Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 35). This week has been lively and full of visits from family and friends, with lots of time spent at the beach, barbecues, and relaxed gatherings. Between dinners out and casual get-togethers, I’ve kept weeknight meals light, straightforward, and family-friendly. Below is a simple, balanced weekly dinner plan with a clear shopping list to make grocery trips and meal prep easy.
I plan my dinners with a weekly meal planner — in this case, The Skinnytaste Meal Planner — which helps me organize meals before heading to the supermarket. Meal planning saves time, reduces food waste, and keeps weeknights less stressful. For breakfast I usually keep it quick and nutritious: eggs with fruit, a smoothie, or avocado toast. We’re a family of four; if a recipe yields more than we need, it becomes packed lunches or leftovers for the next day. For reference, the weekly plan below includes recipe names you can look up or adapt to your tastes.
Skinnytaste Dinner Plan (Week 35)
- Monday: Three Cheese Zucchini Stuffed Lasagna Rolls with a simple green salad
- Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Tacos with lettuce slaw, avocado, and Cotija-style cheese
- Wednesday: Grilled Salmon Kebabs served with a fresh seasonal salad
- Thursday: Quick Garlic-Lime Marinated Pork Chops with Mexican-style cauliflower rice
- Friday: Chicken and Zucchini Noodle Caprese — light, fresh, and fast
- Saturday: Dinner out — a night off from cooking
- Sunday: Dinner out — enjoy the weekend and leftovers if needed
Below is a consolidated shopping list organized by recipe to streamline grocery shopping. Quantities are approximate; adjust for appetite, number of servings, and pantry staples you already have on hand.
Shopping List
Three Cheese Zucchini Stuffed Lasagna Rolls
- Lasagna noodles (swap for brown rice lasagna for gluten-free)
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Zucchini
- Part-skim ricotta cheese
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Large egg
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- Marinara sauce
- Part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Grilled Chicken Tacos with Lettuce Slaw, Avocado and Cotija
- Four thin-sliced boneless chicken breast cutlets (about 14 oz)
- Seasoned salt or preferred taco seasoning
- Olive oil
- Fresh limes or lime juice
- Shredded romaine lettuce
- Ripe tomatoes
- Fresh cilantro
- Red onion
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Corn tortillas
- Cotija-style cheese
- Avocado
- Radishes for garnish (optional)
- Lime wedges for serving
Grilled Salmon Kebabs
- Fresh salmon fillet (about 1½ pounds), skinless if preferred
- Chopped fresh oregano or dried oregano
- Sesame seeds (optional for texture)
- Ground cumin
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh lemons
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Kosher salt
- Bamboo skewers (soaked if using on a grill)
Quick Garlic-Lime Marinated Pork Chops
- Four lean boneless pork chops (about 6 oz each)
- Garlic
- Ground cumin
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Lime and lime zest
- Kosher salt and fresh black pepper
Mexican Cauliflower “Rice”
- Riced cauliflower (fresh or pre-crumbled)
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Plum tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes
- Jalapeño (optional for heat)
- Garlic
- Tomato paste
- Ground cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh cilantro
Chicken and Zucchini Noodle Caprese
- Boneless skinless chicken breast (about 1/2 lb)
- Kosher salt and dried oregano
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil
- Zucchini (spiralized into noodles)
- Fresh mini mozzarella balls (or sliced fresh mozzarella)
Meal planning tips: batch-cook components like marinara sauce, riced cauliflower, or grilled chicken to save time during the week. Use leftover protein in salads, wraps, or bowls to stretch ingredients and reduce waste. Keep pantry staples—olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and dried herbs—handy so you can quickly season and finish simple dishes. When grilling or cooking for a family, prep vegetables and sides in advance and store them in airtight containers so you can assemble meals quickly on busy nights.
Enjoy the week of flavorful, balanced meals. These recipes are flexible and easy to adapt to dietary needs or preferences, and they make great leftovers for lunches or light dinners later in the week.