Has your grocery bill skyrocketed over the last month or so. Ours has gone up too. Thankfully, plant-based ingredients are budget-friendly, but making 3 meals and 17 snacks a day can add up. This week, I’ll include snacks in my Plant-Based Meal Plan.
Well, maybe not 17 snacks a day but we had to come up with a snack schedule to keep the kids from wanting to eat constantly and ruining their dinner. They can’t have snacks after 3:30 and we eat dinner around 6:00, sometimes 7:00 depending on whose cooking and how late we have to work. We make exceptions if needed, like if they had an early lunch and forgot to snack before the cut off.
We’ve also been on a lemonade kick which has been fun. Where we live in Arizona, it’s citrus season so it’s easy to get fresh lemons, oranges and grapefruit from neighbors. A few of our favorites are Strawberry Lemonade and Pineapple Lemonade.
Plant-Based Meal Plan
We all make our own breakfasts and lunches every day. We usually make a family dinner if we are cooking but if it’s something the kids don’t like or spicy, they will make their own. Sometimes we will have a group snack but often the kids make their own snacks.
Plant-Based Breakfasts
We’ve been having cereal for the kids, oatmeal for everyone, and fruit for everyone. I still make a double batch of my Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats on the weekend to enjoy during the week. We just warm it up and add blueberries, bananas or diced apples. Sometimes nuts or seeds too.
Plant-Based Lunch
Since the kids normally make their own lunch, they will usually make PB&J, Peanut Butter Toast, or one of our breakfast choices. Sometimes they will have leftovers.
All of us grownups usually have leftovers. There are three of us now, our oldest son is staying with us, and we love having him here. He cooks too! This week I plan to get back to my big salads for lunch.
Plant-Based Snacks
I don’t normally include snacks on the meal plan but I think I’ll include it, at least until the kids are back in school.
- Veggies and Hummus (or other dips)
- Frozen Mango Lime Pops
- Strawberry Banana Muffins (gluten-free)
- Chocolate Chia Overnight Oats
- Yogurt Parfaits with Granola
Plant-Based Dinner
Monday: One Pot Broccoli and Rice is my husband’s favorite and I haven’t made it in over a month! He used to take it to work for lunch every day, but since he’s been working from home I haven’t made it.
Tuesday: Plant-Based Tostadas (just updated) made with Instant Pot Refried Beans and Pico de Gallo or Mango Salsa
Wednesday: Vegetable Spaghetti with a side salad and Sweet and Tangy Salad Dressing.
Thursday: Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice is one of my most popular recipes. It makes a ton so I’ll probably half the recipe. It’s a bland recipe so kids will eat it, then we spice up our. Anyone else have kids who are weird about spices?
Friday: Chickpea Nuggets, Oil-Free Potato Wedges, Veggies and Dip, and Brownies! We will probably rent a move and have popcorn too!
What are you eating this week? Are your kids eating 17 snacks a day or does it just feel like it?
By the way, I’m reopening my Custom Meal Plan service with limited availability. If you need a meal plan designed for you and your family take a look at the details and reach out via email.