$225/MONTH MENU PLAN FOR OUR FAMILY OF 6 (POST #36) (2024)

Wondering what to have for dinner? Let me help!Here are the simple, easy meals that our family of 6 has been enjoying.

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One thing that always sort of surprises me when I’m typing up these easy meal plans is how inspired they get me!

Typically when I’m working on them I end up referencing my previous menu plans to look at wording or to find the link to a recipe that I used etc. and I start seeing recipes that I haven’t made for a while that look really tasty. Or they give me ideas of similar recipes that I saw on Pinterest that I want to try and it kind of helps get me out of the “what to cook for dinner” slump that I seem to frequently land in. I love it!

And I guess that’s why these posts are endlessly popular- because you all are like me and get in that slump way more often than you wish you would!Besides typing up these menu plans, I have a couple of other things that help me stay inspired with meal ideas.

One is to have a couple of basic recipes that I can fall back on when I need something quick and easy. These recipes are ones that use things that I always keep our pantry stocked with and they are simple recipes that I can whip together on a busy day.

The other thing that helps is to try at least one or two new recipes a week. This helps keep my creativity flowing, helps bring in more variety and helps us find new favorites too!

Hopefully, this month’s easy menu plan will help you as much as it helps me! And I’d love if you’d share in the comments what helps you stay inspired and out of the “what to make for dinner” slump.

If you are new to my menu plan posts, it’s probably helpful to know a couple of things first:

• The size and age of our family. Our family of sixconsists of two adults with fairly big appetites, an 8 ½-year-old boy, a 5 ½-year-old girl, a 3-year-old girl and an 11 mo. partially breastfed baby boy.
  
• I buy lots of fruits and veggies in bulk from local farmers/orchards in the summer and then freeze or can them. This is not only much cheaper it is also healthier too. But that is why if you look at my Weekly Spending Summaries you won’t always see lots of produce.
  
• I have a stockpile. My cupboards are full from previous shopping and here’s why. When I can get pasta for free with coupons, I buy as much as I have coupons for. If I’m able to get flour for $0.50/bag like I did last fall, I’ll buy half a dozen and put them in the freezer to use as needed. I do this as much as my budget allows, on as many items as I can and as a result save lots of money. Then when I go to plan menus, I simply plan our meals around what I already have in my cupboards and freezer, as much as possible. Obviously, I still might have to buy a few things at regular price here and there, but by stocking up when the price is at rock bottom I save a lot.
  
• I cook almost totally from scratch. That means when I make a cake, I rarely use a cake mix. I make my own bread totally from scratch. I rarely use pre-packaged sauces. I make my own cream soupsand pie crusts. Making your own food is typically less expensive and healthier too.
  
• We rarely snack. By eating “heavy” food like granola at breakfast we don’t get hungry until lunchtime. And the same goes for the afternoon. Our lunches are big enough that we usually are fine until dinner time. When we do need a snack, I try to keep it mostly healthy by offering fruit, nuts or maybe No Bake Energy Bites. We don’t always do it perfectly though, and sometimes end up having chips or cookies instead.
  
• Our breakfasts consist of Homemade Granola or Baked Oatmeal, the occasional bought cereal that I was able to get for $0.50/box and sometimes some fruit too. I know that might seem awfully boring to some of you, but we actually all really enjoy it and prefer it over other breakfast food. I also have a homemade iced coffee, homemade frappe or some other fun beverage every morning. It’s just one of the little things that I do to add a bit of sunshine to my days

Ideas of What to Have for Dinner

WEEK 1
Sunday

• ; Green Beans; Homemade Applesauce; Best Ever Chocolate Cakewith 5 Minute Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
• Homemade Tuna Salad on 100% Whole Wheat Bread; Homemade Popcorn;Easy Frozen Fruit Smoothie

Monday

• Meat & Cheese Sandwiches on 100% Whole Wheat Bread;Easy Homemade Yogurt; Home Canned Peaches; Frozen Blueberries
• Scalloped Chicken & Rice Casserole; Lettuce Salad with Mexican Dressing; Homemade Applesauce; Leftover Best Ever Chocolate Cake
  – The casserole is an easy tasty recipe that incorporates a homemade cheese sauce and then mixes it with chicken and rice and a bunch of herbs and seasonings. I really need to get it posted on the blog! It’s so good!

Tuesday

• Refried Bean & Cheese Quesadillas (using homemade refried beans); Easy Homemade Yogurt; Clementines; Home Canned Peaches
• Baked Fish; Instant Pot “Baked” Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes; Easy Quinoa Cabbage Salad

Wednesday

• Various Leftovers; Easy Homemade Yogurt; Bananas; Home Canned Peaches
• Homemade Pulled Pork Sandwiches; Black Bean Quinoa Cabbage Salad; Homemade Applesauce; Vanilla Magic Custard Cake

Thursday

• Meat & Cheese Sandwiches on 100% Whole Wheat Bread;Easy Homemade Yogurt; Bananas; Frozen Blueberries
• Salsa Chicken Soup; Lettuce Salad; Cheese; Leftover Vanilla Magic Custard Cake

Friday

• Refried Bean & Cheese Quesadillas (using homemade refried beans); Easy Homemade Yogurt; Bananas; Home Canned Peaches
• Crustless Bacon & Cheese Quiche (the recipe uses Bisquick- I use my Homemade Bisquick Mix– and it creates a crust as it bakes); Green Beans; Homemade Applesauce; Homemade Chocolate Brownies

Saturday

• Eggs; Toast; Easy Homemade Yogurt; Bananas; Cherries
• Big Lettuce Salad with lots of add-ins like chicken, black beans, hard-boiled eggs etc. with Mexican Dressing; Homemade Applesauce; Leftover 5 Minute Perfectly Chocolate Buttercream Frosting on graham crackers

WEEK 2
Sunday

• Ham Loaf (comes pre-made- I just make a glaze for it); Baked Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes; Cooked Carrots; Homemade Applesauce; Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream
• Homemade Tuna Salad on 100% Whole Wheat Bread; Easy Frozen Fruit Smoothie

Monday

• Refried Bean and Cheese Quesadillas (using homemade refried beans); Easy Homemade Yogurt; Home Canned Peaches; Frozen Blueberries
• Leftover Salsa Chicken Soup; Lettuce Salad with Mexican Dressing; Homemade Chocolate Brownies

Tuesday

• Meat & Cheese Sandwiches on 100% Whole Wheat Bread;Easy Homemade Yogurt; Home Canned Peaches; Frozen Blueberries
• Baked Cheddar Eggs and Potatoes; Lettuce Salad with Mexican Dressing;Cinnamon Pancakes with Cinnamon Roll Glaze

Wednesday

• Eggs; Toast; Easy Homemade Yogurt; Oranges; Bananas
• Easy John Wayne Casserole; Green Beans; Homemade Applesauce; Leftover Homemade Chocolate Brownies

Thursday

• Various Leftovers; Easy Homemade Yogurt; Bananas; Apples
• Away for a viewing and didn’t eat at home

Friday

• Meat & Cheese Sandwiches on 100% Whole Wheat Bread;Easy Homemade Yogurt; Home Canned Peaches; Oranges
• Leftover Deep Dish Taco Squares; Green Beans; Snickerdoodle Bars

Saturday

• Various Leftovers; Easy Homemade Yogurt; Oranges; Frozen Blueberries
• Creamy White Chicken Chili; Lettuce Salad; Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
  – I know, soup and shortcake are kind of an odd combo, but it was a cooler day and I was short on time and since this soup is so fast and easy to make, I kind of “broke the rules” and made it even though I was going to have shortcake for dessert!

Other Frugal Living Posts You’ll Enjoy:

• 45 No Oven Summer Meal Ideas
• 25 Cheap and Easy Kid Friendly Casseroles
• 35 Foods to Make at Home to Save Money
• Budget-Friendly Aldi Meal Plan: 7 Dinners for $50!