Uggggghhh what do I make for dinner? Is this a common phrase you mumble when you little ones are clawing climbing up your leg, or as you finally take off your heels after a brutal ten-hour day (are you checking all of the above)? Do the burners of your stovetop look like judgmental, beady little eyes?
Planning for weekly dinners really can be as intricate or as easy as you want it to be. As I continue to bring you meal planning tips I will dig deeper in to this subject, but for now let’s assume you need easy, basic tools for getting food on the table.
My surefire rule for making sure I have healthy dinners in a crunch is to follow two basic principles: Protein. Vegetables.
Now of course you can expand on that to add other elements. But for the easiest, simplest way, do this: buy stuff like meat/fish and fresh vegetables, freeze or refrigerate, cut & prep, cook, eat, stay sane. Easy right? It really is – read on.
Grocery Shopping
Let me break this down.
Buy four to five days worth of meat or fish. This gives a few days of leftovers and maybe a day of going out or a meatless meal. It looks something like this:
- chicken breasts (make extra for leftovers)
- pork loin (I usually have leftovers here too)
- salmon
- ground beef or turkey
Then grab a variety of vegetables. Everything from regular staple items (broccoli, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, peppers) and seasonal veggies (green beans, zucchini, asparagus, etc.)
Cook
Next step is learn the basic ways to cook meat. Using a crockpot can do all the work for you during the day, or throwing dinner on the grill is easy too. Brown ground beef or turkey and sauté sliced veggies like mushrooms or peppers, add in simple condiments like balsamic vinegar, sesame oil/rice vinegar/coconut aminos, or pump it up with bold spices. Then serve on top of cauliflower rice. A one pot wonder!
But for this fun exercise, let’s pretend we have a love affair with our oven.
Knowing how long your protein of choice takes to cook, at what temperature and the vegetables that cook for roughly that same time makes healthy dinners a cinch. Write these down or print and tape this to the back of a cabinet. You have no idea how helpful that simple step will be! Here is a chart with general cook times and temps for meat and coordinating vegetable sides:
Coat your veggies with a little oil and play up the flavor with spices, herbs, and vinegar blends. I love making roasted red potatoes with a rosemary/thyme blend. Or brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar. Zucchini works well with lemon juice and asparagus is great with a little salt, garlic powder, and dried onion flakes.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, I promise the oven will never fling anything at your or throw out snide comments. Pinky promise.
Such a great dinner guide! We love the tips & tricks you’re sharing!
Thank you! I’m so glad you are tuned in and enjoying the content 🙂
SO useful! I pinned! Happy Friday! xo
Whoo hoo. Glad it will come in handy for you Chelsea!
Making meals in advance helps a lot! You can also try to make burritos for meatless nights! If you wrap them well, they can be a 60 minute dinner on those nights when your stove just needs to stay off!
That’s a fantastic idea Amy! I would even venture to say you could make them and freeze for later!
Such a great guide for those busier weeks!
Hope it comes in handy for you! 🙂
This is SO helpful! Totally bookmarking this!
Glad I could help Babi. Happy cooking!
Brussel sprouts balsamic vinegar roasted in oven mmmmmmm. Always good to have veggies and “protein” ready to serve at about the same time! Great advice, thanks for the easy reference chart!!
Chrissa, what an awesome post (I love that chart, too!). I would never survive without meal planning. And yes, every meal is protein and vegetables. The carbs seem to find a way to take care of themselves!
Hi Aida – thank you! I am a stickler for charts, lists, templates, spreadsheets, etc. It’s a problem. Seriously.
Lol, this post made me smile. When I first got married I was terrified of the kitchen and mostly left my husband in there because I didn’t want to fail. Now I fail all the time but have learned you are right the oven doesn’t talk back and we can always order out. Good printable!
“Now I fail all the time” ha! Come on, I’m sure it’s not ALL.THE.TIME. I’m sure your husband at least appreciates the effort?? 😉
I never know how long to cook some foods…thank you for the chart:)
Hi Kim – I got SO sick of googling times and temps and trying to figure out what sides I could do. So charts and lots of notes inside my cabinet definitely helped!
Thanks for the chart/guide! I’ll print it out and stick it in my meal plan section of my planner.
Yes, put it in that beautiful, organized planner you have. And when you have time, will you grab all my to-do lists on the fridge and make me a simple, clean planner, pretty please??
Love the idea of sticking the printable to the inside of a kitchen cabinet! Quick access is key! Thanks!
Yes! Especially during the frenzy of dinnertime! Glad it is helpful for you.
This is actually super helpful to me since I am vegetarian, but my husband eats meat. So of course I know how to cook everything good and healthy for myself but for him I’m like hmmm… I thiiiiiink that looks done? But I’m not going to try it and find out.
Oh Hayli – I am giggling out loud. Just thoughts of feeding your hubby meat that isn’t done. Not that you would EVER do that (unless he makes you mad, then anything goes)…I hope this chart is helpful for you in the future!
I love these cooking tips. We mamas need them. Another thing that helps me is that when I cook I normally make enough for two days, so I’m not cooking everyday!
Oh I am a total leftover lover. I even reinvent leftovers into completely different meals to trick my hubby!
Wow – that chart is wonderful! What great tips!
Thanks Clare – Happy cooking!
I might just have to print this out! Thank you for sharing!
I think that is a fantastic idea!
Love this! I definitely have days where dinner is such a chore, your chart will come in handy and make those days easier. Thanks.
I think your feelings about dinner is the ‘norm’. Sometimes the simplest meals are the best. We just tend to overthink it 🙂 Glad it is useful for you Mary!
Salmon is by far my favorite QUICK AND EASY dinner to make! <3 I cannot go wrong with it that's for sure!
I know, right?! We have salmon once a week – no lie. It’s so easy, healthy and fast. Glad we are on the same page 🙂
You are doing such a great job with your blog! I am loving your content 🙂
Thanks girl!!! xoxo
Chrissa! You totally rock. I always have to Google what temperature to turn on for my veggies in the oven, and you just made it soooo easy. Thanks a milion 😉
LZ – SAME! I got sick of googling all the time and getting my phone full of food and crumbs. Hehehe. Glad I could help you!
Hi there! Found your insta account (via Carly @ Fit Living Blog) and just wanted to say hi! 🙂
Love this little guide and your site looks great! Definitely staying tuned in for more… Have a great week!
-Ashley
Ashley – I am SO glad you found me! Love your blog and happy we’ve connected. Keep doing what you are doing!
I love this printable!!!
Thank you Ashley! Anything to make life easy, right?!
This is good information to have on hand. Pinned to the Merry Monday party board! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Shirley! Glad it is helpful for you!
I love this cooking guide – it will be so handy to have around! Stopping by from Blogger Brags – hope to see you next week! Cheers, Kendra
Thank you Kendra. Sometimes having a simple guide for convenience makes all the difference. I appreciate you stopping by!