There are usually two scenarios that find people diving head first into the world of meal planning — they need to save time or they need to save money. But at this point in the year, it often seems those two go hand and hand. We’re in the heart of the fall semester, activities are ramping up, and something about the waning evening sunlight makes it feel like a mad rush between the end of work hours and climbing into bed at night. There’s no time for planning and executing a healthy dinner on the fly!

Then you’ve got money saving. Ah yes, I feel you there. Maybe you spent a little too extravagantly on summer travel or plan to spend extravagantly on the upcoming holidays. Either way, there’s no room for extravagance in this in-between!

Enter the power of the stupidly simple meal plan…

Shopping List

Breakfast

• Oatmeal
• Yogurt
• Bananas

Lunch

• Bread
• Lunch meat
• Cheese
• Salad
• Salad Dressing

Extras (Snacks, desserts, and lunch add-ons)

• Granola bars
• Fruit (apples, oranges, berries on sale)
• Crackers
• Hummus
• Peanut butter
• Cookies

Dinner

• Chicken
• Rice
• Stir-fry vegetables
• Bulk frozen veggie
• Pasta noodles
• Ground turkey or meatballs
• Pasta sauce
• Tortillas 
• Shredded cheese
• Avocados
• Refried beans or black beans
• Green peppers
• BBQ sauce
• Hamburger buns
• Chips

Meal Plan

Breakfast – Oatmeal or yogurt topped w/ bananas

Lunch – Sandwich or salad w/ 2 sides of choice (and/or any dinner leftovers)

Dinners – 

Monday/#1: Chicken stir fry w/ frozen veggie

Tuesday/#2: Spaghetti w/ fruit salad

Wednesday/#3: Quesadilla w/ beans and guac

Thursday/#4: Stuffed peppers w/ frozen veggie

Friday/#5: Panini and chips

Saturday/#6: BBQ chicken sandwiches w/ frozen veggie/fruit salad/chips (whatever is left)

Sunday/#6: Eat out

What meals are on YOUR stupidly simple meal plan? Here’s to a stress-free and money-saving AUTUMN!! 🍂 🍁 🍂