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    Bless This Mess > Life on the Farm > Our Family > Healthy Living

    2 Week Meal Plan for the Whole Family: Fall/Winter Menu

    Published: Aug 15, 2017 · Modified: Oct 23, 2019 by Melissa · 278 Comments

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    Title Image for Free 2 Week Family Meal Plan and 8 examples of meals and snacks

    This family-friendly, two-week healthy meal plan is designed for the fall and winter months and is full of recipes the whole family will love that are easy to make -- plus, it comes with a free printable shopping list.

    I love having a plan when I'm cooking, if you do too, look at these posts: My Approach to Eating, What to Make for Dinner: Stop the 5 Oclock Dinner Planning and 3 Tips for Making Meal Prep EASY!

    Healthy Meal Plan + Tips

    If you want to feed your family well but aren't sure where to start, this is the post for you. I have a whole foods approach to eating that your whole family will gobble up (with no health food store needed… score).

    This meal plan is ideal for families because all of the recipes are beyond simple, the ingredients are easy to find, and your whole family will chow down the meals. If you are new to healthy eating or trying to eat with a focus on whole foods, this a great place to start because the recipes are very traditional while also being simply delicious, if I do say so myself.

    I do want to mention that “healthy” is a relative term, and we may not agree on what it means. To me, it’s about balance, eating foods that make you feel good, and not restricting yourself. You can check out my food philosophy here (LINK). 

    Healthy Eating Meal Plan: Fall and Winter Menu

    Let me take the thinking out of feeding your family! This eating clean meal plan is great for busy families who want to eat at home more! You are going to love all of the tried-and-true recipes I've been making for my family of seven for years.

    Breakfast:

    Here are 14 breakfast ideas to start your morning off well.

    1. Scrambled Eggs + Muffins 
    2. Whole Wheat Waffles 
    3. Breakfast Burritos (with roasted sweet potatoes)
    4. Oatmeal (with frozen berries)
    5. Egg Bake
    6. Pancakes
    7. Granola + berries + milk (like cold cereal)
    8. Scrambled Eggs + Muffins
    9. Belgian Waffles
    10. Breakfast Cookies
    11. Oatmeal or Overnight Oats
    12. Egg Bake
    13. Pancakes
    14. Granola + berries + milk 

    Tip: Make a double batch of the waffles and pancakes on the first day, and freeze half for the second time you plan to serve them for breakfast. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and reheat in a toaster. Easy as can be!

    Lunch:

    Here are some simple lunch ideas for your family that can be made at home or taken on the go to work, school, or the park.

    1. Homemade Lunchables
    2. Quesadillas
    3. Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches
    4. Sandwich on a Stick Lunchbox Ideas
    5. Leftovers
    6. Hummus Sandwich
    7. Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich

    Remember: Don’t overthink lunch! I feel like this should be a fuss-free meal in the day.

    I've made this EVEN EASIER! Sign up here to get a free PDF printable shopping list for the dinners included in this meal plan.

    2 Weeks of Dinners the Whole Family Will Love

    Dinner is the hardest meal of the day because everyone’s a little bit tired, and there’s still a lot left to do (homework, sports practice, baths, bedtime, cleanup, etc.). Here's my easy meal plan that is perfect for fall and winter dinners that’ll take the stress out of getting the final meal of the day on the table! They’re hearty and will warm you up from the inside out during the chilly months.

    Week 1

    Day 1: Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes

    Day 2: Ground Beef Enchiladas

    Day 3: Tortellini and Vegetable Soup

    Day 4: Ground Beef Stroganoff

    Day 5: Stove Top Chicken and Rice

    Day 6: Sticky Chicken Legs 

    Day 7: Leftovers/Eat out

    Week 2:

    Day 1: Slow Cooker Whole Chicken (use leftovers for chicken tetrazzini night)

    Day 2: Slow Cooker pork for tacos 

    Day 3: Chicken Tetrazzini

    Day 4: Slow Cooker Potato Corn Chowder

    Day 5: Pumpkin and Cauliflower Curry

    Day 6: Chili and Cornbread

    Day 7: Leftovers/Eat out

    Sides for dinner:

    I rely on frozen veggies a lot in the winter months because there aren’t as many fresh options available as warmer months. If you need a side for your meals, consider adding baked or roasted potatoes, roasted fresh veggies, steamed frozen veggies, or making a simple side salad (with a great dressing) to go with your meal.

    Hard squashes like butternut, spaghetti, and acorn are in season, as well as other dark greens like Brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage.

    Fruits like apples, pomegranates, oranges, and other citrus fruits are also prime in the winter. Frozen fruit such as summer berries or peaches are also great (stock up and freeze them yourself when they are in season for added savings).

    Snacks:

    If your kids are like mine, I bet they come home hungry from school. This snack list is also great for things to send in school lunches.

    • You have lots of snack options that go beyond sliced fruit, vegetables, and string cheese sticks, but don't discount those simple options, as well.
    • I always keep a veggie box in my fridge. It's the best thing ever, and makes it way easier to eat veggies regularly!
    • One of my 8 No-Bake Oatmeal Bites are always in my fridge! My kids LOVE these.
    • Smoothies in all shapes and sizes. Just don't get tricked into using sugar if your recipe calls for yogurt. Read that label!
    • Popcorn… Did you know you can pop it in a brown paper bag in the microwave?
    • Whole Wheat Graham Crackers.
    • Whole Peanuts. Peanuts in the shell are so much more fun to eat if you don't mind the mess. Trust me.
    • Popsicles. Strawberry banana are a favorite around here. I make a double-batch of smoothies and freeze half in popsicle molds all the time, but you can also try freezing a 100% fruit juice for easy popsicles. Popsicles are the easiest way for my kids to enjoy fruit and hidden veggies.
    • Boiled Eggs.
    • No-Bake Date Balls. The peanut butter and jelly ones are our favorite.
    • I always have a loaf or two of 100% whole wheat bread ready to slice and butter. Just toast a piece and spread peanut butter on it for a really good and filling snack.
    • Healthy No-Bake Cookies.
    • Healthy Snack Bars.
    • Healthy Fruit Dip. This is perfect with apples for some extra protein and fat.

    See? Meal planning is easy… Just let me do it for you!

    I've made this EVEN EASIER! Sign up here to get a free PDF printable shopping list for the dinners included in this meal plan.

    Love a fall and winter meal plan? Don't worry, I have a summery one too! You can find my summer meal plan here.

    I hope this free meal plan for families really helps you out, saves you time, and takes some of the thinking out of "what's for dinner?"!

    Related Posts:

    • Family Meal Plan: Summer Menu
      Family Meal Plan: Summer Menu
    • Healthy Meal Plan and Printable Shopping List, Week 6
      Healthy Meal Plan and Printable Shopping List, Week 6
    • Week 3 Meal Plan
      Week 3 Meal Plan
    « Minnie Mouse Birthday Party
    12 Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Kids or Adults »
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    Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

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    about me

    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

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    1. Reginal Murphy

      May 14, 2018 at 10:07 am

      THank you for sharing these great tips for 2 weeks and beyond as these can paired up differently to go even further.

      Reply
    2. Stephanie

      April 25, 2018 at 1:13 pm

      I could do this my husband is the picky eater! He hates season and it kills me so we norohave my dinner and his lol I had gastric bypass 2 years ago and have list over 200lbs I don’t need all the bread and carbs the kids go I to full blown melt down

      Reply
      • Melissa

        April 25, 2018 at 1:38 pm

        Congrats on the weight loss Stephanie! That is AMAZING and hard earned, I bet it's super tough to do it too when your family doesn't eat the same way as you. I'm so proud of you. So you eat mostly low carb then? I feel best when I do too, but like you said, the husband and kids still eat plenty.

    3. Kathy

      March 13, 2018 at 2:26 pm

      I used almond milk, the batter seemed too thick so I added approximately 1/2 cup of non concentrate Orange juice to moisten the batter. Perfect addition to the maple flavor. Not sure why the batter was too thick, I used stone ground white wheat flour, which has a heavier consistency than other wheat flour I've found. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Cori

      December 29, 2017 at 10:44 pm

      My brother and I are starting this tomorrow...we have turned it into a challenge. Your plan is the best one I've seen so far. Thanks

      Reply
    5. Cynthia

      October 25, 2017 at 1:33 am

      If you put the premade salads in a jar and wrap jar in tin foil away from the frig light I got salad to last a month. Try it

      Reply
    6. Karen

      August 10, 2017 at 12:30 pm

      I want to try it I need to lose 30 pounds

      Reply
    7. Valerie Azinge

      July 15, 2017 at 9:35 am

      This is amazing guide! I usually try to meal prep in advance but sometimes its hard especially when you're having a lazy day. I'll have to bookmark this 🙂

      Reply
    8. Maisah Abdul-Aziz

      July 02, 2017 at 1:51 pm

      CAN'T WAITE!?

      Reply
    9. Jacki

      December 26, 2016 at 7:13 pm

      Hi! Your article says 6.99 but the checkout shows 9.99, is this right?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        December 27, 2016 at 11:55 am

        I've sent you an email about this!

    10. claudia ioanes

      August 20, 2015 at 6:06 am

      Is there winter suggestions
      Where to get your blog

      Reply
    11. Marko

      May 23, 2015 at 12:19 am

      Thank you for sharing. Looks good plan. I'll will try it soon.

      Reply
    12. Islene

      March 17, 2015 at 9:17 pm

      This looks great! Thanks for sharing! I'm definitely trying this meal plan

      Reply
    13. Rhonda

      March 14, 2015 at 8:38 am

      Just wanted to say that I pinned this post from another pinner probably a year ago but never got the chance to read your post. Finally, today i clicked on the link and started reading "What clean eating means to me" and WOW I felt like I was reading my own thoughts. Thank you for a great reference on how to keep my family healthy but not crazy about what we eat.

      Reply
    14. Carol Segarra

      February 26, 2015 at 8:50 am

      I don't have much time to bake bread, but I would like to make some rolls or something instead of the commercial bread. Do you have any referrals for recipes? Of course,only when you get a chance Thanks! Carol

      Reply
      • Melissa

        March 04, 2015 at 10:23 am

        This post is so old (hello 2009!) but it's the best rolls ever 🙂 I just made them yesterday! https://www.blessthismessplease.com/2009/12/momma-jumbo-dinner-rolls.html

    15. Gayle

      January 20, 2015 at 7:33 pm

      I just found your post and even though I haven't had a chance to do more than skim over it (due to 4 screaming kids), I am already in LOVE with it. My family has started the Clean Eating diet as of the first of the year (20 days ago and counting), and so far we have been doing pretty good. We are actually doing the No Sugar/Sweetener challenge also, included in the whole grains, lean meat and no processed/refined foods. But while researching I also thought that I need to be realistic about our life. We cannot eat at home every night, and I can't force my family to follow the diet if we go to McDonalds (I hate eating at McDonalds, but we have only like 4 restaurants here in our town, and the other ones aren't much better.) ALSO, my husband is a meat and potatoes guy, and adding anything like quiona is considered a "Fou-fou food", which limits what I can serve my family. So hearing that you are realistic about your food choices, not 100% shopping at Organic, whole food stores is a relief to me. I look forward to reading indepth what you do because it looks like something I will be able to relate too.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        January 21, 2015 at 12:20 pm

        You sound just like us and quinoa is total fou-fou here to. LOL! I've posted 3 meal plans since the beginning of the year, have you seen those new ones? They are for a week at a time and you might really like them!

    16. Sophie

      January 14, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      Thank you for this post, and adding the grocery list!

      Reply
    17. Katie

      January 11, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Thank you so much for posting this awesome menu and the shopping list! Much appreciated!

      Reply
    18. Ali

      January 10, 2015 at 8:57 am

      Thank you so much!!! This is exactly what I need! I struggle with balance and needed you to tell me exactly what you did! The last week (our first week" of eating clean has made my kids miserable and I have to have balance for them! It's hard for them to go from no veggies to nothing but veggies. Your a life saver!

      Reply
    19. Britney

      January 08, 2015 at 7:18 pm

      hi i am looking for a grocery list for the 16 day meal plan for more the winter list of meals. i believe the first day starts w Tacos. Do you have a list for this meal plan. Thank you

      Reply
      • Melissa

        January 08, 2015 at 8:07 pm

        I haven't made a list for that... sorry!

    20. Tiffany

      January 02, 2015 at 11:21 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
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    I’M MELISSA, AND I WANT TO HELP YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHOLESOME FOOD.

    As a hobby farmer and mom of five, I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen. I want healthy meals that feed my family well, and then I want to get back to my (messy) life. Let’s work together to find something yummy for your dinner table.

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