18 Weeks of Healthier Meal Ideas! 126 of my Favorite Weeknight Meals.

Happy 2018! How did we get here?!

This is one of my most favorite posts to share every year. Each year it’s similar but I add in/swap at least 40 to 50 of lightened meals that I really loved over the previous year and then remove the ones I wasn’t as drawn to making. I reference this post approximately ten million times over the the course of the year, especially when I’m really struggling for dinner ideas!

I’ve mentioned often that in our perfect weeks, planning and shopping for three full meals works best for us. This way, we don’t get sick of our “plan,” we always end up with leftovers (but not too many leftovers), it allows for a night or two of eating out on the fly, whether it’s both of us or one of us for work, and usually will allow one night of breakfast for dinner, which we adore.

This year, perhaps my biggest goal is to make sure our meals are super balanced, always including a vegetable, consistent and most of all, PLANNED! Our meal planning service, Sweet Peas Meals, helps me with this a ton, but I have to be better this year now that Max is completely aware of what is going on all day, everyday. I want him to remember us eating balanced, delicious meals together at the table as a family.

I’d love to hear some of your favorite meals below, along with your meal planning tips and how you plan your weeks! xo

1. crunchy taco kale salad

2. smoky gruyere butternut squash soup with chickpeas

3. 30 minute portobello fried brown rice

4. chipotle lime shrimp tacos

5. honey chipotle chicken bowls

6. 30 minute shallot, spinach and goat cheese pasta

7. thai beef bowls

 

1. smoky sweet potato burgers

2. cauliflower crust pizza

3. sesame crusted shrimp with mango quinoa

4. baked falafel with spicy feta dip

5. lightened up beef enchiladas

6. zoodles with cherry tomato sauce

7. slow roasted sweet potatoes with spicy garlic chickpeas

 

1. garlic brown sugar flank steak with chimichurri 

2. 30 minute thai chili salmon skewers

3. goat cheese whole roasted chicken

4. bang bang shrimp with napa cabbage slaw

5. 30 minute buffalo chicken soup

6. roasted red pepper quinoa burgers

7. potato wedges with squash and lentils

1. salmon with thai curry peanut sauce

2. rosemary chicken, bacon and avocado salad

3. summer grain bowls

4. BBQ shrimp and lime avocado toast

5. late summer corn tortilla soup

6. burrata pesto whole wheat pasta

7. kale caesar salad on parmesan pizza crust

 

1. grilled avocado kale salad 

2. spinach red pepper bacon wrapped eggs

3. crockpot mini turkey meatballs

4. asiago portobello burgers

5. crispy shrimp mango spring rolls

6. 20 minute turkey taco nachos

7. thai chicken enchiladas

 

1. BBQ salmon burgers

2. chili cheese polenta bowls

3. oven crisped cheddar chicken fingers

4. minestrone pot pie with whole wheat biscuits

5. 30 minute greek chicken lettuce wraps

6. broiled fontina toasts with poached eggs

7. thai crunch chicken salad

1. toasted sesame quinoa with chicken

2. spicy parmesan shrimp skillet

3. chicken pot pie soup

4. crispy kale grilled cheese

5. marinated flank steak with caprese salsa

6. pineapple cashew fried rice

7. asian turkey burgers with spicy lime mayo

 

1. mushroom melts with mustard aioli 

2. winter citrus butter salmon

3. slow cooker buffalo chicken chili 

4. beer glazed citrus chicken

5. spinach artichoke linguine

6. warm brussels caesar salad

7. pulled pork tacos with chili slaw

 

1. smoky white bean chicken chili 

2. chili garlic beef stir fry with coconut rice

3. crunchy chicken spring rolls with blood orange sauce

4. cashew chicken chopped salad

5. shrimp zoodle bowls

6. shrimp burgers with chipotle cream

7. stuffed peppers with tomato basil cream sauce

1. slow cooker barbacoa tacos

2. chicken avocado salad with peanut dressing

3. gruyere, fig jam and arugula breakfast sandwiches

4. grain bowls with maple chipotle sweet potatoes

5. brussels sprouts tacos with caramelized shallot salsa

6. chipotle lime chicken skewers with avocado ranch

7. butternut squash skillet lasagna

 

1. open face steak sandwich with avocado horseradish

2. 30 minute asian chicken soup

3. butternut squash galette

4. chipotle lime whole roast chicken

5. pan crisp salmon with light dijon cream

6. whole what roasted red pepper pizza

7. BBQ quinoa salad

 

1. marinated chickpea panzanella

2. thai coconut curry shrimp noodle bowls

3. grilled chicken artichoke skewers

4. farfalle with marinated feta and arugula

5. chipotle kale and mushroom tacos

6. pulled chicken guacamole sliders

7. zoodles with chicken feta meatballs

1. smoky sweet potato + black bean tacos

2. roasted chicken ramen

3. toasted sesame ginger salmon

4. sweet potato cream pasta with crispy kale

5. salmon citrus avocado salad

6. braised short rib beef stew

7. BBQ chicken chopped salad

 

1. butternut squash enchiladas

2. creamy cauliflower soup

3. roasted chipotle chicken taco stacks

4. crab cake sliders with pineapple kiwi salsa

5. lemon chicken risotto

6. crockpot pulled pork chili 

7. thai curry pomegranate chicken

 

1. 20 minute cajun salmon with salted lime butter

2. springtime cobb salad

3. spicy lime chicken enchiladas

4. butternut squash lettuce wraps

5. white chicken quinoa chili 

6. jerk shrimp tacos

7. black bean stuffed sweet potatoes with arugula + poached eggs

1. roasted jalapeño cheddar turkey burgers

2. sweet potato quinoa cakes

3 tequila shrimp taco salad

4. hawaiian chicken fajitas

5. thai butternut squash soup

6. skillet chicken with peppers + peanuts

7. caramelized peach caprese salad

 

1. honey mustard chicken chopped salad

2. BBQ salmon crispy chickpea salad

3. easy double bean burgers

4. pizza supreme on cauliflower crust

5. white bean + chicken enchilada stuffed peppers

6. balsamic brussels sprouts grilled cheese

7. crockpot smoky brisket tacos

 

1. brussels sprouts breakfast hash

2. green goddess salmon sliders

3. thai chicken quinoa bowls

4. roasted corn caesar salads with yogurt dressing

5. buffalo style quinoa sliders

6. simple summer chickpea salad

7. mini chicken meatball soup