Dear Friend,
November is here—the month where gratitude is on the calendar, but let’s be honest… it’s also the month where everything is on the calendar.
There’s school chaos. Grocery budgets. Holiday prep. And at least one child who will cry because their sandwich was cut in triangles instead of squares (again).
It’s the season of feeding many mouths and managing many emotions. And while the world is talking about Thanksgiving turkeys, we’re just trying to figure out what to make on a random Tuesday with $12, three potatoes, and a prayer.
This meal plan? It’s for you.
The tired mama. The faith-filled mama. The doing-my-best-but-someone-is-always-hungry mama.
This month’s dinners are healthier-ish, family-tested, and Aldi/Walmart-approved. They’re budget-friendly, stress-light, and free from red sauce, diced ham, avocado, lentils, zucchini, and unrealistic expectations.
Let’s nourish our families and our souls. Let’s gather, even if dinner is eaten in shifts. Let’s give thanks not just on Thanksgiving—but on the quiet nights where macaroni is enough.
✏️ What This Month’s Meal Plan Looks Like
This month, I sat down with a simple goal:
Keep dinner doable. Keep the budget tight. Keep the pressure low.
The result? A mix of warm meals, freezer finds, pantry dinners, and real-life grace for the days when cereal would also work just fine.
📅 November 1–10
- Grilled Chicken w/ Mashed Potatoes & Corn
- Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet
- Chicken & Rice Bake
- French Bread Pizza & Salad
- Tacos (Ground Turkey)
- One-Pot Garlic Butter Pasta w/ Veggies
- Sloppy Joes & Stuffed Baked Potatoes
- Homemade Chicken Nuggets & Fries
- Egg Roll in a Bowl w/ Rice
- Chili w/ Cornbread
📅 November 11–20
- Baked Ziti w/ Veggies
- Beef Tacos w/ Beans & Rice
- Chicken BBQ Flatbreads
- Brown Rice & Bean Bowls w/ Cheese
- Breakfast
- Egg Roll in a Bowl w/ Rice
- Cheesy Potato Soup w/ Bread
- Italian Sausage Pasta
- Turkey Tacos
- Meatball Subs w/ Fries
📅 November 21–30
- Rice & Chicken Stir-Fry
- Cheesy Biscuit-Topped Casserole
- Mini Naan Pizzas
- Chicken Stuffing Bake
- Mac & Cheese w/ Broccoli + Bacon Bits
- Soft Tacos w/ Beans & Corn
- Pasta Primavera
- Thanksgiving 🦃
- Leftovers (Because the fridge is full and so is everyone.)
- DIY Sandwich Night
🙏 What I’m Holding Onto This Month
Sometimes it’s tempting to overfill our plates — literally and emotionally.
But I’m learning this: Enough is still holy.
Simple dinners still count.
Leftovers still nourish.
And “we’re doing sandwiches tonight” can be just as sacred as a 12-step slow cooker meal.
📖 Scripture for November:
“I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.” —Psalm 132:15
🧺 From the Heart of the Table:
We tend to think of thankfulness as a feeling.
But more often, it’s a discipline.
It’s finding gratitude on the nights when no one likes what you made.
It’s praising God when the pantry is low but the love is high.
It’s recognizing that daily bread doesn’t always mean a feast—but it does mean He hasn’t forgotten you.
Every meal you serve—whether it’s roasted chicken or boxed mac—is an offering. Every moment you choose peace over perfection is a victory. And every time you gather your people, even around something simple, you are living out the Gospel in your own kitchen.
One Less Thing on Your Plate (Besides Food)
If you’re like me, you need a plan that works. Not just one that looks good on paper. That’s why this November meal plan was built with grace, budget, and real kids in mind.
Want the plain text grocery lists and full recipes?
They’re waiting under the Free Resources tab or available by email. Because if the only thing you don’t have to plan this week is dinner? That’s a win.
Final Blessing:
May your meals be warm, your leftovers be plenty, and your heart be full—even when your hands are tired. May you give thanks before the feast and after the chaos. And may you never forget: even in the ordinary work of feeding your family—He is near.
With gratitude and garlic powder,
Lizzie
Faith-Filled Food Prepper, Cry Log Chronicler, and Thankful Even When They Complain About the Chicken
What Makes My Kids Cry Today 