m lovin’ it! 

Kitchari– Indian dishes like Kitchari, dal, or curries are great simple meals that make a lot of food. 

Spaghetti Squash Casserole– Casseroles are a must for meal planning and this one is awesome. 

Mexican Bell Pepper Casserole– Because more casseroles. 

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup– Soup in a slow cooker is like the nectar of meal planning gods. 

Spring Green Soup– I actually tried this one cold last week when it was really warm out and I liked it! 

Chicken & Jicama Curry Salad– One of the many things I make for my husband with leftover roasted chicken.