Free 7-Day Meal Plan with Recipes: Sept 16–22

A free, flexible 7-day weight-loss meal plan with breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas plus a complete shopping list. All included recipes show macros and Weight Watchers points where applicable.

Healthy meal plan image

Free 7-Day Healthy Meal Plan (Sept 16–22)

Pears are a favorite of mine—versatile and delicious in both desserts and fall salads. My Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honey use just four ingredients and work as a breakfast or a simple dessert. For baking, Royal Riviera, Bosc and Anjou pears offer excellent texture and flavor. If you want to learn when pears are in season in your area, check a local ripening chart for timing.

For a crisp fall starter try my Kale and Butternut Squash Salad with Pears and Almonds. If you prefer a warm main dish, Pork Chops and Pears with Spicy Mustard Greens provides a savory twist on pears for dinner.

If you’re new to these weekly meal plans, I share free, flexible 7-day healthy menus that act as a guide and include plenty of wiggle room. Feel free to add snacks, beverages, extra servings, dessert or wine, and swap recipes as you like. Depending on your goals, aim for at least 1,500 calories per day as a general reference—individual needs vary by age, weight and activity level.

The plan includes a clear grocery list to simplify shopping, save time and reduce waste. Having ingredients on hand helps you cook more at home and stay on track with your goals.

Join the Skinnytaste Facebook Community to share photos and ideas with others cooking recipes from these plans. To receive future meal plans by email, subscribe to the mailing list.

Ultimate Skinnytaste Meal Planner

Skinnytaste Ultimate Meal Planner

The Skinnytaste Ultimate Meal Planner is a 52-week spiral-bound planner with weekly meal grids you can tear out, a 12-week meal plan, 30 recipes (including 15 new ones), and tear-out grocery lists. It also includes spaces for gratitude, affirmations and weekly intentions to help you start your week with purpose.

Skinnytaste Ultimate Meal Planner photo

Where to buy the Skinnytaste meal planner

  • Amazon
  • Barnes & Noble
  • IndieBound

A note about WW Points

All recipes on the site have been updated to reflect the current Weight Watchers program and display points beneath recipe titles where applicable. Use the recipe builder on the official Weight Watchers site to view how points were calculated and to add recipes to your day (U.S. accounts only, sign-in required). Cookbook recipes in the cookbook index have also been updated.

With grocery prices rising, meal planning is one of the best ways to stay within budget while keeping meals healthy. Meal planning reduces food waste and helps you cook at home more often. For more budget-friendly plans, explore the series of 5-day budget meal plans available through Relish+ (often with a free trial).

Notable Sales and Finds

Below are a few products I’ve spotted on sale recently that readers have found useful for meal prep and kitchen organization:

  • Sourdough starter jar — affordable starter for beginning sourdough bakers.
  • Clear plastic storage bins — helpful for organizing a pantry.
  • Round Dutch oven — great for bread baking and slow-cooked meals.
  • Full-length standing mirror — a popular home-decor find.
  • Multi-purpose upholstery cleaner — useful for seasonal deep cleaning.

Meal Plan

Breakfasts and lunches Monday through Friday are portioned for one person; dinners and all weekend meals are scaled to feed a family of four. Some recipes yield leftovers suitable for a second night or for lunch the next day. The included grocery list covers everything needed to prepare every meal in this plan.

MONDAY (9/16)
B: Pumpkin Overnight Oats
L: Cranberry Chicken Salad on Apple Slices
D: Margherita Pizza with Autumn Salad with Pears and Gorgonzola
Total Calories: 1,119*

TUESDAY (9/17)
B: Pumpkin Overnight Oats
L: Cranberry Chicken Salad on Apple Slices
D: Pork Carnitas with two corn tortillas, 2 oz avocado and Pico de Gallo
Total Calories: 1,110*

WEDNESDAY (9/18)
B: Eggs with Cottage Cheese (half recipe), one slice whole wheat toast and one cup berries
L: Italian Sub Broccoli Salad (half recipe)
D: Leftover Pork Carnitas over Chipotle’s Cilantro Lime Rice with Corn Salsa and 2 Tbsp shredded cheese
Total Calories: 1,129*

THURSDAY (9/19)
B: Eggs with Cottage Cheese (half recipe), one slice whole wheat toast and one cup berries
L: Italian Sub Broccoli Salad
D: Sesame Chicken with Wilted Baby Spinach with Garlic and Oil
Total Calories: 1,246*

FRIDAY (9/20)
B: Air Fryer Breakfast Banana Split
L: Italian Sub Broccoli Salad
D: Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp and Tomato Cream Sauce and Arugula Salad
Total Calories: 1,132*

SATURDAY (9/21)
B: Apple Bread with 1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt and 1 cup mixed berries
L: BLT Salad with Avocado
D: Dinner out
Total Calories: 436*

SUNDAY (9/22)
B: Apple Bread with two scrambled eggs and two slices bacon
L: Open-Faced Tuna Melt Sandwich (double recipe) with 1 cup grapes
D: Carne Guisada with 3/4 cup rice and Aji Picante
Total Calories: 1,051*

*This plan is a general guide. Women often aim around 1,500 calories per day, but your needs will vary. Use a trusted calorie calculator to estimate your personal requirements. There’s room in the daily totals to add coffee, drinks, snacks, fruit or dessert as desired.

Meal plan graphic

*Full ingredient and nutrition details are available in the associated Google document and recipe pages.

Shopping list

Produce

  • 2 medium bananas
  • 2 small ripe pears
  • 2 medium plus 1 large apple
  • 1 (12-ounce) container fresh berries
  • 1 dry pint fresh blueberries
  • 2 (6-ounce) containers fresh berries
  • 1½ pounds seedless green or red grapes
  • 5 medium limes
  • 1 large lemon
  • 3 small (5-ounce) Hass avocados
  • 3 medium jalapeños
  • 2 medium heads garlic
  • 1 (2-inch) piece of ginger
  • 3 medium ears of corn
  • 1 small red bell pepper (optional, for Pico de Gallo)
  • 1 small bunch celery
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 pound broccoli florets
  • 10 ounces baby red potatoes
  • 2 medium bunches scallions
  • 1 (1-pound) bag or clamshell mixed baby greens
  • 1 (1-pound) bag or clamshell baby spinach
  • 1 (5-ounce) bag or clamshell baby arugula
  • 1 large head romaine lettuce
  • 1 large bunch fresh cilantro
  • 1 small bunch fresh Italian parsley
  • 1 small bunch or container fresh basil
  • 1 dry pint cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 2 small plus 6 medium vine-ripened tomatoes
  • 4 Roma tomatoes
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1 small white onion
  • 1 small yellow onion

Meat, Poultry and Fish

  • 1 rotisserie chicken
  • 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2½ pounds boneless pork shoulder blade roast
  • 1½ pounds beef stew meat
  • 1 pound large peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 1 large package center-cut bacon (about 20 slices)
  • 1 small package Genoa salami (about 1½ oz if purchased from deli counter)
  • 1 small package lean deli ham (about 1½ oz if purchased from deli counter)
  • 1 small package sliced lean deli turkey (about 1½ oz if purchased from deli counter)

Condiments and Spices

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Vegetable or avocado oil
  • Cooking spray
  • Olive oil spray or oil mister
  • Kosher salt
  • Pepper grinder or fresh peppercorns
  • Cinnamon
  • Pumpkin pie spice
  • Light mayonnaise
  • Oregano
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Honey
  • Dijon mustard
  • Cumin
  • Sazon
  • Adobo seasoning
  • Bay leaves
  • Ground ginger
  • Toasted sesame oil
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Seasoned rice vinegar
  • Sesame seeds
  • Reduced sodium soy sauce
  • Pure maple syrup
  • Nutmeg
  • Allspice
  • Vanilla extract
  • White vinegar

Dairy & Refrigerated

  • 1 18-pack large eggs
  • 1 (32-ounce) container nonfat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 (6-ounce) container 2% cottage cheese
  • 1 (8-ounce) chunk fresh mozzarella
  • 1 (8-ounce) package sliced or chunk reduced-fat provolone
  • 1 (8-ounce) package reduced-fat sliced cheddar or American
  • 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1 small package gorgonzola
  • 1 small wedge fresh Parmesan
  • 1 pint half and half
  • 1 (8-ounce) container unsweetened oat milk or milk of choice
  • Whipped cream (optional, for topping Pumpkin Overnight Oats)

Grains

  • 1 small package quick oats
  • 1 small package white whole wheat or all-purpose flour
  • 1 (1-pound) package angel hair pasta
  • 1 small loaf sliced whole wheat bread
  • 1 small package corn tortillas (you need 8)
  • 1 medium package dry extra-long grain rice

Canned & Jarred

  • 1 small jar pumpkin butter (or ingredients to make your own)
  • 1 medium jar unsweetened applesauce (or ingredients to make your own)
  • 1 (14-ounce) can reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 1 small can or jar chipotle peppers in adobo
  • 1 (4-ounce) can or (4.5-ounce) tube tomato paste
  • 1 (14-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
  • 1 small can whole San Marzano tomatoes
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas
  • 1 small jar sliced pepperoncini
  • 2 (4.5-ounce) cans tuna in water

Misc. Dry Goods

  • 1 small package chia seeds (or 2 tsp from bulk)
  • 1 medium package pecan halves (or about 1/2 cup from bulk)
  • 1 small package walnut halves (or about 1/3 cup from bulk)
  • 1 small package dried cranberries (or about 1 Tbsp from bulk)
  • 1 light beer
  • 1 (187-mL) bottle dry white wine
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Arrowroot or cornstarch
  • Monk fruit sweetener or sweetener of choice
  • 1 small package brown sugar
  • 1 small container agave
  • Colored sprinkles (optional, for the Breakfast Banana Split)

*Grains can be substituted with gluten-free options if desired.