Week of Aug 01, 2026

5 meals · draft

🍳 Review & Finalize

Request: Make one meal chicken stir fry, one meal penne and do one quick meal for swim lesson night.

This Week's Meals

Chicken Stir Fry
Prep all vegetables before starting to cook - stir fry moves quickly. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces for even cooking. Have rice cooking while you prep vegetables. Use high heat and cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which steams rather than sears.
Penne Rigate with Chicken
Start pasta water first. While pasta cooks, sauté chicken and prep vegetables. Drain artichoke hearts well to avoid watery sauce. Reserve some pasta water to help sauce come together. This dish reheats well for leftovers.
Easy Tuna Melt
Perfect for swim lesson night - takes 10 minutes total. Mix tuna filling while toaster oven preheats. Can prep tuna mixture the night before to make it even faster. Serve with baby carrots or apple slices for a complete meal.
Salmon Crunch Bowls
Start brown rice first (takes longest). While rice cooks, prep all toppings and make the sriracha mayo. The sesame-panko crust creates amazing texture. Prep vegetables night before if time is tight. Great for using up leftover vegetables in the fridge.
Best Chicken Tacos
Chicken thighs stay juicier than breasts. Marinate chicken for 15-20 minutes if possible. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet for better texture. Set up a taco bar with toppings so your son can build his own. Black beans can simmer while chicken cooks.
📧 Email Draft
🛒 Shopping List

This Week's Meal Plan

Here are your 5 delicious meals for the week, including a quick option for swim lesson night!

Meal 1: Chicken Stir Fry

Instructions: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Season bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then cook until golden (about 5-6 minutes). Remove and set aside. Add another tablespoon of oil and stir-fry your vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, carrots) for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender. Add minced garlic and ginger, cook 30 seconds. Return chicken to pan. Mix together 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Pour over stir fry and toss until sauce thickens (about 1 minute). Serve over rice.

Meal 2: Penne Rigate with Chicken

Instructions: Cook penne according to package directions. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet and cook diced chicken breast until golden. Add diced onion and cook until softened (3-4 minutes). Stir in minced garlic, chopped sundried tomatoes, and drained artichoke hearts (quartered). Add halved cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach, cooking until spinach wilts. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with chicken mixture, adding pasta water as needed to create a light sauce. Finish with lemon juice, lemon zest, grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

Meal 3: Easy Tuna Melt (Swim Lesson Night!)

Instructions: Preheat toaster oven or oven to 400°F. Mix drained tuna with mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Split English muffins and toast lightly. Top each half with tuna mixture, tomato slice, and Swiss cheese. Bake for 5-7 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles. Serve with baby carrots or fruit on the side. Total time: 10 minutes!

Meal 4: Salmon Crunch Bowls

Instructions: Cook brown rice according to package directions. Preheat oven to 425°F. Mix panko, sesame seeds, garlic powder, ginger, salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sriracha, sesame oil, and maple syrup. Brush salmon with this mixture, then press into panko mixture. Place on lined baking sheet and bake 12-15 minutes. Make sriracha mayo by mixing mayo, 1 tablespoon sriracha, and lime juice. Prep your veggie toppings (greens, shredded cabbage, carrots, cucumber). Assemble bowls with rice, salmon, vegetables, and drizzle with sriracha mayo. Top with cilantro, peanuts, and lime wedges.

Meal 5: Best Chicken Tacos

Click here for the full recipe

Quick overview: Marinate chicken thighs in soy sauce, oil, garlic, and taco seasoning. Cook in a hot skillet until caramelized and cooked through (about 6-7 minutes per side). Let rest, then slice. Warm black beans with diced onion. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet. Set up taco bar with sliced chicken, black beans, diced avocado, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Enjoy your meals!

🥬 Produce

  • 10 Bananas
  • 1 package (18 oz) Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 lb Fresh Strawberries
  • 2 Garlic Bulbs
  • 3 Large Ripe Avocados
  • 3 Medium Yellow Onions
  • 1 package (10 oz) NatureSweet Cherubs Salad Tomatoes (cherry tomatoes)
  • 2 Red Bell Peppers
  • 2 Russet Potatoes
  • 1 Sweet Potato
  • 2 Lemons
  • 2 Limes
  • 1 bunch Fresh Spinach (or 5 oz package)
  • 1 container Mixed Greens (for salmon bowls)
  • 1 bunch Fresh Cilantro
  • 2 medium Tomatoes (for tuna melts)
  • 1 Cucumber
  • 1 small head Green Cabbage (or pre-shredded bag)
  • 2 large Carrots
  • 1 head Broccoli
  • 8 oz Snap Peas
  • 1 knob Fresh Ginger

🥩 Meat & Seafood

  • 1.5 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (for stir fry and penne)
  • 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (for tacos)
  • 4 (6-oz) Skinless Salmon Fillets

🧀 Dairy

  • 1 package (32 oz) Fage Total Plain 2% Greek Yogurt
  • 1 half-gallon King Soopers Organic Vitamin D Whole Milk
  • 1 package (8 oz) Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese Spread
  • 1 package (8 oz) Tillamook Aged Sharp Cheddar Block Cheese
  • 2 dozen Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Large Brown Eggs
  • 1 package Parmesan Cheese (shredded or block)
  • 1 package Swiss Cheese Slices
  • Sour Cream (optional, for tacos)

🏪 Aisle / Dry Goods

  • 1 box (1 lb) Penne Pasta
  • 1 jar or package Sundried Tomatoes
  • 1 can or jar Artichoke Hearts
  • 2 cans (5 oz each) Tuna
  • 1 package (6 ct) Thomas' Nooks & Crannies Original English Muffins
  • 1.5 cups Brown Rice (or 1 bag if you don't have enough)
  • 1 jar Mayonnaise (if running low)
  • 1 bottle Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1 bottle Sriracha
  • 1 bottle Sesame Oil
  • 1 bottle Maple Syrup (if running low)
  • 1 container Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 1 jar or package Sesame Seeds
  • 1 package Chopped Peanuts
  • 1 can Black Beans
  • 1 bottle Rice Vinegar
  • Honey (if running low)
  • Cornstarch (if running low)
  • Garlic Powder (if running low)
  • Ground Ginger (if running low)
  • 1 package Taco Seasoning (Siete brand preferred)
  • Salsa (for tacos, optional)

📦 Every Week Items

  • 2 packs LaCroix Sparkling Water (8 pk)
  • 2 packs Spindrift Sparkling Water (8 pk)
  • 1 bag Starbucks Vanilla Ground Coffee (11 oz)
  • 1 loaf Dave's Killer Bread - 21 Whole Grains and Seeds (27 oz)
  • 1 package Mission Soft Taco Flour Tortillas (10 ct)

⚠️ Staples to Restock

  • 1 bottle Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Cooking & Finishing)