A Week of Veggie-Packed Family Dinners for the Busy Mom

Being a busy mom sometimes feels like you’re running on autopilot. Between work, kids, and everything else on your to-do list, getting a nutritious, home-cooked meal on the table can feel like a Herculean task. Add in the challenge of sneaking some vegetables into your family’s diet (hello, picky eaters!), and it’s easy to default to something quick and less healthy.

But what if I told you there’s a way to hit your veggie goals without spending hours in the kitchen or hearing complaints from your “anti-green” eaters? I’ve got you covered with eight family-approved meals that not only sneak in those vegetables but also stretch your meat budget further.

Here’s our family dinner menu for the week that will leave everyone’s bellies full.

If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, you can even swap the steak for hearty portabella mushrooms (a trick I learned when my family was vegetarian for a few years).

No fancy seasonings here—I just grab a fajita seasoning mix for convenience and load the fajitas with guacamole for an extra boost of veggies. This is seriously a crowd-pleaser and one of those meals that feels indulgent while secretly being nutritious.

The trick? Chop up the vegetables really small or even pulse them in a food processor so they blend right into the sauce. The veggies add a subtle sweetness, complementing the tomato base and making it impossible for picky eaters to notice.

Then, I add frozen carrots and diced celery to the broth, cooking them until they’re soft and blending them with tomatoes to make a veggie-rich broth.

For added texture, I mix in diced zucchini or frozen green peas with the noodles just before serving. This meal is hearty but light, perfect for busy weeknights.

You can use store-bought Alfredo sauce for those extra-busy nights or make your own on special occasions.

I use frozen or fresh broccoli florets (chopped small if fresh) and add tons of them to stretch the amount of chicken needed. This dish is creamy, cheesy, and rich while still sneaking in a hefty serving of greens. Bonus points for how much the broccoli blends into the sauce, making it less noticeable for veggie-averse eaters.

Start by slicing zucchini thin, dicing onion, and sautéing both in a pan with butter and taco seasoning. Add salsa near the end for extra flavor (no need to get fancy; jarred salsa works great).

Once the veggies are ready, scramble some eggs and load everything into corn tortillas with a sprinkle of cheese. It’s easy, delicious, and packed with vegetables without feeling like a “veggie meal.”

I chop up red potatoes, Brussels sprouts, yellow squash, zucchini, and beef kielbasa, toss everything with a little oil and Montreal steak seasoning, and roast it in the oven at 450°F for 35-45 minutes.

The result? Crispy, caramelized vegetables with loads of flavor. This meal completely changed my mind about Brussels sprouts—I absolutely love them now!

I top frozen pizzas with chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, onions, and olives, plus a little extra cheese. It’s so easy and way tastier than eating them plain.

If you grew up making homemade pizza like I did, this is a fun way to enjoy a bit of nostalgia while keeping things manageable in your busy mom life.

Bonus Breakfasts

Are you looking to add even more vegetables to your routine? These two breakfast ideas are perfect for sneaking in extra nutrients and meal-prepping ahead of time.

Green smoothies aren’t just for breakfast! I turned my biggest smoothie critic (a.k.a. myself) into a fan with this chocolate-peanut butter version. You’ll need milk, ice, spinach, a banana, semi-sweet chocolate chips, cocoa powder, unsweetened protein powder, peanut butter, and a bit of coconut sugar for sweetness.

You can’t taste the spinach at all, and the creamy, chocolaty flavor is such a hit that even the kiddos beg for it. Pro tip: Serve this as a “dessert” smoothie and see how quickly it disappears.

If you’re looking for a meal that’s both easy to prep and endlessly customizable, mason jar omelets are where it’s at. Sauté some vegetables (think bell peppers, onions, spinach, or mushrooms) with cooked breakfast sausage, then layer everything into mason jars.

If you’re eating right away, crack the eggs into the jar, stir, and microwave. For meal prep, store the veggie-meat mixture in the jars and add eggs when you’re ready to cook. These are a lifesaver on busy mornings or nights! Plus, you can freeze the veggie-meat mixture for even faster meals.

Take the Stress Out of Meal Planning With My Printable Bundle

Between juggling work, kids, and all the million little things moms do every day, planning healthy, veggie-packed meals can feel overwhelming. That’s exactly why I created my Printable Bundle!

Here’s what’s included to make your life easier:

• Weekly and Monthly Meal Planning Sheets to keep you organized.
• Recipe Master List and Recipe Cards so you never run out of ideas.
• Grocery List Templates that simplify shopping trips.
• Meal Bin Organizer Labels to streamline food prep.
• Domestic Darling Daily Cleaning Routine Checklist to keep your home sparkling clean in just 30 minutes a day.
• Laundry Tag System to take the guesswork out of laundry, because clean clothes shouldn’t be stressful.
• Children’s Daily Cleaning Routine Checklist
• It also comes with my Five-Minute Deep Cleaning Cheatsheets, because no mom has time for hours of spring cleaning.
• AND my best non-toxic cleaning supplies recipes!

Say goodbye to meal planning chaos and grab the bundle while it’s on sale now! Whether you’re a working mom, stay-at-home mom, or somewhere in between, this bundle has everything you need to keep your home running smoothly and your family fed without breaking a sweat.

Check it out here and take the first step toward stress-free meal planning.