Delicious One-Skillet Dinners Packed with Veggies (Weekly Plan & Shopping List!)

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Summer means different things to everyone, and to me, it means family time. I'll be in Dallas seeing my family this weekend, and I know that after all the traveling and big family meals, my body will be craving veggies the most. This is why I'm planning this week of delicious veggie-packed dinners to help me feel my best. Added bonus: They're easily made in a single skillet, so I can have more time to unpack and do laundry.

Your Meal Plan

There's just something about homemade meals that helps me feel energized! Our 5-star Black Bean Fajita Skillet recipe is a favorite I often make for meatless Mondays. Beans are a great way to bump up the fiber and protein in a meatless dish to make it more filling. Plus, the fiber—from beans, bell peppers and onions—helps me get back into a rhythm after traveling. The bell peppers elevate this dish's flavor, add beautiful colors and boost its nutrition. Bell peppers are one of the top vitamin C-rich foods, and vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can help tame inflammation in your body. To round out the meal and add some extra veggies, I'll pair it with a Kale Salad with Balsamic & Parmesan.

Sunday: One-Pan Spicy Okra & Shrimp with a side of whole-wheat couscous
Monday: Black Bean Fajita Skilletpaired with Kale Salad with Balsamic & Parmesan
Tuesday: 20-Minute Creamy Chicken Skillet with Italian Seasoning with a side of whole-wheat couscous
Wednesday: Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble with a side of whole-wheat baguette drizzled with olive oil
Thursday: Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
Friday: Ground Beef & Potatoes Skillet

Something to Sip On

Aguas frescas (translated literally: fresh waters) are drinks mainly made of fruits or flowers, a sweetener—think granulated sugar, honey or piloncillo, unrefined sugar commonly used in Latin America—and water. They are a staple in every Mexican household; mine was no exception. Growing up, my mom usually made either agua fresca de limón, aka limonada (lemonade), or agua fresca de jamaica (hibiscus water). And every now and then, she would make other flavors from ripened fruit we refused to eat, like watermelon and cantaloupe—two fruits I now love. Following her lead, I'll make this refreshing Cucumber-Mint Agua Fresca since I have some cucumbers lying around in my kitchen and don't want them to go to waste.

Get the Recipe: ​​Cucumber-Mint Agua Fresca

What's Inspiring Me This Week

Regular physical activity helps prevent joint pain, reduce the risk of chronic diseases and support your brain health. And even though we know the benefits, sometimes it's challenging to carve out time for it. Surprisingly, recent research suggests that just four minutes of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity can help lower your risk of cancer. According to a study published in JAMA Oncology, this type of exercise includes anything from climbing stairs to power walking around your house or chasing your dog or kids. However, since this study was observational, more research is needed to prove cause and effect. That being said, four minutes of movement is definitely better than none!

Find Out More: New Science Suggests That Just 4 Minutes Per Day of This Kind of Exercise May Lower Cancer Risk

I wish you all a great week, and if you have any questions or requests for future newsletters, please let me know by emailing ThePrep@eatingwell.com! Don't forget to add a recipe review if you try one.