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Home » Recipes » Family Friendly Meal Plan: 5/20-5/26

Family Friendly Meal Plan: 5/20-5/26

Filed Under: Meal Plans May 17, 2024

Welcome to this week’s fresh, flavorful, budget conscious, family friendly meal plan! As Memorial Day weekend approaches, it marks the unofficial start of summer—a time for backyard BBQs with friends, pasta salads, burgers, and hopefully, some good weather. This week’s meal plan is all about fresh, affordable, and easy-to-make dishes leading up to delicious cookout options for Memorial Day weekend. Plus, I’m excited to share a brand new cookie recipe that’s only 2 ingredients but is sure to shine this Memorial Day.

Memorial Day holds a special place in our hearts as we remember and honor the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It’s a time to reflect on their courage and selflessness, and to express our gratitude for their service. As we gather with loved ones and enjoy good food, let’s take a moment to pay tribute to those we’ve lost and to cherish the freedoms they fought to protect.

family friendly meal plan May

What to Expect:

Welcome to our family friendly meal plan! As a household of two parents and three growing boys, meal planning isn’t just helpful; it’s essential! I’ve tailored this plan to accommodate the needs of a family of five, drawing from personal experience. Meal planning is a cornerstone of our routine for three key reasons.

  • #1: Firstly, it significantly reduces stress by eliminating the daily dinner dilemma—we always know what’s on the menu, and all the ingredients are ready and waiting.
  • #2: It’s a budget-friendly approach, cutting down on takeout expenses and impromptu grocery runs.
  • #3: It helps minimize food waste by ensuring we use what we have and plan meals around existing ingredients.

If you’re curious about how we execute our meal planning strategy, be sure to check out my family’s approach. I hope this plan not only simplifies your week but also brings joy to your table with delicious recipes!

What’s Included in Each Family Friendly Meal Plan:

Each weekly meal plan includes dinners for 6 out of 7 days (one day is for leftovers) and 2 breakfast options and a sweet treat to try. I don’t include a lot of breakfast and lunch options because we rely heavily one “One Month in One Day Meal Prep For Busy Parents” method and I prep all of those once a month! (find out how we do it here)

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This Week’s Plan:

Monday: Chickpea Salad Sandwiches with a side of chips

Tuesday: Veggie Fried Rice with dumplings

Wednesday: Salmon Bites Bowls

Thursday: Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

Friday: Crock Pot Curry Chicken

Saturday/Sunday (pick one day for leftovers): Turkey Burgers and pick some of these delicious cookout sides!

Breakfast Options: Savory Cottage Cheese Bowls and “Better Than Starbucks” Egg Bites

Dessert: Patriotic Memorial Day Cookies!

Monday: Meatless Monday is also inexpensive and delicious Monday with these pantry friendly Chickpea salad sandwiches that are full of flavor! Grab some chips on the side and you have a quick and easy meal!

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    veggie fried rice with a wonton in a wooden bowl

    Tuesday: Veggie Fried rice is also going to save your budget so you can splurge on the cookout this weekend! It tastes even better than takeout at a quarter of the cost!

    Wednesday: These salmon bites bowls are something special! Enjoy something different this week!

    unstuffed pepper skillet in a pan with a wooden spoon

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      Thursday: One pan unstuffed peppers skillet is a weeknight winner. It utilizes tomato soup to make things even easier!

      Curry Chicken in crock pot

      Friday: This slow cooker curry chicken is one of my family’s absolute favorites and it’s perfect for the Friday leading into a busy weekend. Just like the fried rice, this tastes better than takeout at a fraction of the cost and you’ll never guess the secret ingredients!

      recipe for pasta salad cold
      turkey burger being held with avocado and tomato in the bun and a salad on the side

      Saturday or Sunday (one night is leftovers): This Memorial Day weekend, cook up these all star Turkey Burgers and pick from my top 10 BBQ sides to round things out!

      For Breakfast:

      healthy breakfast bowls

      Savory Cottage Cheese Bowls are a must try if you haven’t already. I was skeptical at fist but now i’m obsessed!

      bacon, egg, and cheese egg bites in a glass Tupperware

      Cook up a batch of these egg bites to get you through the week without hitting the drive through!

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      Subscribe to my mailing list now to access your FREE Mastering Meal Prep eBook, valued at $34.99! Dive into the revolutionary ‘One Month in One Day’ method, complete with step-by-step guides and printable worksheets, simplifying your meal prep process for an entire month in just one day.

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        patriotic sugar cookies baked into chocolate chip cookies cooling on a rack on top of patriotic table cloth

        For a Sweet Treat: These Patriotic Memorial Day Cookies are new to the blog this week and they couldn’t be easier to make! You’ll get all the compliments without all the work!

        I hope you have the most magnificent week and eat well for less!

        FOR MORE INEXPENSIVE FAMILY RECIPES CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS:

        • 3 Delicious Pantry Friendly Meals
        • 105 Meals for $115 – Feeding My Family For a week
        • The Top 10 Secrets to saving big on food!

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        Maria Ronan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links on this site may include affiliate links to Amazon and its affiliate sites on which the owner of this website will make a referral commission. Thank you for supporting Meals With Maria! My videos and website are for entertainment purposes only. Any information related to food, food safety, cooking, recipes, etc. are my opinions only. Maria Ronan is not liable and/or responsible for any advice, services, or product you obtain through this video and website.

        Tagged With: budget cooking, budget meals, cheap meals, family dinner, family meal plan, may, meal plan, memorial day, spring, weeknight dinner

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        Welcome to Meals with Maria! I’m Maria, a passionate home cook and mom on a mission to help you make everyday healthy meals simple, and holiday indulgence special. As a wife and mother of three boys, I know how important it is to balance nourishing your family with meals that are easy to prepare and budget-friendly — while still savoring the joy of holiday treats and meals out. Read More…

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