December arrives quickly, and with it comes Advent, feast days, events, and the desire to make home feel warm and peaceful. One of the gentlest ways to bring calm to the season is through a simple weekly meal plan. This Week 1 meal plan is built around cozy, kid-friendly dinners made with pantry staples, affordable ingredients, and comforting flavours your family will love.
Whether you’re easing into Advent rhythms, juggling homeschool, or simply trying to keep evenings peaceful, this plan will serve you well.
Why You’ll Love This Week’s Meal Plan
- Simple, seasonal comfort foods
- Budget-friendly ingredients
- Kid-approved flavours
- Uses leftovers intentionally
- Perfect for a busy Advent schedule
- Includes linked recipes from Dinner at the McGills
December Meal Plan: Week 1 (Dec 1–7)
Monday — Roast Chicken
A classic roast chicken is the easiest way to start the week well. Serve with potatoes and any vegetable you have on hand.
Save the leftover chicken for Wednesday’s casserole.
Tuesday — Minestrone Soup (Bread Bowl Night!)
A warm, nourishing minestrone is perfect for early December.
Make it fun for the kids:
Serve the soup in bread bowls! Children love eating their “edible bowls,” and it stretches the meal a little further for large families. You can use:
- grocery store sourdough rounds
- small artisan boules
- large bakery rolls (perfect mini bowls for little ones)
Money-saving tip:
Use the bones from Monday’s roast chicken to make your broth. Simply simmer the carcass with onion, carrot, and celery for 1–2 hours. It gives your soup incredible flavour and turns one chicken into two full meals.
Wednesday — Chicken Alfredo Casserole
Use Monday’s leftover roast chicken to keep tonight simple.
A creamy Alfredo casserole makes a comforting midweek dinner.
Serve with a simple salad or steamed vegetables.
Thursday — Breakfast for Supper (or Leftovers)
This is your flexible night.
If the week has gone smoothly, enjoy breakfast-for-dinner—scrambled eggs, Sourdough Waffles, fruit, or toast.
If you have leftovers, use them up to clean out the fridge before the weekend.
Friday — Tuna Casserole
A cozy, old-fashioned favourite that’s budget-friendly and easy to assemble. Serve with peas, a salad, or buttered rolls.
Pair with something fresh and bright like this:
- Salad with a dill dressing
- Roasted or raw broccoli
Saturday — Pizza Night
A weekly tradition!
Make homemade pizza, use your favourite frozen pizzas, or support a local spot. The point is keeping things calm and easy.
If you want a fun homemade option, serve with:
- Cowboy Caviar as a side
- Tex-Mex Rice Bowls leftovers on the side if you have any
Shopping List for Week 1
Produce
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onions
- Garlic
- Potatoes
- Salad greens or broccoli
- Any vegetables for snacking or serving
Meat & Dairy
- Whole chicken
- Milk or cream
- Butter
- Parmesan
- Mozzarella or cheddar
- Canned tuna
- Eggs
Pantry
- Pasta (for Alfredo + tuna casseroles)
- Chicken broth (or make your own)
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned beans for minestrone
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Flour (if making bread bowls)
- Yeast
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder
Bakery
- Bread bowls or sourdough rounds
Frozen
- Mixed vegetables (optional for casseroles or minestrone)
Tips for a Smooth Week
- Roast two chickens or a package of bone in thighs on Monday if you want extra meat for lunches.
- Use the roast chicken bones to make broth for Tuesday’s minestrone.
- Pre-chop vegetables for casseroles and soups.
- Assemble casseroles in the morning or night before to bake later.
- Keep breakfast-for-dinner ingredients on hand as a “backup” night.
- Freeze any extra broth for future soups.
Leave a Reply