On The Menu: Memorial Day Crowd Pleasers (Whether You're Hosting, Traveling or Laying Low)
Sunday Meal Prep | Week of May 25th
Happy Sunday, readers!
For all my American meal preppers (which is most of you, but not all), happy unofficial start to summer. When I lived in New York, I would spend months planning my escape, but here in Southern California, we sometimes forget that Monday is even a holiday. No one summers quite like the East Coast, but honestly, I’m not mad at missing the holiday traffic this weekend.
Whether you’re entertaining, joining a BBQ, or sticking to your usual routine—I’ve got you with the menu this week. Think: potato and arugula salad (trust me, do not sleep on this one) with salmon skewers, a fancy (yet simple) burger plate with a little gem salad, za’atar roasted sweet potato wedges and harissa yogurt.
With a little advanced planning you can eat really well this week! If you have a busy weekend or are traveling, order your groceries so all you have to do is throw the meal together. I promise it’s really that easy. And if you’re looking for more healthy travel tips, here’s a post you might find useful:
But before we get into it, I’ve got a pretty exciting announcement!
I’ve officially joined Hiya’s scientific advisory board. Ozzie’s been taking Hiya’s multivitamin for the past few years and I love how they weave nutrition into a fun daily ritual for kids. As a nutritionist and a mom, I trust Hiya for their high quality products, commitment to science, and ingredient transparency, and I’m so so excited to be a part of their team.
Since Hiya first debuted their multivitamin, they’ve added a full line of zero-sugar, zero-gummy products to support kids' health. We recently tried their greens + superfoods (chocolate flavored!), daily hydration, and bedtime essentials (my favorite, lol), and he loves them.
If you’re interested in trying a Hiya product, I have a special deal for you: use my discount code MIARIGDEN50 for 50% off your first order. And if you have any questions about their products, please reach out!
Sales sales sales.
Memorial Day sales can be a little overwhelming, but also a great time to snag deals on things you’ve had your eye on, especially if you're looking at bigger purchases like outdoor furniture, mattresses, want to stock up on basics, or just treat yourself.
Avocado Green Mattress: Up to 20% off. All the mattresses in my house are Avocado, and I love them. They’re an investment. I’ve almost collected mine over the past 5 years, but they’re truly fantastic mattresses made of the absolute best materials.
Necessaire: 20% off site wide. This includes your favorite body wash and deodorant.
Ettitude: 30% off luxury organic linens.
Gap Kids: 40-60% many styles for kids (and adults)—some things are even an extra 50% off sale. I cannot get enough of Gap Kids. Whoever designs these clothes is brilliant. Especially the baby girl stuff. I mean look at this set. And this one. I may have bought these jellys for Freya too…oops.
Material Kitchen: Use the code SUNNYDAYS for 25% off knives, kitchen tools, cutting boards are other cooking essentials. A great time to stock up.
Guest in Residence: 30% off spring styles. These are my favorite sweaters. Really high quality, but also a bit of a splurge, so the sale is welcome. I love cable crew and this perfect V neck sweater for throwing over your shoulders all summer long.
Okay enough shopping. Let’s cook!
I’ve been thinking about this week’s menu. Some of you will be traveling, others will be hosting your usual summer BBQs, and then there’s the rest of us—home with a bit more time and no childcare.
So here’s the plan: tonight and Monday’s meals are simple enough for our regular meal prep but can feed a crowd and are grill-friendly (though rest assured, no grilling actually required). For the rest of the week, I’ve got you covered with some quick, 15(ish)-minute favorites, including my go-to smoked salmon plate.
