30-Day Back-to-School Real Food Menu Plan time!
I’m excited to share that I’ve made a list of one entire month’s worth of real food meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner/supper. Why? Because school is just about to begin (or already did for some of you).
I personally thought it would be valuable to avoid thinking about how to feed the hungry school children since I will, of course, be joyously reading for hours each day with my offspring about the adventures of Lewis and Clark and having fabulous discussions about planets, galaxies, and Ralph Moody. During the times I’m not joyously reading, I will be joyful at a soccer field or in a car dropping or picking up a kid from a music lesson. I will be way too joyful to think about meal planning.
Assuming you also have much joy during the back-to-school season – I thought maybe you’d like this resource too.
Don’t look now, but I’m absolutely not going to stick with these lists entirely. I’ll use it as a reference and guide. This is 30 days worth of real food meals at a quick glance to ease us all back into a school routine. Now that is JOY!
30-Day Back-to-School Real Food Menu Plan
We’ll begin with breakfast, head into lunch (for the homeschoolers among us), then land on dinner/supper. As much as possible, I plan to (or already) have foods prepped ahead and put into the freezer so that all I have to do is pull them out and thaw/cook/serve. Everything else will be easy to put together. Scrambling eggs takes no time at all. Right? Right.
30 Real Food Breakfast Ideas (always served with fruit and often served with some sort of additional protein)
- Fried eggs on toast
- Scrambled cheesy eggs
- Breakfast Burritos
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Easy Breakfast Casserole
- Dark Chocolate Almond Granola
- Giant Breakfast Cookies
- Instant Oatmeal Packets
- Pancake and Sausage Muffins
- Whole Wheat Waffles
- Coconut Flour Muffins
- Quick Mix Pancakes
- Homemade Poptarts
- Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
- Peanut Butter Snack Bars
- Peanut Butter Breakfast Cake
- Coconut Fudge Bars
- Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins
- Quick Mix Biscuits
- Low Sugar Carrot Cake
- Lemon Bread
- Ham and Egg Breakfast Bowls
- Grape Nuts Cereal
- Crepes
- Breakfast Cake Muffins
- Honey Cinnamon Muffins
- Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Strawberry Cream Muffins
- Peanut Butter Pancakes
Muffin Tip: Make muffin batter ahead and put it into the freezer like this so that you can easily bake them fresh as needed in the mornings!
30 Real Food Lunch Ideas (always served with 2-4 fruits and veggies. If I’m serving salad, I usually serve some sort of bread to fill my men)
- Tuna Salad
- Tuna Melts on Spinach
- Pasta Salad Bar
- Meat and Cheese Burritos
- Easy Noodle Stir Fry
- Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad
- Pizza Boats
- Baked Potatoes in the Crock Pot with whatever toppings we have available
- Homemade pizza (crusts already made – boys build/bake their own)
- Spanish Rice
- Taco Salad
- Easy Cheesy Bean Dip with chips
- Chicken Tacos
- Black Bean Chicken Nachos
- BLT Chopped Salad
- BLT Wraps
- Bacon, Egg, and Avocado Salad
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (with turkey or ham if I have some)
- Scrambled Egg Sandwiches
- Creamy Mac and Cheese
- Healthier Cheese Dip with chips
- Real Food Meat and Velveeta Dip with chips
- Taco Quesadillas
- Tuna Casserole
- Chicken Burritos
- Plain Quesadillas
- Hamburger Patties
- Beef Summer Sausage with cheese and crackers
- Corn Dog Muffins
- Cheesy Salsa Burgers (from Eat Right Away: Beef Edition)
Dinner/Supper (always served with 2-4 fruits and veggies)
- Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas
- Grilled Barbeque Chicken
- Italian Cream Cheese Chicken
- Mongolian Beef (from Eat Right Away: Slow Cooker Beef Edition)
- Quick Mix Pancakes with Scrambled Eggs and Bacon
- Barbecue Cranberry Chicken (from Eat Right Away: Slow Cooker Chicken Edition)
- Sloppy Joes
- Cheeseburger Macaroni
- Easy Apricot Chicken (from Eat Right Away: Chicken Edition)
- Turkey Sausage and Red Bean Stew
- Taco Potatoes
- Beefy Enchilada Bake
- Baked Ziti (from Eat Right Away: Beef Edition)
- Baked Three Cheese Chicken Pasta
- Garden Veggie Chicken Skillet
- Spaghetti
- Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole (from Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks)
- Popcorn Chicken
- Bacon-Wrapped Individual Meatloaves (from Eat Right Away: Beef Edition)
- Italian Pasta Bake
- Salmon Patties
- Teriyaki Chicken and Veggies
- Grilled Salmon
- Grilled Burgers
- Fiesta Chicken
- Sour Cream Enchiladas (from Make-Ahead Meals and Snacks)
- Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Lamb Chops
- Hawaiian Beef and Rice (from Eat Right Away: Slow Cooker Beef Edition)
- Grilled Steak
You can pin or bookmark this page for quick reference. Or better yet:
Learning Resources and Freebies Made Easy
Today you can download this FREE 30-Day Real Food Menu Plan Resource to keep handy during this busy time of year! Not only that, we’re always offering free printable learning resources you won’t want to miss!
Sign Up to Download the 30-Day Real Food Menu Plan Resource
Oh, I need this so much! I am 11 weeks pregnant with our 4th child. Our oldest is 6 and homeschool just started last week! I am beginning to feel better after weeks of all-day nausea sickness! :) I was just thinking yesterday how I needed to get on your blog and search for new menu ideas – especially lunch! Thank you so much for all your ideas!!! Have a great year!
Perfect timing on this post! I am a school teacher and have a little less than two weeks of break left. In August I start to get antsy and the best way I can describe it is “nesting” as I clean everything and prep meals ahead. A plan is so helpful at the beginning of school.
If I had time I would make a list entitled, “30 reasons why I love and read this blog”! You are the best!!
are u able to keep this stuff warm for the cold lunch line? Thanks for all the tips!
I doubt it, but some of it might work to take to school for lunches! Most of the items in the lunch list work well for home schoolers or those who come home from work for lunch. :)
man! summer just started. School already. Ha i am going on vocation next week. No thinking of school tell i get back.
This list is great! I’ve been needing more kid breakfast ideas. Come September 1st, I will have to have my 2 out the door at 6:45, and well, let’s just say none of us are morning people! Breakfast at least partially made is a must on school days. And most days they take it in the car, so portable options are a must, too. Last year my kids had muffins a lot, but now they’re sick of them. Planning on cooking up sausage patties and freezing them, along with biscuits. Will be doing breakfast tacos, and will check out some of these recipes! Thanks! : )
Here is a recipe link on how to make portable breakfast wraps easier. You cook the egg like an omelet and then roll it in the tortilla. No more scrambled egg mess! You can use the idea and make different types! Hope it gives you some help for your breakfast taco idea! :)
http://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/tipslibrary/cooking-tips/your-new-breakfast-bff-bacon-cheddar-spinach-breakfast-roll-ups
This is my first I’ve discovered your blog! What a great resource! I’ll be back lots. It’s refreshing & real. Thank you!
I’ve been reading down through your 30 day menu list, and I’m so thankful that almost all of them have some sort of meat choices. Our family consists of 5 sons and 1 daughter, and I’ve not come across too many websites that are big family, healthy food friendly. My gang are meat eaters, and when I try to cut back on the meat (expensive) and substitute with beans or something, it’s like a major revolt! (That’s why God gave us canines, Mom!)
I’m very excited to see what else you have to offer. Ruthie