Skinnytaste Dinner Plan — Week 27

This week’s Skinnytaste dinner plan includes several family favorites with a Mexican influence to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, plus a light dessert for Mother’s Day. I’ll be spending Sunday with my mom for Mother’s Day, and because my aunt avoids gluten and dairy, I’ll bring a simple 5-ingredient almond cake that is naturally gluten-free and easy to make. I’m also hosting a Twitter party on Monday at 1pm EST with 1800Flowers, where they’ll be giving away a collection of prizes. It’s a busy, seasonal week, and the meal plan below is designed to be approachable, family-friendly, and centered on fresh flavors.

Why Meal Planning Works

Using a meal planner helps streamline grocery shopping and reduces last-minute dinner stress. I use a weekly meal planner to decide dinners in advance, which makes the supermarket run quicker and keeps the pantry organized. Breakfasts in our house tend to be simple—eggs with fruit, smoothies, or avocado toast—so the focus for planning is dinner. We’re a family of four, so if a recipe yields more than we need, we either pack leftovers for lunches or enjoy them the next day. Meal planning also helps control food waste, maintain a balanced diet, and free up weekday evenings for family time rather than cooking from scratch every night.

Weekly Dinner Schedule — Week 27

Monday: Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes
Tuesday: Skinny Chicken Enchiladas with Mexican Brown Rice
Wednesday: Easy Crock Pot Chicken and Black Bean Taco Salad
Thursday: Grilled Flank Steak with Tomatoes, Red Onion and Balsamic
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Dinner Out
Sunday: 5-Ingredient Almond Cake with Berries (Mother’s Day dessert)

Meal-Planning Tips and Serving Suggestions

To make the week smoother, prepare components ahead: cook extra chicken for Tuesday’s enchiladas and Wednesday’s salad; pre-chop vegetables and store them in airtight containers; and portion out toppings like shredded cheese, cilantro, and scallions. For the grilled flank steak, let the meat rest after cooking and slice thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness. The almond cake is a dependable, simple dessert—light, naturally gluten-free when made with almond flour, and lovely served with fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

Adjust servings based on your household. For a family of four, most recipes here are roomy enough to provide leftovers, which can be repurposed for lunches or frozen for another week. If you need to stretch a meal, add a side salad or simple roasted vegetables. Swap ingredients to suit dietary needs—use dairy-free yogurt or cheese alternatives if required, and choose whole-grain or low-carb tortillas based on preference.

Shopping List

This consolidated shopping list covers the week’s recipes. Quantities can be adjusted to match your family size and what you already have on hand.

Produce

4 medium sweet potatoes
Red bell pepper
Red onion (several for multiple recipes)
Scallions or cilantro (for topping and garnish)
Plum tomatoes or chopped tomatoes (about 3½ cups)
Lime (for wedges and dressing)
Jalapeño pepper
Garlic (several cloves)
Mixed berries for serving with the almond cake
Romaine or red leaf lettuce (about 6 cups chopped)
Fresh herbs such as oregano, basil, or parsley
Hass avocado (for dressing)

Pantry & Staples

Olive or canola oil
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Canned black beans
Plum or canned tomatoes for rice
Low-sodium chicken broth
Taco seasoning (reduced sodium if preferred)
Chipotle chiles in adobo or chipotle chili powder
Cumin
Smoked paprika or regular paprika
Cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting the almond cake)
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Dairy & Refrigerated

Fat-free Greek yogurt or light sour cream
Low-fat buttermilk (or a suitable substitute for dressing)
Reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend (or preferred shredded cheese)

Proteins & Grains

2 lb flank steak
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 16 oz total; cook extra for multiple meals)
8 (7-inch) low-carb or whole wheat flour tortillas
4 cups cooked or frozen unseasoned brown rice

Baking & Special Ingredients

Almond flour or almond meal
Eggs and egg whites
Sugar
Pure vanilla extract
Fine sea salt

Final Notes

This plan balances convenience with fresh flavors and includes options that are easy to adapt for dietary restrictions. Keep basic seasonings on hand so you can tweak spice levels to taste. With a simple shopping trip and a little prep, weeknight dinners can be healthy, flavorful, and stress-free.