Even though we started over and have one kid in di Even though we started over and have one kid in diapers, this time around feels lighter 🥹🙌🏽

I don’t know exactly when it happened. When the chaos became bearable. When the joy stopped getting buried under my never ending to-do list. But here we are. Laughing. Letting go. Actually having fun. 

It’s not the easy season. But it’s definitely the good one. The fun one. And I’m learning to enjoy it while I’m in it. 

For every mama in the thick of it, I’m right there with you, but I’m here to tell you, YOU WILL WIN ❤️💦 #momlife #girlmom #boymom #motherhood #momof5 #familylife
5 kids. 2 parents. What were we thinking? 😂🐺 5 kids. 2 parents. What were we thinking? 😂🐺💦

We spent the 4th of July weekend this year at @greatwolflodge — and it was a lot. A lot of noise. A lot of walking. A lot of snacks. A lot of towels. A lot of joy.

We had 5 kids running in 5 directions. There were moments I wanted to cry — and moments I laughed until I couldn’t breathe.

I didn’t get the perfect picture. But I got something better: presence.

Somewhere between the water slides and the late-night pizza, I caught myself watching them. Really watching them. And it hit me: they won’t be this little for long 🥺

The 4th of July means freedom. And this weekend gave me mine — not from responsibility, but from distraction. From comparison. From rushing through what matters most.

We left tired. Hair wet, suitcases messy, hearts full. I won’t remember everything from this trip. But I’ll remember how it felt. And that’s enough.

You can read all about our weekend at Great Wolf Lodge with 5 kids, including how much we spent (and saved!) over on the blog today! www.DanielleSkeaton.com 🔗 LINK IN BIO
Been waiting for this getaway all week!! Side note Been waiting for this getaway all week!! Side note: Savannah is getting so big 🥺 #familyvacay #roadtrip #momlife #toddlermom #momof5
Holidays are my fave ❤️🇺🇸✨ Holidays are my fave ❤️🇺🇸✨
They ran wild. We kept up. Barely 😅 Would do it They ran wild. We kept up. Barely 😅 Would do it again tomorrow! Visit @funbox at Polaris and get your tickets online! 

#funbox #funboxcolumbus #family #momlife #familyfun
Swing by @marketdistrict and grab these festive tr Swing by @marketdistrict and grab these festive treats, refreshing drinks, and party supplies for your Independence Day celebration! Happy Birthday, America 🇺🇸🌭🎉 #GiantEaglePartner #4thofJuly #IndependenceDay #July4th #partyideas
We made it to the world’s biggest bounce park an We made it to the world’s biggest bounce park and it was a blast! ✨🌈💕 @funbox
This just elevated my entire DIY lash routine! LIN This just elevated my entire DIY lash routine! LINK IN BIO 😍 @leisurelash 

#beautyhack #selfcare #lashextensions #volumelashes #lashkit #lashatyourleisure
Approved by the kids. And my lactose-intolerant se Approved by the kids. And my lactose-intolerant self. 🫶🏾 #GiantEaglePartner @marketdistrict #icecream #dairyfree #momlife #boymom
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Danielle Skeaton

Hands Full, Heart Full

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By: Danielle Skeaton

Sick of Taco Tuesday? Here Are 30 Theme Dinner Ideas You Need To Know About

Before I started getting serious about meal planning, I was already making tacos on Tuesdays. It gave us something to look forward to for dinner every week. 

But what comes after Tuesday?

This is where I’d always get stuck because I didn’t have any other dinner ideas. Then, I researched and found more themed meal planning days that I could add to our meal plan that goes beyond Taco Tuesday! 

The idea of using a themed dinner menu is simple.

You are assigning a food theme for each night of the week. 

In fact, using themed meal planning days makes it really easy to plan a month’s worth of meals in advance, which will save you more time and stress throughout the week. Once you’ve selected your themes, then it’s time to find recipes to match your menu!

At the end of each month, you can keep with the same theme or change it up a bit so you can try new recipes by adding different themes to your menu.

Here are 30 themed menu ideas you need to know about:

1. Pasta Night

This is our favorite because pasta goes a long way and there are so many options.

  • One Pan Creamy Sausage And Mushroom Bake
  • Simple, Cheesy Ranch Chicken Alfredo To Make This Week
  • The Baked Ziti Recipe That My Picky Kids Approved
  • Easy Lasagna

2. Meatless Night

You can make your grocery budget stretch further by incorporating a meatless meal or two on your menu.

  • Veggie fried rice
  • Black Bean Burgers

3. Stir-fry Night

Meat is optional when it comes to stir-fry, and most recipes are really easy to make!

  • Easy Shrimp And Veggie Stir-fry Dinner Idea
  • Chicken Stir-Fry
  • Quick Beef Stir-Fry

4. Soup Night

Hearty and great for those cold winter nights.

  • 30-minute Checkin Noodle Soup
  • Taco Soup
  • Classic Chili
30 Themed Menu Planning Days for Every Night of The Week

5. New Recipe Night

If you’re only planning meals that you’re familiar with, add a day each week when you get to try a new recipe!

6. Breakfast for Dinner Night

If you ask my kids, they would live off of pancakes for the rest of their lives! So breakfast is always an easy dinner option.

  • Easy Shredded Hash Brown & Ham Casserole
  • Easy Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
  • Homemade Old Fashioned Pancakes

7. Homemade Takeout

You can recreate dishes from your favorite restaurants and eat takeout in your kitchen.

  • Copycat Chipotle Chicken
  • Olive Garden’s Pasta e Fagioli
  • Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme

8. Sandwich Night

I love pairing sandwiches with french fries! Burgers are a favorite in our house.

  • Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
  • Ultimate Sloppy Joes
  • Easy Meatball Subs

9. Slow Cooker Night

If you have a slow cooker that you’re not using, add this theme to your menu. You will LOVE how much time you’ll save on dinner because you get to just throw ingredients inside, set it, and forget about it!

10. Leftovers Night

I recommend everyone set a day aside later in the week on their menu where they plan to eat leftovers—either from dinner the night before or from dinner all week long. You’ll cut down on food waste and it’ll give you a much-needed break from the kitchen!

11. Takeout Night

I know this one may surprise you since we’re talking about meal planning here. But the thing is, just because you’re meal planning doesn’t mean you can’t PLAN to eat takeout meals.

You’ll save more money if you plan to eat takeout 1-2 nights a week than you would if you plan an extravagant menu, buy a ton of groceries for it, but eat out anyway because you don’t feel like cooking.

So if eating takeout is important to you, choose one night where you get to order pizza, Chinese food, or have a sit-down meal at your favorite restaurant!

12. Kids Choice Night

If your kids are old enough, ask them what meals they’d like to see on the menu! You’ll only need four ideas if you’re planning meals for the entire month.

13. Mexican Night

Yup, that means you don’t have to eat tacos only on Tuesdays, and you can try other Mexican dishes too!

  • Chicken Quesadillas
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Easy Chicken Fajitas

14. Chicken Night

I cook with chicken A LOT because it’s one of the cheapest cuts of meats you can buy to save money on groceries.

  • Garlic Butter Roast Chicken
  • Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
  • Oven-Fried Chicken

15. Pizza Night

Skip delivery and learn how to make your own pizza at home! Plus, it’s a fun way to get the whole family involved.

  • BBQ Chicken Pizza
  • Veggie Pizza
  • Oven-ready Pizza

16. Sheet Pan Dinner Night

Sheet pan dinners are easy to make and even easier to clean up!

  • Sheet Pan Chicken and Waffles
  • Sheet Pan Mac-and-Cheese
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Pot Pie

17. Fish Night

You can’t go wrong with salmon, shrimp, or fried whiting (yum!).

  • Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
  • Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi

18. Salad Night

You could even make extra to pack for lunch the next day.

  • Easy Pasta Salad
  • Taco Salad
  • Chicken Salad

19. Asian Night

  • Easy Chow Mein
  • Easy General Tso’s Chicken
  • Easy Chicken Fried Rice

20. Casserole Night

I talk a lot about making Stretch Meals that stretch your budget and give you a break from cooking. Adding casserole nights to your menu will help you do just that because it makes planning to eat leftovers easy!

  • Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole
  • Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
  • Cheesy Ham & Potato Casserole

21. Game Food Night

Why wait for the Super Bowl when you can enjoy yummy finger food all football season?

  • Seriously Good Cheeseburger Sliders
  • Baked Potato Skins

22. Grill Night

When the weather heats up, it’s time to take the cooking outside!

  • BBQ & Grilled Chicken
  • Grilled Hot dogs and Hamburgers
  • BBQ Ribs

23. Throwback Night

Bring back a meal that your family loves! Every time you try a new recipe and it’s a hit, write it down so you can cook again on nights like this.

24. Freezer Meal Night

Freezer cooking is a great way to cut your cooking time in HALF since you’re doing a lot of it ahead. You can dump your freezer meals in your slow cooker or in your oven.

  • Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake
  • Make-Ahead Beef Enchiladas
  • Homemade Frozen Pizzas

25. BBQ Night

Any dish that’s smothered in barbeque sauce! From pulled pork to BBQ chicken pizza.

26. Comfort Food Night

  • Loaded Nachos
  • Mini Italian Club Sandwiches
  • Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

27. All-American Night

American classics that everyone knows and loves!

  • Diner Burger
  • Chicken-Fried Steak
  • Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

28. Southern Food Night

Also known as Soul Food because it doesn’t just hit your tummy. It’s comfort food that reaches down into your soul!

  • Southern Fried Chicken
  • Bacon Shrimp & Cheddar Grits
  • Smothered Pork Chops

29. 15-Minute Meal Night

When you need to save time, choose quick and easy meals for your busy weeknights so you can get dinner on the table in a flash!

  • Chicago-Style Hot Dog
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
  • Bacon and Egg Spaghetti

30. Pantry Meal Night

When all else fails, cook from your pantry! Plan a backup meal that you can make for dinner using what you have.

Welp, there you have it—30 amazing themed meal planning days for every night of the week to add to your calendar that goes beyond Taco Tuesday! Plus, you’ve got simple dinner ideas to give you a quick start on your planning.

More Meal Planning Tips:

  • How to Simplify Dinner Planning With A Rotating Menu
  • How to Plan Family Meals On A Budget
  • Overcoming My Grocery Shopping Anxiety

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Comments

  1. Claire says

    November 28, 2020 at

    This is a really great post! It helped me plan a monthly meal plan that reduces our cost by almost $50 a week!
    Thank you so much!!

    Reply
    • Danielle Skeaton says

      November 28, 2020 at

      That’s amazing Claire! I’m so glad our cheap meal plan strategy is helping you too! 🙂

      Reply

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Even though we started over and have one kid in di Even though we started over and have one kid in diapers, this time around feels lighter 🥹🙌🏽

I don’t know exactly when it happened. When the chaos became bearable. When the joy stopped getting buried under my never ending to-do list. But here we are. Laughing. Letting go. Actually having fun. 

It’s not the easy season. But it’s definitely the good one. The fun one. And I’m learning to enjoy it while I’m in it. 

For every mama in the thick of it, I’m right there with you, but I’m here to tell you, YOU WILL WIN ❤️💦 #momlife #girlmom #boymom #motherhood #momof5 #familylife
5 kids. 2 parents. What were we thinking? 😂🐺 5 kids. 2 parents. What were we thinking? 😂🐺💦

We spent the 4th of July weekend this year at @greatwolflodge — and it was a lot. A lot of noise. A lot of walking. A lot of snacks. A lot of towels. A lot of joy.

We had 5 kids running in 5 directions. There were moments I wanted to cry — and moments I laughed until I couldn’t breathe.

I didn’t get the perfect picture. But I got something better: presence.

Somewhere between the water slides and the late-night pizza, I caught myself watching them. Really watching them. And it hit me: they won’t be this little for long 🥺

The 4th of July means freedom. And this weekend gave me mine — not from responsibility, but from distraction. From comparison. From rushing through what matters most.

We left tired. Hair wet, suitcases messy, hearts full. I won’t remember everything from this trip. But I’ll remember how it felt. And that’s enough.

You can read all about our weekend at Great Wolf Lodge with 5 kids, including how much we spent (and saved!) over on the blog today! www.DanielleSkeaton.com 🔗 LINK IN BIO
Been waiting for this getaway all week!! Side note Been waiting for this getaway all week!! Side note: Savannah is getting so big 🥺 #familyvacay #roadtrip #momlife #toddlermom #momof5
Holidays are my fave ❤️🇺🇸✨ Holidays are my fave ❤️🇺🇸✨
They ran wild. We kept up. Barely 😅 Would do it They ran wild. We kept up. Barely 😅 Would do it again tomorrow! Visit @funbox at Polaris and get your tickets online! 

#funbox #funboxcolumbus #family #momlife #familyfun
Swing by @marketdistrict and grab these festive tr Swing by @marketdistrict and grab these festive treats, refreshing drinks, and party supplies for your Independence Day celebration! Happy Birthday, America 🇺🇸🌭🎉 #GiantEaglePartner #4thofJuly #IndependenceDay #July4th #partyideas
We made it to the world’s biggest bounce park an We made it to the world’s biggest bounce park and it was a blast! ✨🌈💕 @funbox
This just elevated my entire DIY lash routine! LIN This just elevated my entire DIY lash routine! LINK IN BIO 😍 @leisurelash 

#beautyhack #selfcare #lashextensions #volumelashes #lashkit #lashatyourleisure
Approved by the kids. And my lactose-intolerant se Approved by the kids. And my lactose-intolerant self. 🫶🏾 #GiantEaglePartner @marketdistrict #icecream #dairyfree #momlife #boymom
True story 🙌🏽🙏🏽❤️ #godisgood #tha True story 🙌🏽🙏🏽❤️

#godisgood #thankyoujesus #blessed #grateful #christianreels

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