diff --git a/backend/app/api/meals.py b/backend/app/api/meals.py
index b901788..4829385 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/meals.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/meals.py
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ from app.services import approval as approval_service
 from uuid import UUID
 from typing import List, Optional
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from uuid import UUID
+from typing import List, Optional
+import random
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
@@ -323,6 +326,77 @@ def swap_meal_item(item_id: UUID, new_recipe_id: UUID, db: Session = Depends(get
     return {"message": "Meal swapped", "item": item}
 
 
+@router.post("/items/{item_id}/approve")
+def approve_meal_item(item_id: UUID, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """Directly approve a meal plan item from the dashboard."""
+    item = db.query(MealPlanItem).filter(MealPlanItem.id == item_id).first()
+    if not item:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Meal plan item not found")
+    item.approval_status = MealPlanItemStatus.approved
+    db.commit()
+    return {"message": "Meal approved", "item": item}
+
+
+@router.post("/items/{item_id}/deny")
+def deny_meal_item(item_id: UUID, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """Directly deny a meal plan item from the dashboard."""
+    item = db.query(MealPlanItem).filter(MealPlanItem.id == item_id).first()
+    if not item:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Meal plan item not found")
+    item.approval_status = MealPlanItemStatus.denied
+    db.commit()
+    return {"message": "Meal denied", "item": item}
+
+
+@router.post("/{meal_plan_id}/generate-item")
+def generate_single_item(
+    meal_plan_id: UUID,
+    day_of_week: int = Query(..., ge=1, le=7),
+    meal_type: str = Query(...),
+    db: Session = Depends(get_db),
+):
+    """Generate a single meal for an empty slot."""
+    plan = db.query(MealPlan).filter(MealPlan.id == meal_plan_id).first()
+    if not plan:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Meal plan not found")
+
+    # Verify slot is empty
+    existing = (
+        db.query(MealPlanItem)
+        .filter(
+            MealPlanItem.meal_plan_id == meal_plan_id,
+            MealPlanItem.day_of_week == day_of_week,
+            MealPlanItem.meal_type == meal_type,
+        )
+        .first()
+    )
+    if existing:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Slot already occupied")
+
+    # Get all recipes, score them, pick the best not already in this plan
+    all_recipes = db.query(Recipe).all()
+    used_ids = {i.recipe_id for i in plan.items if i.recipe_id is not None}
+
+    # Simple heuristic: pick a random un-used recipe (we can improve scoring later)
+    available = [r for r in all_recipes if r.id not in used_ids]
+    if not available:
+        available = all_recipes  # reuse if all recipes are in play
+
+    recipe = random.choice(available)
+
+    new_item = MealPlanItem(
+        meal_plan_id=meal_plan_id,
+        recipe_id=recipe.id,
+        day_of_week=day_of_week,
+        meal_type=MealType[meal_type.upper()],
+        approval_status=MealPlanItemStatus.pending,
+    )
+    db.add(new_item)
+    db.commit()
+    db.refresh(new_item)
+    return {"message": "Meal generated", "item": new_item}
+
+
 @router.put("/items/{item_id}/move")
 def move_meal_item(
     item_id: UUID,
diff --git a/backend/app/services/planner/config.py b/backend/app/services/planner/config.py
index a3e8e5f..185dcc3 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/planner/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/planner/config.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class PlannerConfig:
 
     # Set selection
     top_k: int = 20                     # how many feasible recipes to enumerate over
-    set_size: int = 3                   # 3 dinners/week
+    set_size: int = 21                  # 21 meals/week (3 per day × 7 days)
     p_protein: float = 0.15             # diversity penalty per shared-protein pair
     p_cuisine: float = 0.10             # diversity penalty per shared-cuisine pair
 
diff --git a/backend/app/services/planner/generate.py b/backend/app/services/planner/generate.py
index 28eb00f..b1eaf10 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/planner/generate.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/planner/generate.py
@@ -177,11 +177,14 @@ def generate_meal_plan(
     db.flush()
 
     for index, scored_recipe in enumerate(chosen):
+        day = (index % 7) + 1           # 1..7 (Mon..Sun)
+        meal_type_index = index // 7    # 0=breakfast, 1=lunch, 2=dinner
+        meal_type = [MealType.BREAKFAST, MealType.LUNCH, MealType.DINNER][meal_type_index]
         item = MealPlanItem(
             meal_plan_id=plan.id,
             recipe_id=scored_recipe.recipe_id,
-            day_of_week=index + 1,         # Mon=1, Tue=2, Wed=3 by default
-            meal_type=MealType.DINNER,
+            day_of_week=day,
+            meal_type=meal_type,
             approval_status=MealPlanItemStatus.pending,
             estimated_cost=scored_recipe.cost.total_cost,
         )
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/index.ts b/frontend/src/api/index.ts
index 13cee86..1a24c65 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/index.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ export const mealPlannerApi = {
     submitVote: (itemId: string, token: string, data: any) => api.post(`/meals/items/${itemId}/vote/${token}`, data),
     swapItem: (itemId: string, newRecipeId: string) => api.post(`/meals/items/${itemId}/swap?new_recipe_id=${newRecipeId}`),
     moveItem: (itemId: string, newDayOfWeek: number, newMealType: string) => api.put(`/meals/items/${itemId}/move`, null, { params: { new_day_of_week: newDayOfWeek, new_meal_type: newMealType } }),
+    approveItem: (itemId: string) => api.post(`/meals/items/${itemId}/approve`),
+    denyItem: (itemId: string) => api.post(`/meals/items/${itemId}/deny`),
+    generateItem: (mealPlanId: string, dayOfWeek: number, mealType: string) =>
+      api.post(`/meals/${mealPlanId}/generate-item`, null, { params: { day_of_week: dayOfWeek, meal_type: mealType } }),
   },
 
   pantry: {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx
index c2b1823..a7c5c2e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx
@@ -31,10 +31,12 @@ const MEAL_TYPES = ['breakfast', 'lunch', 'dinner'] as const
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 /*  MealCard (draggable)                                               */
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
-function MealCard({ item, dragHandleProps, isDragging }: {
+function MealCard({ item, dragHandleProps, isDragging, onApprove, onDeny }: {
   item: MealPlanItem
   dragHandleProps?: DraggableProvidedDragHandleProps | null
   isDragging?: boolean
+  onApprove?: (itemId: string) => void
+  onDeny?: (itemId: string) => void
 }) {
   const totalTime = item.recipe?.total_time_minutes ??
     (item.recipe?.prep_time_minutes || 0) + (item.recipe?.cook_time_minutes || 0)
@@ -94,6 +96,23 @@ function MealCard({ item, dragHandleProps, isDragging }: {
               </span>
             )}
           </div>
+          {/* Approve / Deny buttons */}
+          {item.approval_status === 'pending' && onApprove && onDeny && (
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-1 mt-1.5">
+              <button
+                onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); onApprove(item.id) }}
+                className="text-[10px] px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-success-50 text-success-700 hover:bg-success-100 font-medium transition-colors"
+              >
+                Approve
+              </button>
+              <button
+                onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); onDeny(item.id) }}
+                className="text-[10px] px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-danger-50 text-danger-700 hover:bg-danger-100 font-medium transition-colors"
+              >
+                Deny
+              </button>
+            </div>
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
@@ -107,10 +126,16 @@ function MealSlot({
   dayIndex,
   mealType,
   item,
+  onApprove,
+  onDeny,
+  onGenerate,
 }: {
   dayIndex: number
   mealType: string
   item?: MealPlanItem
+  onApprove?: (itemId: string) => void
+  onDeny?: (itemId: string) => void
+  onGenerate?: (dayIndex: number, mealType: string) => void
 }) {
   const droppableId = `slot-${dayIndex}-${mealType}`
 
@@ -137,14 +162,23 @@ function MealSlot({
                     item={item}
                     dragHandleProps={dragProvided.dragHandleProps}
                     isDragging={dragSnapshot.isDragging}
+                    onApprove={onApprove}
+                    onDeny={onDeny}
                   />
                 </div>
               )}
             </Draggable>
           ) : (
-            /* empty slot placeholder — invisible but droppable */
-            <div className="h-16 rounded-xl border-2 border-dashed border-surface-200 flex items-center justify-center">
-              <span className="text-xs text-surface-300">Drop here</span>
+            <div className="h-16 rounded-xl border-2 border-dashed border-surface-200 flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1">
+              <span className="text-xs text-surface-300">Empty</span>
+              {onGenerate && (
+                <button
+                  onClick={() => onGenerate(dayIndex, mealType)}
+                  className="text-[10px] px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-primary-50 text-primary-700 hover:bg-primary-100 font-medium transition-colors"
+                >
+                  Generate
+                </button>
+              )}
             </div>
           )}
           {provided.placeholder}
@@ -160,9 +194,15 @@ function MealSlot({
 function DayColumn({
   dayIndex,
   items,
+  onApprove,
+  onDeny,
+  onGenerate,
 }: {
   dayIndex: number
   items: MealPlanItem[]
+  onApprove?: (itemId: string) => void
+  onDeny?: (itemId: string) => void
+  onGenerate?: (dayIndex: number, mealType: string) => void
 }) {
   const today = new Date().getDay()
   const isToday = today === (dayIndex + 1) % 7
@@ -190,6 +230,9 @@ function DayColumn({
                 dayIndex={dayIndex}
                 mealType={mealType}
                 item={item}
+                onApprove={onApprove}
+                onDeny={onDeny}
+                onGenerate={onGenerate}
               />
             </div>
           )
@@ -289,6 +332,37 @@ export default function Dashboard() {
     handleDrop(itemId, parseInt(dayStr, 10), typeStr)
   }
 
+  async function handleApprove(itemId: string) {
+    try {
+      await mealPlannerApi.meals.approveItem(itemId)
+      toast.success('Meal approved')
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['mealPlan'] })
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      toast.error(err?.response?.data?.detail || 'Failed to approve meal')
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function handleDeny(itemId: string) {
+    try {
+      await mealPlannerApi.meals.denyItem(itemId)
+      toast.success('Meal denied')
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['mealPlan'] })
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      toast.error(err?.response?.data?.detail || 'Failed to deny meal')
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function handleGenerate(dayIndex: number, mealType: string) {
+    if (!mealPlan) return
+    try {
+      await mealPlannerApi.meals.generateItem(mealPlan.id, dayIndex + 1, mealType)
+      toast.success('Meal generated')
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['mealPlan'] })
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      toast.error(err?.response?.data?.detail || 'Failed to generate meal')
+    }
+  }
+
   if (isLoading) return <DashboardSkeleton />
 
   if (!mealPlan) {
@@ -359,11 +433,14 @@ export default function Dashboard() {
           <DragDropContext onDragEnd={onDragEnd}>
             <div className="grid grid-cols-7 gap-2">
               {itemsByDay.map((items, index) => (
-                <DayColumn
-                  key={index}
-                  dayIndex={index}
-                  items={items}
-                />
+              <DayColumn
+                key={index}
+                dayIndex={index}
+                items={items}
+                onApprove={handleApprove}
+                onDeny={handleDeny}
+                onGenerate={handleGenerate}
+              />
               ))}
             </div>
           </DragDropContext>