family menu planning ideas

Menu planning ideas and lunch box recipes for winter 2021

menu planning ideas

Simple plans full of favourites the kids love are what I have created for the remaining weeks of winter. Here’s hoping we spend much less of this winter in lockdown than we did last year!

If you are after more information on the process I use for menu planning, you can find it in this menu planning post. It also has a free template you can download.

July Seasonal Fruit And Vegetables

seasonal veggies for march

It is always great to have a look at what fruit and veggies are in season and think about this when you are menu planning. Lots of my meals are pretty versatile – curries, meat and veg etc so I can choose veggies that are going to be in season. Not only will this mean they will taste better, but it is generally cheaper to buy in season too!

Fruits:
apples -bonza – braeburn – fuji – golden delicious – lady williams – pink lady – red delicious – snow – sundowner, cumquat, custard apple, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarin – ellendale – imperial, melons – champagne, nashi, oranges – navel, papaya, pineapple, pomelo, rhubarb, tangelo.

Vegetables:
asian greens – bok choy -choy sum – gai laan – wonga bok, avocados – fuerte – hass – sharwill, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, ginger, horseradish, jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, olives, onions, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, swede, sweet potato, turnip, witlof.

August Seasonal Fruit And Vegetables

Fruits:
pples – fuji – lady williams – sundowner, cumquat, custard apple, grapefruit – yellow – pink, lemons, limes, mandarins – ellendale – imperial – murcot, nashi, oranges – blood – navel, pawpaw, pineapple – smooth leaf, pomelo, rhubarb, tangelo.

Vegetables:
asian greens – bok choy – choy sum – gai laan – wonga bok, avocados – fuerte – hass – sharwill, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, ginger, horseradish, jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, olives, onions, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, swede, sweet potato, turnip, witlof.

You can see a full list of seasonal fruit and veg here.

Weekly food prep ideas

To make my weekdays easier for many years I have spent time in the kitchen on the weekends prepping and cooking food for the week. During the school term, I share photos and links of the recipes I cook up during my weekly food prep sessions on Facebook using the hashtag #pwkweeklyprep which you can see here.

Even if you don’t want to do the extensive type of food prep I do, it is so beneficial to at least make a couple of things to make your life easier during the week. If you would like to get into the meal prep thing, but do not quite know where to start, check out my short e-course Meal Prep Primer.

White Choc Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Chip and Raspberry Cookies

Chicken schnitzel

Easy gluten free hamburgers

choc chip oat balls

Oat and choc chip balls

Homemade chicken spring rolls

Homemade spring rolls

Bulk lunch box biscuits

Chocolate clusters

Easy BLT Recipe

BLTs

Menu planning ideas for July/August



Day

Week Commencing 19th July 2021

Monslow cooker honey sesame chicken gluten free.jpgSlow cooker honey sesame chicken (gluten free)
TueMarinated Steak and Garlic MashMarinated steak and garlic mash
Wedhomemade pasties.jpgHomemade pasties
Thueasy-fried-rice-recipeFried rice
Fripan fried fishPan Fried Fish and Salad
Satsweet chilli chicken wrapsSweet chilli chicken wraps
SunChicken schnitzel



Day

Week Commencing 26th July 2021

MonSONY DSC

green veggie recipe title
Slow cooker chicken satay (gluten free)

Green veggies
Tuesimple-pasta-with-chicken-and-spinachPasta with chicken and baby spinach
WedShepherd's Pie Full

Simple Roasted Tomato Salad main
Shepherd's pie

Simple tomato salad
Thusausgaes and saladSausage and Salad
FriMakeYourOwnSushiSushi
Sat2013 paleo homemade taco seasoningHomemade Tacos
SunHomemade Hamburger Recipe With Homemade Chunky ChipsHome made hamburgers and salad



Day

Week Commencing 2nd August 2021

MonChicken LasagneChicken lasagne
TueSlow Cooker Roast Beef

Tacos
Slow cooker roast beef
Wedgreen veggie recipe titleZucchini and Spaghetti Bolognese

Green veggies
Thuchicken, cashew and ginger stir fry Chicken, cashew and ginger stir fry
FriEasy Homemade Pizza SlicesHomemade pizzas
Sat2013 paleo homemade taco seasoningHomemade Tacos
SunChicken schnitzel



Day

Week Commencing 9th August 2021

Monsimple-pasta-with-chicken-and-spinachPasta with chicken and baby spinach
Tueslow cooker pulled pork asian


Slow cooker pulled pork

Cabbage and apple salad
Wedhomemade pasties.jpgHomemade pasties
Thuslow cooker butter chicken

green veggie recipe title
Slow cooker butter chicken

Green veggies
Frieasy-fried-rice-recipe

MakeYourOwnSushi
Fried rice

Sushi
Satsweet chilli chicken wrapsSweet chilli chicken wraps
SunHomemade Hamburger Recipe With Homemade Chunky ChipsHome made hamburgers and salad


Day

Week Commencing 16th August 2021

MonBaked Penne Pasta RecipeBaked penne pasta
TueSlow Cooker Roast LambTacos
Slow cooker roast lamb
WedMexibake - Mexican Family MealMexibake
ThuSONY DSC

green veggie recipe title
Slow cooker chicken satay (gluten free)

Green veggies
Fripan fried fishPan Fried Fish and Salad
SatLamb Souvlaki Wraps Kids Self ServeSouvlaki
SunServing ManyChicken Wings, Baked Potatoes and Corn


Day

Week Commencing 23rd August 2021

MonChicken LasagneChicken lasagne
TueSlow Cooker Roast Beef

Tacos
Slow cooker roast beef
Wedeasy-fried-rice-recipe

Easy Pumpkin Soup

Fried rice

Pumpkin soup
ThuEasy Beef Stiry Fry Recipe Beef Stir Fry
FriHomemade Hamburger Recipe With Homemade Chunky ChipsHome made hamburgers and salad
Sat2013 paleo homemade taco seasoningHomemade Tacos
SunChicken schnitzel


Day

Week Commencing 30th August 2021

MonSlow cooker sweet potato curry (vegetarian)
TueSlow cooker beef stroganoff main gluten freeSlow cooker beef stroganoff (gluten free)
WedMexibake - Mexican Family MealMexibake
Thusimple-pasta-with-chicken-and-spinachPasta with chicken and baby spinach
FriChicken sticksChicken sticks and salad
Satsweet chilli chicken wrapsSweet chilli chicken wraps
SunSlow Cooker Roast BeefSlow cooker roast beef

What are your go to recipes for winter?