If you manage to catch any fish in the lake, you can bake them with lemon slices, herbs and olive oil on a bed of sliced potatoes, fennel and vine tomatoes. Cover with foil to keep moist.

You could buy pre-made pizza dough and do top-your-own, grilled mini pizzas...

Popcorn and other snacky things (cheese, sliced apples, pita bread, hummus) could be dinner one night over board games (or a movie) -- always kind of a fun treat for kids to have an "un-meal."

Panini w/ various fillings are easy and kid pleasing. (Slip some fresh or frozen spinach in with the cheese!)

If there are any farmstands around, it's also fun to just do a big bunch of veggies, corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes, veggies and dip...make it colorful and easy and fun! Enjoy your vacation!

Our whole family likes a big composed platter of salad ingredients, arranged so everyone can choose what they like. The ingredients are endlessly flexible, but we like grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, bacon, cheese, and carrots. Scallions, celery, asparagus, artichoke hearts, dried fruit, nuts, etc. would all be good too.

One thing we did last year was bring a casserole of homemade mac & cheese with us on the drive. It was a long drive to the lake house, and it thawed along the way, then as soon as we arrived we popped it in the oven. A lovely warm dinner was ready by the time we unpacked!

If you're planning on eating the fish you caught, bring hot-dogs -- just in case.

I've never really done the cottage thing. But I'd suggest the idea of one pan and a plan. Go for layered slow-cooking dishes. Put it together before you leave, store in the fridge, or set it to cook slow in the oven for hours.

Boston baked beans (good with hot dogs). Some sort of cassoulet, or even a roast. These are all even better the second day.

Your request reminds me of my grocery plans for the coming week. We are embarking on a home improvement project that includes refinishing our kitchen cupboards and replacing the countertops, so I've been thinking about simple meals to make so we don't have to live on fast food. I'm planning to make-up hamburger patties that I can just thaw and grill, have hotdogs or brats, stock the fridge with fresh veggies and a pasta salad or two, and have lunch meat, cheese and crackers on hand. Anything that can either be grilled or put together with minimal effort and kitchen utensils. If its simple, its in.

We just had a convo about the SAME thing this morning!

Breakfasts: Stratas (look for red pepper, fontina, sausage one on epicurious)- you can make and freeze ahead of time, then pop in the oven. Also, bagel bars with all kinds of toppings.

Lunchs: Canned CHilis (canned kidney, black and pinto beans, canned corn. Cut up a bunch of onions and get the pre-cut frozen bell pepper trio from trader joe's - cook up first in some vegi oil, then add all canned ingredients with kosher salt, pepper, chili powder, tons of cumin, and adobo sauce. Let cook up till you're hungry. Bring some jiffy boxes of cornbread mix and some shredded sharp cheddar and sour cream to put on top!

Grilled Vegis:
Slice veggis and cover with vegi oil, kosher salt, garlic powder and pepper. Grill. (zuchini, asparagus, onions, bell peppers, etc)

Pour some soyaki on salmon and grill up.

Melt butter and chop garlic and toss large shrimp. Throw them on the grill for a few minutes.

Asian Chicken salads are SUPER easy to prep before hand and light and fresh.

I love to do grilled chicken quesedillas for an easy dinner. If you grill chicken for dinner one night make sure you grill extra... shred it and make the quesedillas another night with flour tortillas and additional shredded cheese... they take only a minute or two on the grill. You can even heat them in the oven or in a skillet on the stove if it's raining. You can serve the tomatoes, beans, lettuce, onions, etc. on the side or add them to individualize each quesedilla. I often will pick up a roasted chicken at the market for an easy dinner and shred what's left.

Another good meal is marinated and grilled flank steak, cut against the grain. Serve over greens for a great steak salad. Again, make extra for steak sandwiches later on.

Pulled pork. Great to slow cook in the oven or in a crock pot. Serve as is or in tacos.

These ideas are super! My favorite so far are the composed salad idea and the quesadillas, but they all sound good at some point, vacation or not. :) thanks for the help!

we've done couscous (the kind that cooks with boiling water), and a stew - a quick take along one is a can of chickpeas, can of tomatoes, and baby spinach - dump it all in a pot, cook (doesnt take long) and serve on top of the couscous.
if you are lucky enough to be near a farm stand or market, you can pick up fresh veggies and do the same. we liked the chickpeas as a non meat protein alternative, but could do a quicker cooking lentil instead.

Maybe not so light, but doesn't have to be super-heavy - fried rice! It's a great end of the week meal to use up leftover veggies.

I think the general idea here of a simple protein with veggies is a great way to go. One way to prep is to bring along a homemade spice mix/blend. A current favorite in our household is dukkah - an Egyptian nut/spice/herb mix that is typically served with bread. But I often add it to pan-fried or grilled chicken, which I then serve in pita bread with lettuce, cucumbers, and feta cheese. I have a canister of dukkah dry ingredients (pistachios, hazlenuts, sesame seeds, coriander, cumin, etc.) made up, and add the herbs as I go. You can tailor it to your family's tastes, and a little goes a long way.