Meal Plan: Colorful Protein Recipes

Struggling to plan meals that are quick, high-protein, and vegetarian? These weekly meal plans are designed to save the day (and your dinner table). Each week includes four dinners and one breakfast idea, plus a grocery list you can take to the store with you.

🍽️ On The Menu This Week

On this week’s menu, we’re eating the rainbow with vibrant, protein-packed recipes that are as pretty as they are tasty!

• Dinner 1: Pizza Roasted Chickpeas pair it with garlic bread or herbed focaccia
• Dinner 2: Thai Coconut Curry With Tofu pair it with spring rolls or a cucumber salad
• Dinner 3: Herby Ricotta Stuffed Peppers pair it with crusty bread or a mixed greens salad
• Dinner 4: Roasted Cauliflower Tacos pair it with cilantro-lime rice or corn salad
• Breakfast: Huevos Rancheros pair it with a fruit salad or smoothie

👉 How To Use This Meal Plan

I’ve included four vegetarian dinners in this meal plan to leave some days for leftovers or eating out. I’ve also included a breakfast idea, which can be enjoyed on any day!

1. Print or save the Meal Plan and Grocery List below.
2. Head to the recipes (the QR codes will take you to them). You can click “jump to recipe” at the top of each post, or read the post to learn about substitutions and variations. You can print these recipes or save them on your phone.
3. Check the grocery list, crossing off any ingredients you already have, or that are for recipes you don’t want to make.
4. Grocery shop. I’ve sorted the list by section in the grocery store to make it quick! I personally prefer scheduling a pickup or delivery for Sunday morning so I can prep my meals for the week on Sunday evening.
5. Cook and eat! Feel free to drop any questions about recipes in the comments section below each recipe (or just to leave a review on how it went – this helps our community tremendously!).

🗓️ Grab The Meal Plan

📝 Grab The Grocery List

💪 Meal Prep Tips

You can prep these things in advance to make cooking throughout the week even easier:

• Pizza Roasted Chickpeas: Drain and rinse the chickpeas ahead of time. Measure out your spices and store them in a small container. Pre-chop the fresh basil so it’s ready to sprinkle on top after baking!
• Thai Coconut Tofu Curry: Press and cube the tofu in advance. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container so you can just toss it into the pan. Chop all aromatics, carrots, cabbage, and snap peas ahead of time. Keep them in separate containers for easy assembly on the day of cooking.
• Ricotta Stuffed Peppers: Pre-bake the peppers so they’re ready for stuffing. Mix the ricotta filling in advance. When ready, you can quickly assemble and finish baking the peppers for an easy dinner!
• Cauliflower Tacos: Cut the cauliflower into florets and store them in a container. Mix the spices and slaw, keeping them in separate containers. Then, simply toss and roast the cauliflower while you prep the sauce.
• Huevos Rancheros: Make the pico de gallo and the refried beans in advance (or use store-bought versions to save time!). You can also make a double batch of the pico and beans for dips and condiments throughout the week!

🌱 Why Meal Plan?

Meal planning isn’t just about organization…it’s about freeing up your mental space and making cooking more fun! A few reasons we swear by meal planning:

1. Save That Cash
With a plan in place, you’ll skip the temptation of random aisle wandering and stick to a purposeful list.

2. Win Back Your Evenings
Gone are the “What’s for dinner?” debates! Meal planning means less time stressing and more time enjoying. (Bonus points if you prep ingredients ahead!)

3. Get Healthier (Without The Effort)
Not only does meal planning help you avoid the temptation of takeout, but you can sneak in extra veggies and control portion sizes more effortlessly when you have a plan in place.

4. Goodbye Food Waste
You know those sad veggies wilting in the fridge? With meal planning, you’ll actually use everything you buy!