this week's plant powered dinner plan
plus week 4 of the february meal prep plan!
We’re already 50 days into 2026, and I’ve been intentionally trying to add to my meals rather than take away. Not cutting or skipping anything, more “what else can I put in here?” This is especially true when it comes to plants (still focusing on fiber!), and this week’s dinner plan is built around this idea. With the goal of getting 30 (or more!) different plants into the week, today’s meal plan is all about plant diversity.
Why 30 plants? I actually talked about this in DTAD—it’s a research-backed amount for maximizing gut microbiome health and diversity, which in turn supports better digestion, vitamin synthesis, immune health, and more. And the term plants includes everything from fruits and veggies to whole grains, nuts, beans, and even spices! By checking off your 30 just from dinners this week, you’ll probably achieve MUCH more than 30… yay!!! The research I’m referencing was done by the American Gut Project, which you can read more about here.
It’s easier than you might think to add plants. Produce count, herbs count, beans count. The handful of seeds sprinkled on top? Counts! If your meals have felt a little repetitive, plants can help shake them up, plus it saves money! Including more produce in your weekly shop can drive down your total grocery bill (especially when you’re shopping seasonally) and bulk up your meals, stretching them further.
Try out the full dinner plan and see how you feel! Then use the weekly plant checklist below to inspire your meals for another week. Let’s see how many new or different plants we can incorporate this month 🌱 Search on my website or newsletter homepage to find recipes that use specific ingredients.
If you’re a paid subscriber, your dinners are handled this week 🤝 If you’re not yet? Try out this week: The full plan includes five dinners to enjoy, complete with a color-coded grocery list and prep day plan to make it all doable. The order of the meals is intentional to utilize certain ingredients earlier in the week, save quick meals for the midweek madness, and fun plant-powered bowls for Friday! Plus, with a paid subscription you can access the ENTIRE archive.
Today’s newsletter also includes week 4 of the February breakfast & lunch prep plan, that’s all your meals for the week, sorted. No thinking required!!!
