Family Meal Plan: Summer Menu
on Oct 03, 2017, Updated Sep 17, 2024
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This family-friendly, two-week healthy meal plan is designed for the spring and summer months and is full of recipes the whole family will love that are easy to make — plus, it comes with a free printable shopping list.
Healthy Meal Plan + Tips
If you want to feed your family well but aren’t sure where to start, this is the post for you. I have a whole foods approach to eating that your whole family will gobble up (with no health food store needed… score).
This meal plan is ideal for families because all of the recipes are beyond simple, the ingredients are easy to find, and your whole family will chow down the meals. If you are new to healthy eating or trying to eat with a focus on whole foods, this a great place to start because the recipes are very traditional while also being simply delicious, if I do say so myself.
I do want to mention that “healthy” is a relative term, and we may not agree on what it means. To me, it’s about balance, eating foods that make you feel good, and not restricting yourself.
Table of Contents
- Healthy Meal Plan + Tips
- Healthy Eating Meal Plan: Summer Menu
- Breakfast:
- Lunch:
- I’ve made this EVEN EASIER! Sign up here to get a free PDF printable shopping list for the dinners included in this meal plan.
- 2 Weeks of Dinners the Whole Family Will Love
- Week 1
- Week 2:
- Sides for dinner:
- Snacks:
- I’ve made this EVEN EASIER! Sign up here to get a free PDF printable shopping list for the dinners included in this meal plan.
🍽️ More Easy Family Meal Planning Ideas!
Healthy Eating Meal Plan: Summer Menu
Let me take the thinking out of feeding your family! This eating clean meal plan is great for busy families who want to eat at home more! You are going to love all of the tried-and-true recipes I’ve been making for my family of seven for years.
Breakfast:
Here are 14 breakfast ideas to start your morning off well.
- Scrambled Eggs + Muffins
- Whole Wheat Waffles
- Breakfast Burritos (with roasted sweet potatoes)
- Oatmeal (with frozen berries)
- Egg Bake
- Pancakes
- Granola + berries + milk (like cold cereal)
- Scrambled Eggs + Muffins
- Waffles
- Breakfast Cookies
- Oatmeal or Overnight Oats
- Egg Bake
- Strawberry Pancakes
- Granola + berries + milk
Tip: Make a double batch of the waffles and pancakes on the first day, and freeze half for the second time you plan to serve them for breakfast. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and reheat in a toaster. Easy as can be!
Lunch:
Here are some simple lunch ideas for your family that can be made at home or taken on the go to work, school, or the park.
- Homemade Lunchables
- Quesadillas
- Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches
- Sandwich on a Stick Lunchbox Ideas
- Leftovers
- Muffin Tray Meal
- Hummus Sandwich
- Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich
Remember: Don’t overthink lunch! I feel like this should be a fuss-free meal in the day.
I’ve made this EVEN EASIER! Sign up here to get a free PDF printable shopping list for the dinners included in this meal plan.
2 Weeks of Dinners the Whole Family Will Love
Dinner is the hardest meal of the day because everyone’s a little bit tired, and there’s still a lot left to do (homework, sports practice, baths, bedtime, cleanup, etc.). Here’s my easy meal plan that is perfect for summertime dinners that’ll take the stress out of getting the final meal of the day on the table! All of these recipes are made WITHOUT TURNING ON THE OVEN! They are made in the slow cooker, on the grill, or on the stove top. No hot house needed!
Week 1
Day 1: Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork (the BBQ sauce is served as an optional addition at the end)
Day 2: Grilled Salmon Foil Packets
Day 3: Stovetop Chicken Enchilada Skillet
Day 4: Garden Veggie Pasta
Day 5: One Pot Sausage Rice and Peas
Day 6: One Pot Farmstand Wonder
Day 7: Leftovers/Eat out
Week 2:
Day 1: 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Legs
Day 2: The BEST chicken tacos
Day 3: Healthy Quinoa Taco Casserole
Day 4: Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna
Day 5: Shrimp Stir Fry
Day 6: Grilled Sausage and Veggie Foil Packs
Day 7: Leftovers/Eat out
Sides for dinner:
Summer is such an EASY time to get sides for dinner. Serve fresh fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, peaches, cherries, or berries) just as they are because they are in season and taste great.
Veggie options include corn on the cob, grilled or lightly sauteed zucchini, fresh green beans boiled with onion until tender (it takes a good long while for them to cook, about 40 minutes), simple salads with great dressings, cucumber salads, or just garden cucumbers and tomatoes on a plate with salt and pepper.
Don’t overthink your sides in the summer, but do plan on them (and add them to your shopping list accordingly). Hit up the roadside stands, your grandpa’s garden, the farmer’s market, or your neighbor. Summer is a great time to eat simple foods just as they are from the earth. Fresh and seasonal produce makes fruits and veggies a treat to add to meals.
Snacks:
If your kids are like mine, I bet they are eating you out of house and home while home from school!
- You have lots of snack options that go beyond sliced fruit, vegetables, and string cheese sticks, but don’t discount those simple options, as well.
- I always keep a veggie box in my fridge. It’s the best thing ever, and makes it way easier to eat veggies regularly!
- One of my 8 No-Bake Oatmeal Bites are always in my fridge! My kids LOVE these.
- Smoothies in all shapes and sizes. Just don’t get tricked into using sugar if your recipe calls for yogurt. Read that label!
- Popcorn… Did you know you can pop it in a brown paper bag in the microwave?
- Homemade Graham Crackers.
- Whole Peanuts. Peanuts in the shell are so much more fun to eat if you don’t mind the mess. Trust me.
- Popsicles. Easy Rainbow Popsicles are a favorite around here. I make a double-batch of smoothies and freeze half in popsicle molds all the time, but you can also try freezing a 100% fruit juice for easy popsicles. Popsicles are the easiest way for my kids to enjoy fruit and hidden veggies.
- Boiled Eggs.
- No-Bake Date Balls. The peanut butter and jelly ones are our favorite.
- I always have a loaf or two of 100% whole wheat bread ready to slice and butter. Just toast a piece and spread peanut butter on it for a really good and filling snack.
- Healthy Snack Bars.
- Healthy Fruit Dip. This is perfect with apples for some extra protein and fat.
See? Meal planning is easy… Just let me do it for you!
I’ve made this EVEN EASIER! Sign up here to get a free PDF printable shopping list for the dinners included in this meal plan.
Love a summer meal plan? Don’t worry, I have a fall and winter one too! You can find my fall and winter meal plan here.
I hope this free meal plan for families really helps you out, saves you time, and takes some of the thinking out of “what’s for dinner?”!
I bet people don’t think these are “clean” recipes because they sound like they are delicious! I just got done yummy ideas for recipes. Thank you!
Love your blog, and do ot be disheartened by nasty individuals who just have to be know it alls …. I have seen people who are supposed to be eating clean and healthy post toxic recipes full of pre packaged condiments etc. I also recently went to a Natural Health Food Store opening and found them stocking Atkins products among other pre packaged food products(it is all about money.)
People should do the best they can , eat as much whole food as they can and in the end as my father used to say when we were kids as he farmed for the property owners, “spread your poisons around ” … Too much of one thing is not a good thing….
Wow. You “get” me. I think we are so similar in so many ways and I love that I found your blog!! I have 2 little kids and it’s hard to do 100% clean. Not because mine won’t eat it, but b/c of time and energy for me! We do the best we can, when we can. I love that you say you don’t want to raise kids with food issues. I agree. I want to educate them to know what is good and what is not good for you, but I always tell them that “once in awhile” treats are fine. And my son likes to use that on me when asking for doritos at the store. haha. I do try to do organic…mainly for the dirty dozen, but sometimes I can’t/won’t even do that…mainly w/ bell peppers. The price for organic is nuts!! And in this house we eat a lot of peppers! All colors. I’m loving the local farms stands right now though. I tried to grow my own in our garden, but of course, all the pepper plants died. Everything else is happy and healthy, growing strong, but every single pepper plant died! Another thing…we are getting backyard chickens soon! I think we would be friends if you lived near me. Sorry for this long post, but I just had to share. 🙂
oh my goodness, and now I just read your “About” page. We go yard saling every weekend, most of my house is decorated w/ thrift store, yard sale or homemade stuff. 🙂 We do full fat everything around here. I’m obsessed w/ green smoothies. I sew. I lead the crafts at my mom’s group. Gardening, baking, etc. The only difference I’ve read so far is that I’m short. 5’3″ short. 🙂 lol!
Internet best friend!!! We are twinners. Do you blog?! I’m so with you about the dirty dozen and just trying. Perfection isn’t the key… it’s the effort and doing it well most of the time! I sure like you, let’s keep in touch.
I don’t blog. My hubby and friends say I should, but there are so many out there already, I don’t think I’d be doing anything new. Plus lack of time and SO many “passions” in my life to write about. IF I did though, I think my blog name would be, Sex, Food and Rock n Roll. LOL! I looked it up though and someone already has that name. haha. I’m sure I’ll be reading more on your blog. I’ll use my facebook account from now on, not the wordpress one. I just followed you on Pinterest. 🙂 Lisa Lexo.
How about food,sex and rock&roll or SFR&R let them wonder
Oh duh! yeah, I meant food, sex and rock and roll. haha! and there is another reason I won’t have a blog. Terrible at writing. 😉
Just an aside as I am reading more on here… I am 56 and was raised without a thought to any of today’s constraints on GMO and organic…. I am still alive and pretty well…. My Children and several whole generations of people I know we’re raised the same way without the rigid craziness of what you absolutely must eat and no eat.All are pretty well also… I am not saying that we do not have the occasional chronic illness strike ( back in the day people did too and they lived shorter lives) and I am not negating the impact of GMOs and toxic chemicals in our foods… But get real there is no way with our population numbers and living arrangements that everyone could eat perfectly…. Some are thankful to just eat… I am of the generation that was told to clean our plate , there are children starving in other countries…
This is so true. I love how you all think. My motto is very similar…Do the best you can with what you have and be thankful. Besides, we live not by bread alone….(Matt 4:4)
So true! Thanks for a kind comment 🙂
It’s not about eating perfectly, it is about eating smart. The truth is, with the average American diet, our children can expect to have shorter life spans than their parents. But eating smart doesnt have to be incredibly difficult or time consuming. That is why it is inspiring to see Blogs like this :-).
Thank you so much! Always nice to get a kind word in my inbox 🙂
THANK YOU! I needed this post today after falling off my healthy eating bandwagon! This is just the thing to get me back on it 🙂
July is a hard month isn’t it?! We had so many parties and family things after the forth that we’ve been off track most of the month too! Thanks for the kind comment 🙂
Hey! So do you want to come and move to the real desert and be my cook? Cause I hate cooking. It would make you my favoritest cousin in the world!
But in seriousness, I’m going to make my creamy chicken and noodles tomorrow and we’ll see how I do with out the cream of chicken. And I’m wanting to try that whole wheat pizza dough. Funny enough it’s your mom’s recipe that I currently use for pizza dough.
I love this and all the effort that you have put into it. I would of loved it in an ebook that I would be happy to pay money for, so that everything is all in the one, instead of having to get the recipes from different areas. (just being lazy).
Smiles & blessings,
Julie x
Best idea ever! I was up all night thinking about this now that you mentioned it 🙂 Thanks for getting me excited!
you should input your grocery lists 🙂
I have just found you, and feeling very selfish! I too would like to have a printable copy EVERYTHING you have released to the masses (told you I was selfish)! I’m fast approaching retirement with only occasional children in the house (unless you count my husband). I think your cooking is much the way my mother’s was, before we had all the stupid additives in our food. I’m pretty sure you are an answer to prayers I’ve been sending out for quite sometime. Don’t ever let the Negative Nellies out there slow you down. I’m sure you are a keeper and a blessed rescuer for people like me! Thanks!!!!
Joy! Kind comments make this whole blog worth it… THANK YOU! And I think we are two peas in a pod 🙂 And just so you know I am knee-deep in an e-book that will be full of all these recipes and a lot easier to print. Curious… what would you pay for a lot of info and maybe 30 killer healthy recipes in one place? I was thinking $4.99. It’ll be about 45 pages. Do you have any thoughts?
I would pay $5 for your e book! It would be awesome to have these recipes and grocery list and your comments! All in one place. Thank you for all your hard work and caring for your children and our world! 🙂
Ditto on the $5 for an ebook. My sister and I just turned 50 (twins) and we are re-committing ourselves to eating more wholesome foods. We both do gardens and my husband and I raise a couple of beef cows each year. This is the first place I have found that takes a more realistic approach to healthy eating so thank you very much for that. I have found that if no one in the house including yourself is going to eat those whole wheat, greek yogurt muffins that taste like dry cardboard, then why are you making them? HaHa. So trying to tweak my old recipes just enough to make them more healthy but still eatable.
Lois! Thanks for the great comment! We raised lambs last year for meat and I’m thinking about turkey this year… I might have to bug you about info on beef cows. If we get a little more land they are first on the list for sure!
New to this to so excited can’t wait to try it . Can you please send me list too? Thank you. I have been looking for something like this too cool 🙂
Count me in for the e book! 🙂
Have you sold this book yet. Love this blog.
Nope but it’s so close! I’ll let you know when I do 🙂
Are the grocery lists not posted for the different weeks of menus???
Love your perspective! I too cannot afford to buy much organic, but I feel like if I am making bread, muffins and cookies from scratch, that is much better than store bought products. Thank you for making me feel I am making good choices for my family.
Can you just come live at my house! You have such great recipes!
Love your posts! Going to try this with my family 🙂 Thank you for sharing all the ideas, tips, and recipes and making them budget friendly.
AWESOME post! Thanks so much! I am jumping on the clean eating bandwagon, and I think I am like you. I don’t buy organic, mostly because I don’t trust that green logo, but I try to check ingredient and make sure I am buying whole foods and eating from scratch as much as possible. I am anti-white flour and love all your whole wheat recipes 🙂 Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you SO much for the kind comment. LOVE this topic and LOVE when people “get” me on it 🙂 Any good whole wheaty recipe on your site I should know about and link to ??? 🙂
Could you do a grocery list for this by food category?
It’s on my to-do list! I’ll email you when I get it done 🙂
Oooooooh could you email me too when it’s done? I’m completely new to clean eating and am thinking about trying it out!
Hi, could you email me too? thanx!
Please send me a grocery list as well. Thank you. I am excited to try this with my family and aging parents.
Could you email it to me too? Thks
I’d love the shopping list, too!
Could you email it to me too
Melissa did you do a grocery list for this post? If so can I get a copy? bmod123@gmail.com thank you — I’ve been clean eating for a year and excited to try these recipes!
I would love the grocery list to this plan!!! my email is awtwcw1@yahoo.com that’s always the hard part for me is getting the actual list together
Could I get an e-mail as well! 🙂
Hi, great post! Can I get a copy of that grocery list too please? Thanks
I would also love a copy of the shopping list!!
I almost feel ba for asking but would be able I email me the list if you have it handy? I’m so excited to try this!
Hi I’d like the list too. Netabeata@gmail.com
I would love a grocery list as I am beginning this journey! My email is msstil2@uky.edu . Thank you for this awesome post!
can you email it to me too?
Could I get the list too possibly? 🙂 aly944@aim.com
May I get a copy of the shopping list as well? Thank you!
I would love this shopping list as well.
I’d love to get the grocery list and ebook if you have one. Patti.Nevarez@yahoo.com Thank you!!
This is what I’ve been looking for! Love your blog and agree with you about organic and all the other sugars lol
Would LOVE a grocery list 🙂 if you have one. Thanks davidkarlagross@gmail.com
Hi not sure if the list was done but if it was can you email it to me please thanks. love the recipes.
Do you really have a grocery list for this?
It’s done everyone! Just let me know if you’d like me to email you the shopping list!
Hi!
I would love the shopping list for the menu. Thank you so much for all the hard work!
Could you email me the list please 🙂
Just sent it Brittany
Could you send a copy of the shopping list to me also? It would be much appreciated. Thank you. RmarieJ45@yahoo.com
Hi Melissa,
I just started on my lifestyle change journey for myself and my family. I’m inspired by your blog and this 2 week plan. I would love the grocery list if you are willing to send that and any other tidbits of info with it! Thanks.
New to your blog. Love it! Can you email me this grocery list?
heather_bueker@hotmail.com
God bless!
Just sent it Heather!
Melissa, Can I please have the grocery list for this 2 week plan?
Just sent it over Amanda!
I would really love the grocery list!! Lmc21vb@aol.com
Could you email it to me as well? chelsayyy@hotmail.com
I would love the list as well please! 🙂
Hope it’s not too much trouble, but I just came across this blog on Pinterest and am really excited to try the recipes and I’d love a copy of your shopping list as well! Or if you’ve posted it since, maybe a link to it? Thanks! k.brown13@outlook.com
Hi, I just found your blog through Pintrest and am very interested in your shopping list. Trying to get my family to start eating healthier and make it a habit for us. Thank you! jessicaprunty311@gmail.com
I would also like a grocery list it would help me so much.this is going to be fun.
Just found your blog! It’s great! Could you please email me the shopping list for this? Thank you so much!! 🙂
I’d love a shopping list too pretty please! – if it isn’t too much hassle! =)
sally_octrin@hotmail.com
Could you send me the grocery list please? Thanks!
could i get the list too please? Thanks!
Could I get a copy of the grocery list as well, please? alaynaweston@hotmail.com
Can you email me the shopping list? Abbylynnphoto@yahoo.com. I’m excited to try this!!
I would love a copy of the shopping list also. I really need to kick my behind in gear and this is the perfect start!! ndcwalker@gmail.com
Hi! I’m so excited to try this! This will be my very first EVER attempt at clean eating! Would you mind emailing the grocery list to me? Thanks for all of the hard work!
whitneylaneb@aim.com
Hi, I am new to your blog and would love to get a recipe list as well! Also, did you ever get an ebook done?
The list is done the ebook is soooo close! It’ll be out in August or September 🙂
Hi Melissa! I have been reading your blog for awhile! You are so fun! I can’t wait to get your ebook but until then, can I get a copy of your shopping list? Pelelover1@yahoo.com
So glad you are a reader Maggie and I just sent the list over. Enjoy!
Just found your blog! Love! Can you Emil me the list? I can’t wait for your ebook. I’ve been looking for guidance in this area, been trying so hard to eat clean and stay away from processed foods! Old habits die hard! Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge. AlyssaHultquist1@gmail.com
Thanks so much Alyssa, just sent it!
I live the clean meal plan! Could you please email me the shopping list? Thanks so much! Gmderasmo@gmail.com
Just sent it Gina
Hi Melissa. I’d love the grocery list as well. Morganpoppe@yahoo.com.
Thanks so much!
Just sent it Morgan, check that inbox 🙂
I am new to this and think your blog is great. I feel the same way, but am struggling to get started. May I have a copy of your grocery list also? Best wishes!
New to your blog. Could I get a copy of the grocery lost also? m.bulley@live.com
Could I please get your shopping list for this? I loving this site!
May I also get the grocery list
Just sent it Rrose!
Hi! I’m new to your blog, could I get a copy of the grocery lost as well?
gamberj1@msu.edu
Could you please send me the grocery list?
Could I get the grocery list too, Please 🙂
I have been sharing your site with some of my clients that I train. I love your blog! Thanks for keeping it real!
Would love your grocery list Thank You
I would love a copy of the shopping list, please! missymurrin@yahoo.com
Just sent it Missy!
Hi, can you email me the list as well! My husband is afraid of doing the weird foods that others share in clean eating, but my view is just like yours and the food sounds wonderful so I think he probably won’t even know! 🙂 thanks!
Just sent it Julie!
Could I get the shopping list too? 🙂 sfross0609@gmail.com
Just sent it Sara!
Hey 🙂 can I get grocery list email please to margaret.becerra@yahoo.com Thank you so much
Would love the grocery list as well Please…kelly808@hawaii.edu
Thanks
Just saw this on pinterest!! Love the concept of clean eating. I look forward to trying these recipes for my family. Can I please get the shopping list as well. lunlin76@yahoo.com
I also just came across this and am really excited to try the recipes and I’d love a copy of your shopping list as well! Or if you’ve posted it since, maybe a link to it? I wish I had found this site before and hope that I am not too late and that this site is still active and current. Thanks for what you have shared on here Melissa, I greatly appreciate it. I would love to be on your mailing list if you have one.
Melissa W.
Indiana
The blog is totally alive and well! And we are totally name twins AND I grew up in Hope Indiana. Small world! Hope you keep in touch lady! I just mailed you that shopping list.
Id love a copy of the shopping list as well Melissa 🙂 please and thank u! 🙂
I would LOVE a grocery list also 🙂
I would love a shopping list pretty please if it isn’t too much hassle!! Also, I’m Australian… so “peppers” are capsicum’s right?? ;-p
sally_octrin@hotmail.com
This meal plan looks great! I am enjoying your blog. 🙂 Can I please have a copy of the grocery list?