Below, we’ve provided a list of easy meal options to try during the first week in your new home. As you meal plan these choices, you’ll ease the stress of cooking so you can focus more on unpacking and organizing your belongings.
How Do I Meal Plan?
Before you go to the grocery store or start cooking, you need to make a meal plan. Take fifteen minutes and sit down with a notebook and pen. Create columns or boxes for each day of the week. Then, add your meal choices under each day. Remember to post your plan somewhere you can see it easily.
For quick meal options, choose from the recipes below. You can also browse Pinterest or your favorite recipe website for a wider selection. Once you’ve decided which meals you’d like to eat during the week, make a grocery list and purchase the ingredients you need.
What Should I Cook for Breakfast?
If you tire of the same old cereal every morning, try the following breakfast choices to start off your day.
Breakfast Buggies
Choose this potato-based dish for a filling meal. Bake a medium-sized potato in the microwave. Top it off with a fried egg, bacon bits, and cheddar cheese.
Pancake Poppers
Buy your favorite dry pancake mix and prepare it according to the package’s directions. Grease a muffin tin and pour the pancake batter into each cup. Then, add fresh fruit; cooked, chopped bacon; or cooked, crumbled sausage on top. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
Breakfast Parfait
Add your favorite flavor of yogurt into a bowl. Throw in some fresh blueberries, raspberries, or whatever fruit you prefer. Top the dish off with a handful of Honey Bunches of Oats or another cereal you like.
You’ll likely have extra ingredients to make all of these breakfast options again, so don’t be afraid to repeat one or two meals throughout the week.
Which Meals Work Best for Lunch?
Try these simple lunch options as you take a break from unpacking:
Quesadillas
You can’t go wrong with toasted flour tortillas stuffed with gooey cheese. Place four tortillas on a cookie sheet, cover them with cheese, and add another tortilla on top. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes.
You can also add sliced onions, peppers, and chicken for a heartier lunch.
Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Visit your childhood with this lunchtime classic. Place slices of cheese and ham between two slices of bread and toast them in a skillet until the bread is golden and the cheese oozes.
Creamy Tomato and Tortellini Soup
In a medium pot, add a package of tortellini and two cans of tomato sauce. Add one can of water to thin down the mixture. Season the soup with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and basil. Allow the liquid to come to a boil. Cook until the pasta is cooked through. Add a splash of cream or milk and serve warm.
You can make a large or small batch, depending on your preferences. If you make a large batch, you can eat the leftovers on a day you’d rather not cook.
What Can I Make for Dinner?
End your day with warm comfort food you and your family will love.
French Bread Pizza
Buy a loaf of French bread from your local bakery. Slice the loaf in half so you have two long pieces of bread. Scoop out some of the bread from the middle to create a trench. Cover the bottom of each piece with pizza sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. Smother with cheese and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese looks golden and bubbly.
Country Beef Stew
This crock-pot meal will save you time and stress. Simply add the following ingredients to a slow cooker:
- Stew beef chunks
- Chopped carrots
- Chopped red onion
- Diced potatoes
- Chopped celery
- Four cups of water
- Two brown gravy packets
Turn your crock-pot on to the high setting, and let the ingredients cook for a few hours. Check the seasonings and add salt and pepper if necessary.
Two-Sauce Chicken Bake
Boil a box of penne pasta according to the package’s directions. In the meantime, shred half a rotisserie chicken and mix it with one jar each of marinara and alfredo sauce. Mix in the cooked and drained pasta. Combine everything together, then add it to a casserole dish. Cover the pasta with mozzarella cheese and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese bubbles.
Don’t forget to account for leftovers with dinner as well. You can eat any leftovers for dinner later on in the week to cut down on cooking and cleanup times.
Want More Tips?
Reduce the stress after your move and establish a meal plan. Try some of the recipes listed above for easy cooking. Or, talk to a friend or family member for other meal options.
For more tips to make organizing your new home a breeze, check out the rest of our blog.
