Last Updated on February 23, 2026
I am convinced I have the pickiest kid eaters in America. But then we get together with other families and I realize “whoa, it’s not just me.”
Lots of times on this site we’ve shared about not asking your kids what they want for dinner, and even simple meal ideas that kids will (most likely) eat.
But often as a mom, the most overwhelming part of cooking for me, tends to be having to plan the whole thing out. There’s nights with gymnastics practice, basketball, days where my husband works late and days where we only have 20 minutes to get food in our bellies.
In this post:
On crazy busy weeks, there’s nothing us mamas need more than a plan, you feel me?
So we’ve put together this kid-friendly weekly meal plan to refer to on the weeks when we really need it – and I’m’ so excited to share it with all of you!
The next time you need a meal plan that your kids will actually eat, look no further. These 7 daily plans are all you need to keep your family fed and (mostly) happy.
We’ve also included a free downloadable kid-friendly meal plan to print off and hang on the fridge, so you never have to wonder what’s for dinner!
Breakfast Meal Plan for Kids
We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s true! This is when our kids get fueled mentally and physically for the day ahead. Here is a simple breakfast plan to keep things easy.
Day 1: Eggs, toast, and yogurt
There’s so much room for variety here depending on your family! Eggs can be scrambled, fried, or hard boiled. Choose your favorite bread and yogurt, and go!
Day 2: Waffles and fruit
My kids are currently obsessed with these little mini waffles from Belgian Boys. You can also keep things a little healtheir with your own mix in a waffle maker or go classic with some Egos! (I’ve currently got this mini waffle maker on my wish list to buy soon!)
Day 3: Oatmeal, cereal or overnight oats
Save this one for your busiest mornings! Cook a pot of oatmeal over the stove that the whole family can customize to their liking, or grab a box of your favorite cereal. (Need some oatmeal ideas for kids? This post includes some great ones!)
Day 4: Pancakes and a breakfast meat
For a day when you have a little more time, try some pancakes! I love to make a huge batch on Saturdays with fun mix-ins and then freeze them to warm up for breakfast throughout the week.
Day 5: Smoothies or açaí
Fresh, healthy and delicious! There are zillions of great smoothie ideas for kids online. Some favorites in our house are peanut butter smoothies and strawberry banana! We’ll also occasionally do acai bowls (you can get the frozen packets to make your own at most grocery stores for a great price.)
Just blend your acai base and top with almond butter, strawberries, coconut flakes, granola or whatever you love!
Day 6: Repeat Day 1 with a different bread and egg type.
Switch up your bread for sourdough, muffins, english muffins, or bagels. This adds a little variety but keeps things simple for you!
Day 7: Repeat Day 3 with one of the other options!
If you went hot cereal last time, go cold! Keep it easy, mama.
Lunch Meal Plan for Kids
Lunch is the one meal of day that I loathe possibly more than any other. When the kids are in school, I tend to run out of lunch-packing ideas quickly. When they’re home, I never want to dirty up the kitchen in the middle of the day!
This lunch meal plan for kids is simple, low ingredient and takes the guesswork out of your afternoons.
Packing lunch for your kids? Grab our free Lunchbox Notes right here!
Day 1: Quesadilla
These can be as simple or as fancy as you want to make them! Go cheese only, or add ground beef or shredded chicken. Opt in peppers if your kids will eat them, and test out different cheeses. Here are a few other great options if you want to get really creative!
Day 2: PB&J
I know it’s soooo basic, but there’s a reason this one has stood the test of time! There’s so many different peanut butter, almond butters, etc out there now to really spice up a pbj, and the jam options are limitless. Serve with chips and their favorite fruit, and you’re done!
Day 3: Ham and cheese sandwich
This is your classic meat and cheese sandwich, but there’s lots of ways to get creative with it. Try a fun new bread. Add lettuce and tomato, a yummy honey mustard sauce, or swap the ham for turkey or chicken. The sky is truly the limit.
Day 4: Charcuterie or bento boxes
This is the one lunch I can do with my kids time and again that they never get tired of. I have these great divided lunch containers that are perfect for grazing. Try out pepperonis, crackers, diced cheese, veggie straws, pretzels, grapes, whatever your kids love! (These are also a great way to clean out the pantry.)
Day 5: Grilled cheese or other toasted sandwich
There’s nothing as yummy as a grilled cheese (or a pannini if your child is dairy free!) If you can, add a side of soup and lunch is handled. I love these great grilled cheese variations.
Day 6: Leftovers!
These will typically be dinner leftovers, but breakfast leftovers like pancakes can work really well too! Look through the fridge and find what the kids can eat again. The important thing is that they have something in their bellies!
Day 7: Repeat Day 4, swap out proteins
Grab those bento boxes and get to pairing! Some great swap outs include meatballs, chicken nuggets, mini hot dogs, deli meats… the skies the limit!
Simple Dinner Meal Plan for Kids
Depending on your family’s schedule and rhythms, dinner can easily be the most chaotic part of the day. But whether you’re eating on the run to baseball practice or sitting down together for a nice family dinner, these simple dinner meals for kids will keep the mood stress free.
Feel free to make adjustments as needed for your family!
Day 1: Tacos or burritos
Who doesn’t love taco night?? Choose your shell, your meat and all your toppings for yummy customizable dinners. Optional chips and salsa, rice or beans for sides!
Day 2: Muffin Tin Charcuterie
This one ain’t fancy… but the kids LOVE it. Take a muffin tin and fill it with whatever you’ve got in the fridge, pantry or freezer. I just try to make sure to include a mix of fruits, veggies and meats for a balanced meal.
Day 3: Pizza (+ salad if you feel like it!)
This can look like ordering pizza, doing a frozen pizza, or even having everyone in your family make their own personal pizza from scratch! The sky is the limit when it comes to toppings, so each kid can let their personality shine through.
Day 4: Hot dogs and mac & cheese
This is one of those classic 90’s dinners that still has a hold on me. I try to get the cleanest hot dogs possible without all the fillers and gunk. Then grab your favorite mac and cheese or make your own from scratch! This is one meal the kids never complain about.
Day 5: Spaghetti or pasta
The world of pasta is ENDLESS. Red sauce, white sauce, pesto, chicken, beef, cheeses and more. I’ll occasionally even buy pasta in fun shapes for the kids to add a little pizzaz to their dinner.
Day 6: Chicken, veggie, fruit
When you need to keep things simple, this is my favorite formula. Chicken tenders, nuggets, grilled chicken, wings, etc. Whatever your kids will eat is great! Add a dipping sauce for a little extra pizzaz when you need it, and serve whatever veggie and fruit you have around.
Day 7: Breakfast for dinner
This is great for weekends, or those nights where you really just can’t be bothered! Go for a classic like pancake, scrambled eggs and bacon. Or do a breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, or even loaded bowls of oatmeal. What’s important is that tummies get filled!
See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?? I hope these ideas make you feel excited about planning meals for your family this week.
Get the FREE Kid-Friendly Weekly Meal Plan PDF
Don’t forget to grab our free kid-friendly weekly meal plan PDF to print off and keep on your fridge right here!