2-Week Meal Plan {+ FREE printables!}

If I’ve been asked once I’ve been asked a million times.  Do you meal plan?  How do you grocery shop?  Is there a plan I can follow on your blog?

Well, yes.  I do meal plan, but I’m not strict about it.  Too many rules makes me just want to break them, you know?  So I keep it simple and flexible.  That is the key folks.  Flexible.  If you have tacos planned for Tuesday and then you suddenly have a sick child and those tacos get pushed back to Wednesday, please do not fret about it.  It’s only dinner, not a mid-term exam.  Your family will live.  And trust me they will not go hungry.

In our family we do two big grocery runs a month, usually with a quick run weekly for any fresh items we may need or had forgot {milk, fruit, eggs, etc.}.  I know this may not work for your family.  Maybe you get paid weekly and want to do smaller trips.  That is fine!  Do whatever works for you.  Since we shop every two weeks I have put together a two week meal plan for you.

Yes, I said for YOU!

I’ve done ALL the work.  The recipes are compiled, the shopping list is detailed and it looks beautiful.  {Okay, it may not be beautiful in your eyes but it does in mine.  Organization to me = beauty.}

Below you will find 14 days of meals laid out for you, along with some breakfast and snacks ideas as well {because we eat more than just dinner!}.  As for lunch?  Well, lunch in our house is typically leftovers from the night before.  If not leftovers, then something extremely simple {think PB and J sandwich or a snack plate of cheese/crackers/fruit}.  And if you don’t like leftovers, well…start liking them.  Don’t waste food!

Use this meal plan people.  Don’t just print it out in the “hopes” of getting organized.  Use it!  I swear, if you take the time to print it off, sit down, make your grocery list and eventually go shopping, at the end of the two weeks you will thank me.

And yes, when you look at the shopping list it may seem daunting.  It may look like a lot.  But remember THIS – the meals I have planned are homemade.  Not that boxed crap.  You will be proud to serve this to your family and they will thank you in return.  And more than likely you may already have some of this in your fridge and freezer.  Take the “pantry” list for example.  This list is what “most” will already have stashed away in their cupboards {think…flour, cinnamon, mustard, sugar, etc.}  And if you don’t have these staple items {i.e. starting from scratch} then, I’m sorry, you’ll just have more shopping to do.  But remember, once you buy some of these items, they will last you a long while.  It takes a LONG time to get through a bottle of soy sauce!

Another tidbit:  If there is a meal below that you know will ABSOLUTELY not go over well in your family {say due to an allergy, or an extreme dislike}, then nix it.  You won’t hurt my feelings at all.  Simply replace it with one of your family favorites.

Here we go.  Each meal has a direct link to the recipe.  Read carefully and certainly email me with any questions.  I’m here to help!

Click HERE to Print

Two-Week Meal Plan

Week 1:
Monday: Crock Pot Maid-Rites, Broccoli Almond Chopped Salad
Tuesday: Mushroom, Bacon & Swiss Macaroni and Cheese, leftover Broccoli Salad
Wednesday: One Pot Beef Lo Mein
Thursday: Baked Chicken Ranch Tacos, with Refried Beans and Chips
Friday: Sassy Tailgate Sandwiches, with veggies and dip
Saturday: Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken, with rice and steamed broccoli
Sunday: Cheesy Ham & Cauliflower Soup, with bread

Week 2:
Monday: Leftover Cheesy Ham & Cauliflower Soup, with bread
Tuesday: Chopped B.L.T. Caesar Salad
Wednesday: Whole Wheat Taco Rotini Skillet, with salad
Thursday: Grilled Greek Chicken, Oven Crispy Sweet Potato Fries, with fruit (marinate chicken in this marinade overnight, before grilling)
Friday: Beef & Potato Burritos, with leftover refried beans and chips
Saturday: Leftover Beef & Potato Burritos, with fruit
Sunday: Hash Brown Crusted Spinach & Egg Quiche, with spinach salad

Breakfasts:Homemade Granola (eat as cereal, on yogurt or by the handful)
Steel Cut Oatmeal (top with fresh fruit, peanut butter, maple syrup, nuts or dried fruit)Blueberry Muffin Loaf

Snacks:No Bake Cow Pies

Click HERE to Print

Grocery List

Meat:
Ground Beef, 4.5 lbs. {in 1 lb. packages}
Bacon, 1 lb.
Steak, any cut, 12 oz.
2 Bags of Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Sliced Ham – 1 lb.

Produce:
2 white onions
1 carton button mushrooms
1 head of broccoli
1 bag of carrots
1 head of garlic
1-2 green onion stalks
2 heads of lettuce
1 head of cauliflower
1 stalk of celery
1 tomato
Fruits of choice: bananas, blueberries, grapes, etc. (enough for two side dishes of mixed fruit)
3 white potatoes
2 large sweet potatoes
1 bag of spinach
1 lemon

Dairy:
8 oz. blocks of Swiss, Cheddar and Monterey Jack
Quart of buttermilk
8 oz. garlic and chive cream cheese
8 oz. plain cream cheese
8 oz. Parmesan cheese
1 carton of eggs
32 oz. plain Greek yogurt
16 oz. container of veggie dip

Shelf Items:
Hamburger buns
Loaf of French bread
1 carton beef stock
1 carton chicken stock
1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
small bag of sliced almonds
1 lb. dried spaghetti
1 pkg. dry ranch seasoning mix
1 pkg. dry taco seasoning mix
box of taco shells – 12 count
jar of salsa
1 lb. dry pinto beans
1-2 bags tortilla chips
bag/box of King’s Hawaiian buns
1/2 lb. whole wheat rotini noodles
bottle of taco sauce
bag of flour tortillas – 15 count
bag of frozen hash browns
small container of old-fashioned oatmeal
small container of steel cut oats
box of powdered cocoa

Pantry Staples: {should have most of this already in your home, if not, purchase}
sugar
white vinegar
garlic salt
onion powder
milk
instant yeast
Dijon mustard
garlic powder
dried oregano
dried basil
paprika
tin foil
maple syrup
cinnamon
peanut butter
vanilla extract
baking powder
shortening
soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
flour
dry mustard
hot sauce
unsalted butter
seasoned breadcrumbs
mayo
red wine vinegar
sesame oil
olive oil
brown sugar
red pepper flakes
cumin
cayenne
onion flakes
cornstarch

I've given you blank copies as well!  Feel free to print off as many as you'd like.

Click HERE to Print

Click HERE to Print

So...who is ready to do this?  Leave a comment and let me know if you'll be starting this meal plan, if you're on the fence or if you have questions!