3 Weekly Dinner Theme Ideas
If you have been following me, you know my favorite non-planning meal plan for selecting my dinners is through alliteration, but if that is not your thing I have three new dinner theme ideas for you to help plan dinners during the week. Read HERE if you missed my post about how you can go to the grocery store without a grocery list or even a plan for dinners.
Theme 1 – Around the World
Pirates are world travelers. There are also seven continents and seven days in a week (coincidence? I think not).
Monday – Asian
Tai, Chinese, Japanese (sushi, etc.), Mongolian…
Tuesday – Latin America
Mexican, Caribbean, Brazilian (think “Fogo de Chao“), or pick another country of your culinary choice.
Wednesday – North America
Burgers, Tex-Mex, Cajun, Steak. If you are getting stuck, here’s a great list from CNN. Canada’s Food Network also has some great recipes out there (maple syrup included).
Thursday – European
GERMAN (anything with mustard, cabbage, sausages, beer as the main ingredient). Hotdogs are totally acceptable here.
FRENCH (quiche, toasted brie, baguettes, Coq au vin, French soup, French fries, French toast). Other authentic recipes include cassoulet, beef bourguignon, and just cooking with French wine (that definitely counts).
ITALIAN (pizza, pasta, you name it)
Obviously there are more countries in the European Union but you get the idea and I’m guessing you don’t have two hours to read this article.
Comment below with your favorite country’s recipes. I’d love to try something new.
Friday – African
South African piri piri and African gluten-free beef stew. There’s a great recipe for piri piri on The Wanderlust Kitchen. If you prefer to avoid gluten, “Only Gluten Free Recipes” has a nice African beef stew recipe. Play on Pinterest for more fun ideas.
Saturday – Australian
Yes, the land down under is known for more than just the Vegemite Sandwich (whatscookingamerica.net). Jamie Oliver has a great Top 10 list if you are looking for inspiration.
Sunday – Antarctica
No, I’m not advocating eating penguins but let’s think creatively for a minute. You could make anything with fish, icy drinks, or basically anything from the frozen food aisle at the grocery store.
Theme 2 – ABCs
As parents, this is a fun theme to do when shopping with your children. In this example, I go from A – G (to get the creative juices flowing) but feel free to change it up and pick a different 7-letter sequence to your liking. It’s also great to teach the kids that the alphabet doesn’t end with G.
Monday – A
Great A words: apples, artichokes, anchovies, avocado, almond, ahi tuna…
Tuesday – B
Great B words: BBQ, broccoli casserole, bruschetta, balsamic chicken, bison…
Wednesday – C
Chinese, cheesy anything (cauliflower, pizza, grilled), corned beef, casseroles, corn (and corn dogs), chimichanga, curry, and carrot-centric dishes.
Thursday – D
Dirty rice, duck, dumplings, and spinach and artichoke Dip (that’s vegetables, carbs and protein all in one)
Friday – E
Egg salad, scrambled eggs (breakfast for dinner), escarot, enchilada, egg rolls, edamame…
Saturday – F
Fish, fusilli, french fried anything (potatoes, shrimp, onions, chicken, cauliflower), fajitas, falafels…
Sunday – G
Grilled veggies, grilled cheese, anything on a panini maker, garlic chicken, green bean casserole…
Theme 3 – Entree Choice
If you get stuck making the same entree meal after meal (ground beef and chicken people I’m talking to you), this dinner theme will help to broaden your horizons.
Monday – Meatless Monday
Yes, I used alliteration again – you can’t mess with perfection. Make your main entree a vegetable or legume (beans). Grilled cheese and tomato soup totally counts.
Tuesday – Cow
Steak, beef stews, sloppy joes, barbeque shredded beef, beef and broccoli stir fry, meatloaf, and of course, a cheeseburger in paradise. I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes… (Jimmy Buffett)
Wednesday – Chicken
Chicken parmesan, Chicken tortilla soup, Chili-Garlic Grilled Chicken with Avocado-Cherry Salsa, chicken salad sandwiches, chicken fajitas, and on and on and on.
Thursday – Fish or Seafood
Fish tacos, grilled salmon on cedar, fish sticks with ketchup (you can go fancy or you can go with something the kids might actually eat).
Friday – Pizza
Ok, I know pizza isn’t a meat but there is toppings on it that could be meat. Let’s face it, pizza is great any time.
Saturday – Turkey
Grocery stores stock turkey breast all year long and it’s very easy to pop in the oven. If you have a crazy day between carting the kids between back-to-back baseball games, dance recitals, play dates, or other chauffeur duties, making simple turkey sandwiches is a great way to placate the hungry hoards.
Sunday – Pig
Ham, bacon, shredded pork, pork chops, bacon, breakfast sausages, pork ribs, pork tenderloin, and B-a-c-o-n (or did I mention that already?) There are lots of options.
If you are a vegetarian, don’t use this theme or pick a different main vegetable for each day of the week. For vegetarians (and really anyone who wants to eat less meat, my favorite books are still Thug Kitchen’s masterpieces).
I’ve Picked a Theme- Now What?
Once you have picked a dinner theme, create seven Pinterest boards and start pinning. You can use these as reference if you ever get stuck in a store with no idea what you want to make that week.
Remember, Piratude is enjoying your life – even the seemingly thankless job of grocery shopping.
Not only is dinner themes a great memory trick but it’s also a fabulous way to make grocery shopping a teaching opportunity for the kids (if you have to bring them along).
