This summer I am all about keeping things nice and easy.
We have decided not to do any sports or camps this year and instead focus on making memories as a family. We have some big goals for the summer, but more than anything, I want to embrace the slower pace of the season. I want to eat the popsicle, roast the hot dogs, chase fireflies, and watch the shooting stars.
But in order to have the freedom to relax, we need some structure around the things that have to happen… like dinner.
I do not want to be standing in the kitchen during quiet time (or worse, at 5 o’clock) wondering what we’re going to eat and whether I can get it on the table before Music in the Park starts.
So with that in mind, I created a simple Summer Meal Plan.
It is a framework that repeats every week all summer long. Grocery shopping becomes easier, prep work becomes second nature, and there is still plenty of room for flexibility and spontaneity.
I started by choosing seven meal themes—one for each day of the week.
- Sunday: Slow Roast Sunday (pulled pork, beef, chicken, turkey)
- Monday: Salads
- Tuesday: Tacos
- Wednesday: Sandwiches
- Thursday: Leftovers
- Friday: Fish
- Saturday: Grill Night
Slow Roast Sunday
This starts our week with a ton of meat prepped and ready to go in the fridge while also allowing us to Sabbath because it is so hands-off.
Pop it into the smoker, oven, or slow cooker before church and don’t think about it again until dinner time.
The perfect summer Sunday dinner.
Think pulled pork, smoked turkey, shredded beef, or French dip sandwiches.
Monday Salads
I have always been a fan of Meatless Monday, and this feels like a great twist on that idea.
Make three or four different salads, or one big hearty salad. Serve some leftover roast from Sunday on the side, or keep it completely meatless. It’s up to you.
Taco Tuesday
The concept is simple, popular, and needs very little explanation.
The best part is that Taco Tuesday has almost no rules. It can be tacos, walking tacos, taco salad, chicken tacos, fish tacos, street tacos, or even loaded nachos.
Something different every week all summer long, with zero boredom.
Sandwich Night
This might not be for everyone, but my kids love a good sandwich.
Add a fresh tomato from the garden and a few strips of bacon, and honestly, who wouldn’t be excited about that?
It’s also a great way to use up whatever is left of Sunday’s roast.
Leftover Night
Time to clean out the fridge and use up all those little bits hanging around.
The kids love it because they get to enjoy their favourites again.
I love it because it requires almost no effort.
Fish Friday
Salmon on a cedar plank, fish burgers, shrimp fried rice on the Blackstone—there are so many options.
It’s a great way to add variety to the week while keeping dinner simple.
Grill Night
It’s easy to fall into the habit of grilling every night, but by the middle of June we can find ourselves completely burned out on burgers.
Saving Grill Night for Saturday gives us something to look forward to while still taking full advantage of grill season.
And the best part? The theme is broad enough that it never gets boring.
Steaks, burgers, sausages, grilled chicken, kebabs, pizza, vegetables—the possibilities are endless.
A simple framework like this takes so much of the mental load out of summer meal planning. Dinner is never a surprise, grocery shopping becomes easier, and there is still plenty of room for seasonal favourites, last-minute invitations, and spontaneous adventures.
Exactly the kind of flexibility summer should be made of.
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