Sunday: Family

I can't think of a better way to celebrate family day than with BAKED CHICKEN AND RICE WITH MUSHROOMS.

Serve the family-pleaser with ROASTED GREEN BEANS WITH BASIL. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Toss 1 pound trimmed green beans and 8 unpeeled garlic cloves (ends trimmed) with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Arrange on a rimmed baking pan in a single layer on one side of the pan. Add 1 small, halved onion (sliced into thin, half-moon slices) on the other side of the pan. Drizzle onion with another tablespoon oil. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon coarse salt over all. Roast 20 minutes or until browned and tender. Squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a large bowl; mash. Add green beans, onion and 1/4 cup sliced basil leaves; toss well. Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice; toss and serve. (Adapted from "Carla's Comfort Foods," Carla Hall; Atria Books, 2014.)

Add SOURDOUGH BREAD. For dessert, treat the family to SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE with FRESH STRAWBERRIES.

Plan

Save enough chicken and rice for Monday; save enough cake for Monday and Wednesday.

Shopping List

packaged original long-grain and wild rice (such as Uncle Ben's), boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast halves (or mixture of both), packaged onion soup mix, sliced fresh mushrooms, canned condensed less-sodium, less-fat cream of chicken soup, green beans, garlic, olive oil, onion, coarse salt, fresh basil, lemon, sourdough bread, cooking spray, packaged yellow cake mix, sugar, fat-free sour cream, egg substitute, applesauce, almond or pure vanilla extract, fresh strawberries.

Monday: Heat and Eat

Take a break and heat the leftover CHICKEN AND RICE for dinner. Serve it with a LETTUCE WEDGE and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Leftover CAKE is good for dessert.

Shopping List

lettuce, whole-grain rolls.

Tuesday: Kids

If I were a kid, I'd like my mom to make POTATO HOT DOG SOUP. In a large pan, combine 2 cups peeled and diced potatoes, 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free chicken broth, 1 cup water and 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme; mix well. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups frozen corn; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. In small bowl, combine 1 cup skim milk and 1/3 cup flour; blend until smooth. To pan, add milk mixture and 4 hot dogs, cut into 1/2-inch slices (see TIP). Cook and stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture boils and thickens slightly.

Crunch on BABY CARROTS and add CRACKERS on the side. For dessert, NUTTY NANA TREATS are just right. Combine 2 cups chocolate pudding with 1/2 cup reduced-fat peanut butter and 1 1/2 cups fat-free frozen whipped topping (thawed). Spoon into 6 dessert dishes, layering with some sliced bananas, peanuts and more whipped topping.

Tip

Look for lowest-sodium, lowest-fat hot dogs. I buy Applegate.

Shopping List

potatoes, fat-free chicken broth, dried thyme, frozen corn, skim milk, flour, hot dogs, baby carrots, crackers, chocolate pudding, reduced-fat peanut butter, fat-free frozen whipped topping, bananas, peanuts.

Wednesday: Budget

You won't mind saving money when the result is as delicious as this SUMMER FRITTATA. Serve the eggs-and-vegetable combo with HASH-BROWNED POTATOES (frozen) and deli COLESLAW. Add toasted ENGLISH MUFFINS. Serve leftover CAKE with FRESH PINEAPPLE for dessert.

Shopping List

olive oil, onion, zucchini, diced ham, eggs, cilantro, coarse salt, pepper, Gruyere cheese, frozen hash-browned potatoes, deli coleslaw, English muffins, fresh pineapple.

Thursday: Meatless

TORTELLINI WITH VEGETABLES AND PESTO couldn't be easier for a no-meat dinner. Combine frozen cheese tortellini (thawed), frozen Italian-style vegetables and sliced fresh mushrooms in a large nonstick skillet with a little water or vegetable broth. Cover and simmer until hot, then stir in pesto.

Serve with MIXED GREENS and GARLIC BREAD. Halve KIWIFRUIT and eat it with a spoon for dessert.

Shopping List

frozen cheese tortellini, frozen Italian-style vegetables, sliced fresh mushrooms, vegetable broth (if desired), pesto, salad greens, garlic bread, kiwifruit.

Friday: Express

Have a hurry-up dinner and serve TUNA WRAPS. Combine 1 cup deli tuna salad with 7 cups shredded lettuce (about 1/2 medium head lettuce). Divide mixture and spoon down center of 4 (8- to 9-inch) fat-free flour tortillas. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons shredded 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar cheese on the sides of the tuna mixture. Heat a large nonstick skillet. Cook each tortilla about 2 minutes or until underside is golden-brown and cheese melts. Fold in on three sides, wrap in wax paper and a napkin and serve.

Add BAKED POTATO CHIPS and BROCCOLI SALAD from the deli. Enjoy FUDGE BARS (such as Healthy Choice or another brand) for dessert.

Shopping List

deli tuna salad, lettuce, fat-free tortillas, 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar cheese, baked potato chips, deli broccoli salad, fudge bars (such as Healthy Choice or another brand).

Saturday: Easy Entertaining

Serve your guests BROILED LAMB CHOPS WITH ROSEMARY. Brush chops with a mixture of olive oil, minced garlic and chopped fresh rosemary before broiling.

Serve with NEW POTATO GRATIN. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a shallow 1 1/2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Slice 1 1/2 pounds new potatoes 1/4-inch thick. Layer half the potatoes in dish. Combine 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro, 1 teaspoon ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle half of mixture over potatoes. Layer remaining potatoes on top. Sprinkle remaining spice mixture over all. Top with 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese. Slowly pour 1 cup half-and-half (fat-free or low-fat) over potatoes. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until potatoes are soft and top is browned.

Add a CUCUMBER, GRAPE TOMATO AND FETA CHEESE SALAD (slice the cucumbers, halve the tomatoes and toss with reduced-fat crumbled feta cheese and a little vinaigrette), along with BAGUETTES. For dessert, PEACH SORBET and BUTTER COOKIES are easy.

Shopping List

lamb chops, olive oil, garlic, fresh rosemary, cooking spray, new potatoes, fresh cilantro, ground mustard, coarse salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, fat-free or low-fat half-and-half, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, reduced-fat crumbled feta cheese, vinaigrette, baguettes, peach sorbet, butter cookies.

Sunday: Family

PORK ROAST STUFFED WITH HERBS AND GARLIC is perfect for family day. Serve with BROWN RICE, steamed FRESH ASPARAGUS and BAGUETTES.

For dessert, make SPICED TAPIOCA WITH FRUIT SALSA. Combine 3 cups tapioca pudding, 1/4 teaspoon allspice and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Separately, combine 1 cup fresh diced strawberries, 1 diced kiwifruit, 1/4 teaspoon allspice and 1 teaspoon lime juice; toss to mix. Spoon pudding into 6 stemmed dessert dishes; top with fruit salsa.

Plan

Save enough pork for Monday.

Shopping List

boneless pork loin, garlic, fresh parsley, fresh sage, fresh rosemary, coarse salt, pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, brown rice, fresh asparagus, baguettes, tapioca pudding, allspice, lime, fresh strawberries, kiwifruit.

Monday: Heat and Eat

Use the pork leftovers for PORK SANDWICHES ON RYE BREAD WITH HONEY MUSTARD (add a lettuce leaf). Add BAKED CHIPS and a MIXED GREENS SALAD. Buy a CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE for dessert.

Plan

Save enough cake for Tuesday.

Shopping List

rye bread, honey mustard, lettuce, baked chips, salad greens, chocolate layer cake.

Tuesday: Meatless

Make SPINACH SOUFFLE PIE for a light dinner on a spring evening. Serve with SUCCOTASH (frozen) and a LETTUCE WEDGE SALAD. Add WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. Slice the leftover CHOCOLATE CAKE and top with fat-free VANILLA ICE CREAM for dessert.

Plan

Save enough ice cream for Thursday.

Shopping List

packaged frozen spinach souffle (such as Stouffer's), reduced-fat ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, nutmeg, coarse salt, pepper, frozen deep-dish pie shell, frozen succotash, lettuce, whole-grain rolls, fat-free vanilla ice cream.

Wednesday: Kids

KIDS' CHICKEN CHILI will win them over. Coat a Dutch oven with cooking spray and heat over medium-high. Add 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size pieces), 1 medium finely chopped onion and 2 minced cloves garlic; cook and stir 7 to 9 minutes or until chicken has internal temperature of 165 degrees. Add 2 (14.5-ounce) cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes, 2 cups mild salsa, 2 (15.5-ounce) cans rinsed reduced-sodium kidney beans, 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free chicken broth, 1 (11-ounce) can rinsed no-salt-added corn, 3 tablespoons chili powder and 2 teaspoons cumin; mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated and flavors are blended, stirring occasionally. Ladle into bowls.

Serve it with baked TORTILLA CHIPS and STUFFED CELERY (with 1/3 less-fat cream cheese) to munch on. Make the kids' favorite FRUIT SMOOTHIE for dessert.

Shopping List

cooking spray, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, onion, garlic, canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes, mild salsa, canned reduced-sodium kidney beans, fat-free chicken broth, canned no-salt-added corn, chili powder, cumin, baked tortilla chips, celery, 1/3 less-fat cream cheese, kids' favorite fruit smoothies.

Thursday: Express

Try a prepared, ready-to-cook/heat brand of MEATLOAF tonight. While you're at it, pick up BAKED STUFFED POTATOES (frozen) and some BROCCOLI SALAD from the deli. Add WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS. For dessert, drizzle fat-free CHOCOLATE SAUCE over leftover ICE CREAM.

Shopping List

prepared, ready-to-cook/heat meatloaf, frozen baked stuffed potatoes, deli broccoli salad, whole-grain rolls, fat-free chocolate sauce.

Friday: Budget

Make COLOSSAL CLUB SANDWICHES on a minuscule budget. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Slice a 1/2-inch cap off 1 round bread loaf (about 8 inches); hollow out the interior by hand and discard. Spread low-fat mayonnaise on the bottom, sides and cap of bread. Layer with 4 slices each (8 total) deli turkey and cheese and 2 (of 4 total) slices cooked bacon. Top with tomato and red onion slices, any color bell pepper slices and the remaining turkey, cheese and bacon. Press on cap. Wrap in foil. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until thoroughly heated; slice into wedges.

Serve with STEAK FRIES (frozen) and COLESLAW. Make dessert simple with PEACHES.

Shopping List

round bread loaf, low-fat mayonnaise, deli sliced turkey, deli sliced cheese, bacon, tomatoes, red onion, any color bell peppers, frozen steak fries, coleslaw, peaches.

Saturday: Easy Entertaining

Invite some lucky friends over for CARIBBEAN FISH AND FRESH CORN ROAST. On the side, add a ROMAINE SALAD and CRUSTY ROLLS.

For dessert, CHERRY CHEESECAKE is delicious and light. With electric mixer on high, beat 1 (8-ounce) package softened 1/3 less-fat cream cheese with 1/3 cup sugar until smooth. Gently stir in 1 (8-ounce) container fat-free frozen whipped topping (thawed). Spoon into 1 (6-ounce) reduced-fat graham cracker crumb piecrust (such as Keebler). Refrigerate 3 hours or until set. Spoon canned light cherry pie filling over top of pie. Slice and serve.

Shopping List

limes, canola oil, jerk seasoning, coarse salt, red and/or green bell peppers, halibut or cod, green onions, corn-on-the-cob, romaine, crusty rolls, 1/3 less-fat cream cheese, sugar, fat-free frozen whipped topping, reduced-fat graham cracker crumb piecrust (such as Keebler), canned light cherry pie filling.

Sunday: Family

For the family-day feast, HAM WITH APPLE RAISIN SAUCE is perfect.

Serve it with ROASTED SWEET POTATOES. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Peel 3 (8-ounce) sweet potatoes; cut into 8 wedges and halve crosswise. Toss with a little olive oil; season with coarse salt and pepper. Roast 20 minutes, turn once and bake until brown and tender.

Serve with BAKED VIDALIA ONIONS. Trim tops and bottoms, leaving enough of the roots to hold onions together; cut an "X" in center of tops. Cover and microwave on high (100 percent power), 6 minutes per pound. Let stand 3 minutes. Drizzle with butter and serve.

Add DINNER ROLLS. For dessert, top ANGEL FOOD CAKE with PINEAPPLE SHERBET.

Plan

Save enough cake for Monday.

Shopping List

flour, apple, apple juice, raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, boneless fully cooked ham, whole cloves, sweet potatoes to roast, olive oil, coarse salt, pepper, Vidalia onions, butter, dinner rolls, angel food cake, pineapple sherbet.

Monday: Family/Memorial Day

Celebrate Memorial Day and start the official grilling season with your own GRILLED STEAK. CORN-ON-THE-COB and deli COLESLAW will make this a "here comes summer" meal.

For dessert, top the leftover CAKE with BLUEBERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES for a red-white-and-blue kind of day.

Plan

Save enough coleslaw for Tuesday.

Shopping List

steaks to grill, corn-on-the-cob, deli coleslaw, blueberries, strawberries.

Tuesday: Express

Buy refrigerated or frozen SALMON PATTIES (follow the package directions) for a quick meal. Garnish with low-fat TARTAR SAUCE. Serve with frozen OVEN FRIES, leftover COLESLAW and WHOLE-GRAIN ROLLS alongside. For dessert, scoop fat-free STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM.

Plan

Save enough ice cream for Friday.

Shopping List

refrigerated or frozen salmon patties, low-fat tartar sauce, frozen oven fries, whole-grain rolls, fat-free strawberry ice cream.

Wednesday: Budget

"Low price, high flavor" is a good way to describe SPINACH AND BLACK-EYED PEA SALAD. Cook 4 strips of bacon until crisp; crumble. Combine 1 pound fresh spinach leaves, 2 (15-ounce) cans rinsed black-eyed peas, 2 medium tomatoes (cut into wedges) and 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion; toss with 1/4 cup vinaigrette dressing. Sprinkle with the bacon.

Serve with deli SOUP. Make CORNBREAD from a mix. For dessert, PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES add some interest.

Shopping List

bacon, fresh spinach, canned black-eyed peas, tomatoes, red onion, vinaigrette dressing, any deli soup, cornbread mix, peanut butter cookies.

Thursday: Meatless

Enjoy WHOLE-WHEAT FUSILLI WITH SPICY ESCAROLE, TOMATOES AND OLIVES. Add GARLIC BREAD. For dessert, PEAR HALVES garnished with low-fat ricotta cheese is simple.

Shopping List

escarole, garlic, crushed red pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives or other imported olives, whole-wheat fusilli, pecorino-Romano cheese, garlic bread, pear halves, low-fat ricotta cheese.

Friday: Kids

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy TEX-MEX QUESADILLAS. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Coat 2 rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray. Place 2 fat-free whole-grain tortillas on each sheet. Combine 1 1/4 cups canned, rinsed, reduced-sodium black beans, 1 cup shredded carrots and 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese. Divide the mixture among the tortillas. Press a second tortilla on top of each quesadilla. Bake 10 minutes or until quesadillas are crisp and lightly browned. Carefully turn and bake 5 more minutes. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges. Garnish with reduced-fat sour cream and salsa.

Serve with RICE. Add CELERY STICKS to dip into light ranch dressing. Teach the kids how to make their own ICE CREAM SANDWICHES with soft chocolate cookies and leftover ice cream.

Shopping List

cooking spray, fat-free whole-grain tortillas, canned reduced-sodium black beans, carrots, reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, reduced-fat sour cream, salsa, rice, celery sticks, light ranch dressing, soft chocolate cookies.

Saturday: Easy Entertaining

Your guests will enjoy GRILLED CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS AND PEAS.

Serve the pretty dish with a CUCUMBER AND BEET SALAD. Thinly slice a seeded cucumber. Toss with drained pickled beets and low-fat yogurt to coat. Add SOURDOUGH ROLLS.

For dessert, TROPICAL AMBROSIA is heavenly. In a medium serving bowl, toss together 2 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks and 1 tablespoon sugar; let stand 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves; stir occasionally. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut and 1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts.

Shopping List

apricot or peach preserves, coarse-grain or Dijon mustard, ground ginger, garlic-flavored cooking spray, chicken cutlets, coarse salt, pepper, fat-free chicken broth, frozen petite green peas, couscous, slivered almonds, cucumber, pickled beets, low-fat yogurt, sourdough rolls, fresh pineapple chunks, sugar, sweetened flaked coconut, macadamia nuts.