Find 4 weeks of easy family meals to feed your entire family this month—all kid-and parent approved—that are easy to make and serve!
Easy Family Meal Plan
I know that feeding a family is a logistical challenge that frustrates even those of us who enjoy cooking—and can feel overwhelming even on the best days. This new family meal plan is meant to help take some of the decisions off your plate so you can decide what to cook in less time.
And also cook and eat meals you actually want to eat! Add simple sides of kid-friendly vegetables or fruits to the meal to round them out and make sure there’s plenty for everyone to eat.
TIP: These meals can be eaten by babies eating finger foods on up through parents. They may have to be served somewhat differently, but are all suitable.
Meal Planning by Themes
I make my family meals plans based on the idea of themes that repeat weekly or biweekly. This adds in routine so the kids have a better idea of what to expect—and on a night when you’re not having their favorite, you can remind them that their favorite is coming up soon!—and to make it easier to stock your pantry and use up ingredients.
TIP: You can use this plan in the order that I have it here or move meals around as you like. I have free meal planning templates in my Resource Library that you can print out and fill in as you like too.
Week 1
Fill in breakfasts with easy options like cereal, toast, freezer waffles, and yogurt and granola. Add simple sides to any dinners to round things out.
Breakfast
Fluffy Zucchini Pancakes
These fluffy pancakes are a yummy way to serve vegetables for breakfast and use up zucchini should you find yourself with extra. These can be served plain or with a side of yogurt or applesauce to babies and younger eaters, or with maple syrup—they are very versatile!
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Easy Cherry Smoothie (to Share with the Kids!)
Try this naturally sweet smoothie filled with cherries, banana, and creamy yogurt. Add the nut butter if desired for extra protein and flavor.
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Favorite Strawberry Overnight Oats
This recipe makes enough for one adult or for one adult and one small child serving. It's easy to double, so make more as needed!
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Snacks
Easy Mango Popsicles (2-Ingredients!)
Make these in your preferred popsicle mold or you can even serve it immediately out of the blender as a smoothie.
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Favorite Raspberry Smoothie
Blend a handful of nutritious ingredients into a deliciously refreshing Raspberry Smoothie. With options to make this with banana or without, ways to add protein, and tips for storing leftovers, this post has everything you need to get started. See the Notes for variations.
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Easy Rocket Pops
Packed with produce and flavor, these easy Rocket Pops are a fun homemade popsicle that's perfect for celebrating. (Plan to make these at least 6 hours before you plan to serve them, or the day before to be sure they'll be firm enough to serve.)
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Lunch
Favorite Spinach Eggs (Green Eggs Recipe)
Packed with spinach (and iron!), these bright green eggs are fun and delicious. You can serve them as you would scrambled eggs, or use in a breakfast burrito or egg sandwich.
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Easy Zucchini Fritters Recipe
We bake these Zucchini Fritters since they are easier to cook and easier to clean up. If you have a lot of zucchini, you can double the recipe to make a full muffin tin's worth!
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Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe (to Share with the Kids)
Roll up a few simple ingredients to make this delicious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It's a great lunch wrap for home or school, and you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit the preferences of your child. This makes one wrap, so scale up as desired.
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Banana Sushi (3-Ingredient Kids Lunch)
Banana Sushi is a seriously fun and fast lunch for kids—that's filling too! Plus: You only need three nutritious ingredients to make this lunch.
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Dinners
Vegetable Stir Fry with Rice and Tofu
I like to use vegetables like carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas in this easy recipe. Plan to cook the rice ahead of time or to get it started first.
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How to Make Kids Salad (They’ll Actually Want to Eat)
Here’s a look at basic templates for making kid-friendly salads. Pick and choose the ingredients you like! (Nutrition info will vary according to the ingredients you use.)
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Easy Taco Buffet (No-Cooking Required!)
I prefer to make these vegetarian since it’s easier, but you can of course add in cooked chicken, beef, or shrimp if you like! Add another can of beans or additional corn to feed a larger family or appetites.
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Easy Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
This is an easy family dinner or lunch. I like to use Spinach Pesto for this, but any will work if you prefer to buy it pre-made from the store.
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Easy Vegetable Pancakes
We like these dipped in sour cream guacamole, salsa, or Cucumber Sauce.
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Easy Zucchini Burgers
Stretch your ground beef and add a veggie right into moist burger patties with this simple family dinner recipe.
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Week 2
I love having a weekly salad night in the summer since fresh produce is usually easy to come by. Serve the elements deconstructed for the kids as needed, add a dressing they like (my girls like ranch!) and add some bread or a muffin on the side as needed.
Breakfast
Favorite Blueberry Banana Smoothie
This quick and easy Blueberry Banana Smoothie is a great option for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert. (Frozen banana will create a slightly thicker smoothie, so if you plan to serve this through a straw, I recommend doing either frozen blueberries OR bananas, but not both. See the Notes at the end for more tips.)
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Banana Zucchini Muffins with Blueberries
Combine three types of produce in a batch of Banana Zucchini Muffins with Blueberries. It’s the best of all the baked goods in one convenient (and nutritious) package! (Recipe updated April 2024.)
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Overnight Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Stir together this wholesome Blueberry Baked Oatmeal before bed, pop it into the oven when you wake up, and enjoy a hearty bowl of oatmeal with the family without any standing by the stove and stirring. Plus: It reheats so well. Adapted from Brown Eggs and Jam Jars.
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Snacks
Homemade Frozen Yogurt
Blend two nutritious ingredients into a thick and creamy treat to share with the kids! Double this to make additional servings.
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Chocolate-Covered Bananas (Frozen Pops!)
These Chocolate Covered Bananas are frozen into popsicles that are so easy to make and so seriously fun. The chocolate pudding has a perfect texture once frozen, you can add sprinkles if you want, and use either paper lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks.
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Favorite Yogurt Melts (Easiest Yogurt Bites!)
These melt-in-your mouth yogurt bites are a fun way to serve yogurt. Plan to make them at least 2 hours before you want to serve them.
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Lunch
So Good Spinach Egg Muffins
These mini Spinach Egg Muffins mix up in minutes and are one of our go-to easy meals. They're packed with iron and protein, and you can make them ahead and stash them in the fridge until you need them for the kids.
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DIY Pizza Lunchables
Have more fun with lunch with this super quick and easy Pizza Lunchable idea. It's one of our favorite copycat recipes that makes it less expensive to recreate Lunchables at home…that you can even customize!
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Easy Avocado Pasta
With a creamy, veggie-packed sauce, this easy Avocado Pasta is packed with kid-friendly flavor and nutrients. And the whole recipe can be made in about 10 minutes of cooking time.
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Dinners
One-Pot Pesto Chicken and Rice
With a quick cooking time and easy method, this Pesto Chicken and Rice is a delicious family meal to share. It's flavorful, versatile, and just so delish.
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Easy Greek Pita Pizzas
Serve these assembled as shown, or with the toasted pita bread alongside the hummus and toppings depending on how your child will prefer it.
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Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls
Transform pantry staples into the yummiest homemade Vegetarian Burrito Bowls with this easy recipe. (Prep the rice, beans, and veggies ahead if you can or want to. They store well in the fridge and simply need to be reheated.)
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Easy Pasta with Summer Squash and Beef
This dish is easy to pull together in a short amount of time and is a nice alternative to tomato based pasta dishes.
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Quick and Easy Pesto Pizza
With three simple ingredients, iron and vitamin C in the sauce, and a kid-friendly format, this super easy Pesto Pizza is a perfect kids lunch or dinner that parents will enjoy, too!
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Easy Baked Salmon Cakes (Salmon Patties)
These tender fish cakes make a quick and easy pantry meal when you haven’t planned ahead for dinner. Recipe updated slightly to ensure moistness in June 2021.
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Week 3
I tend to get into a cooking rut by about mid-month so I deliberately have a few new recipes in the mix this week. Feel free to swap in leftovers or a favorite family meal whenever it works for you.
Breakfast
Favorite Lemon Blueberry Muffins
Bake a batch of these Lemon Blueberry Muffins for a family breakfast that's bursting with flavor. They're packed with berries and are so simple to stir together! Serve these warm, at room temperature or cold.
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Strawberry Smoothie with Yogurt
You can use fresh or frozen berries in this simple Strawberry Smoothie and the results will have a texture that is similar to drinkable yogurt. To make it thicker and to try different flavor options, see the Notes at the end of the recipe.
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Blueberry Chia Seed Jam
You can make this with fresh or frozen blueberries. Use the yogurt option to turn it into a quick and easy chia seed pudding.
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Snacks
Zucchini Cookies with Chocolate Chips
These healthy little soft-baked cookies are a yummy treat or snack to share. Rolling the shredded zucchini in a towel helps ensure that the excess moisture is absorbed—and doesn’t wind up in the batter.
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Easy Blueberry Crisp
Bursting with blueberries, this easy Blueberry Crisp is a delicious dessert or breakfast to share. Use fresh or frozen berries, according to what you have access to.
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Easiest Watermelon Juice (to Share with the Kids)
This is a perfect way to use up some of a giant watermelon and is also a wonderful way to help the kids stay hydrated in the warmer months. You can scale the recipe up or down to make more or less as you like.
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Lunch
Easy Veggie Muffins
Serve up veggies in a kid-friendly form with these SO-good Veggie Muffins. They have broccoli, carrots, protein, and kid-approved flavor!
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Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese
You can make as few or as many of these easy quesadillas as you like.
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10-Minute Flatbread Pizza (Just 3 Ingredients!)
For delicious homemade pizza without the work and in a lot less time, Flatbread Pizza to the rescue. Adjust this for allergies as you need.
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Dinners
20-Minute Stir Fry Noodles
Try this quick family dinner the next time you're craving fresh comfort food—and want to please the entire family! You can add a protein to this dish if you'd like. See the Notes for options.
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Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)
You can meal prep this recipe to have ready for future lunches or dinners to share with the kids or you can make it as a family dinner. Add flavor to your bowl with the optional ingredients.
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Baked Sheet Pan Nachos
These Baked Sheet Pan Nachos have a tender potato base and are topped with black beans, cheese, salsa and veggies. They're a total family dinner hit. (You can add some of the ingredients to some of the areas—leaving the spinach off, adding more salsa or spice—to customize for everyone at the table.)
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Favorite Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
Very ripe (with brown spots) bananas will give these Banana Oatmeal Pancakes the best flavor. Dice them up or serve whole, according to how the kids prefer to eat them.
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Pasta Salad with Chicken
This simple Pasta Salad with Chicken works well anytime of the year, but the flavors are particularly great in summer. Try it for dinner, a potluck, or to meal-prep lunch.
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Favorite Pizza Rolls (with Spinach and Cheese)
Be sure to grease your pan well and roll the dough up fairly tightly around the fillings for best results. (But it's okay if they don't look perfect when they go into the pan!)
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Week 4
For the mac and cheese dinner, use your favorite boxed kind and add 2 cups frozen broccoli per box for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking the pasta. (Add it right to the pot!) Drain and mix into the sauce.
Breakfast
Simple Green Smoothie
Frozen bananas give the smoothie a creamy, naturally sweet base, though you can make this with a fresh banana as long as the other fruit is frozen. It’s easy to add whatever berries or fruit you have on hand, so customize it for your kiddo.
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Quick Cottage Cheese Pancakes
These 4 ingredient pancakes are packed with nutrients and are so yummy. Double the ingredients to make a larger batch to feed a family of four as this recipe is on the smaller side.
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Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana
These healthy muffins taste like a delicious banana muffin, but with the added nutrition of a big handful of spinach. These store well, so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the fridge or freezer to serve.
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Lunch
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (5-Ingredient)
With a simple cheese sauce—no standing and stirring over the stove here!—a solid dose of veggies, and a super creamy final result, this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a fast lunch or dinner option for toddlers. (And the rest of the family, too!)
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Easy Egg Cups (with Zucchini and Cheese)
Feel free to double the recipe to make a full 24 mini muffins! We like to stash these in the fridge to eat all week, so having more is usually helpful in our house.
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Easiest Homemade Uncrustables
You can make one sandwich at a time, or make a batch of a few to stash in the freezer. Adjust this as needed for your preference.
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Snacks
Easy Stewed Peaches
You can make these with slightly underripe peaches (which is handy if you happen to have a lot of them).
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Green Smoothie Freezer Pops
If you want to make more pops, simply double the recipe! If you have a toddler who’s super sensitive to textures, use mango instead of kiwi for extra creamy results.
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Favorite Protein Shakes for Kids (with Veggies!)
Serve up a simple, yet nutritious protein smoothie with three flavor options to choose from.
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Favorite Yogurt Dip for Fruit
You can stir together this 3-ingredient Yogurt Dip for fruit in about a minute, then serve up a fruit plate with extra flavor. Try this with any fruit the kids like, or even with graham crackers, toast sticks, or cut up waffles.
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Dinners
Best Healthy Mini Meatballs
Classic Italian meatballs with kale tucked inside to help toddlers eat their greens! (You can of course use the more traditional parsley instead of kale if you prefer.)
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Quick and Easy Shrimp Tacos
With just 10 minutes of cooking time, you can serve up these Easy Shrimp Tacos with sweet bell peppers to the whole family. Add some simple sides and everyone is sure to be happy!
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Easy Ratatouille with Pasta
This recipe makes enough for two meals. You can cut it in half if desired, but I like to make the larger batch and keep half in the freezer for a future meal—it's the same amount of cooking effort, so why not!
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Easy Stuffed Peppers Skillet
You can use whichever type of rice your family likes best. We rotate through short grain brown rice, basmati, and jasmine. Adults may want to top their portions with shredded fresh basil and/or crushed red pepper.
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Pizza Pockets with Broccoli and Cheese
If you’re using Homemade Pizza Dough, make it at least an hour before you plan to assemble the pockets. If using store-bought, let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes so it’s not super cold when you try to form the pockets.
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I’d love to hear your feedback on this meal plan. If there are things it would help you to have in the next one, please comment so I can make it work harder for you!
This post was first published July 2020.
its a great healthy family meal plan i really enjoyed this article and highly recommend it.