There are so many ways to save money when feeding your family, but it can be a challenge to have a healthful, delicious, and varied menu without spending time clipping hundreds of coupons, bargain hunting, and scouring the internet for recipes. That’s why I’ve created this plan to keep your family well fed while staying on budget. I’ve created weekly meal plans along with shopping lists to make your life a little easier.
This specific plan is based on a family of 4 who eats breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks a day. It can be modified to accommodate picky eaters, those who eat at school or work for lunch, and those who like sweet treats for dessert.
If you’re looking for recipes and a simple list of meal options, click here.
Weekly Meal Plans
Week 1:
To get a shopping list for the meals listed above, click here.
Meal Options and Recipes
Here’s a summary of the meal options listed in the plan (Find recipes for some of the dinner options below):
Snacks:
- Popcorn (popped on the stove top)
- Peanut Butter Pretzels
- Carrot Sticks
- String Cheese
- Crackers
- Fruit Snacks
- Crackers and Peanut Butter
- Almonds
- Fruit – Strawberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Pineapple, Apples, Grapes, etc.
- Hardboiled Eggs
- Toast and Fruit
Breakfast:
- Eggs, Toast, Yogurt, and Fruit
- Breakfast Burritos – Eggs, Cheese, Potatoes or Eggs, Cheese, Rice
- Blueberry Pancakes, Eggs, and Fruit
- Cereal
- Oatmeal with Blueberries, Strawberries, or Bananas
Lunch:
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Bean and Cheese Burritos
- Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- Chicken Wraps
- Egg Salad Sandwiches
- Grilled Cheese
- Cheese Quesadillas
- Chicken and Pan-Fried Potatoes
- Leftovers
Dinner:
- Chili
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Rotini Bolognese
- Chicken and Rotini Pasta
- Chicken Taco Soup
- Meatloaf
- Chicken and Biscuit Casserole
- Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry
- Chicken, Cheese, and Broccoli Quesadillas
- Baked Chicken, Veggies, and Potatoes
- Sloppy Joes
- Burrito Bowls
- Grilled Cheese
- Taco Salad
- Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
- Classic Burgers
- Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Chicken Fried Rice
These are just some of the many meals and snacks you can make with the ingredients in this plan. If you are looking for more options, but you’re not sure where to look, try these websites that will give you recipes for what you have in your fridge/pantry:
Shopping
So, you may be thinking “how am I supposed to know what the heck to buy?”. Well, you’re in luck because I’ve done the work for you on what to buy and where to buy it in the following handy lists.
First, you’ll need to start by stocking the staples in your kitchen to help you make a variety of dishes. Spices should be your number one priority – try this Kamenstein 20-Jar Revolving Spice Tower with Free Spice Refills for 5 Years (affiliate link) from Amazon. Once you’ve got your spices, you’ll need to make your first grocery trip to acquire everything you’ll need to get started. You may already have some of these items so just get what you don’t already have in your kitchen.
Ensure that you shop smart. Go to your discount grocery store for items that perish quickly or you won’t need a lot of for the month. Opt to shop at your local wholesale store for the items you need a lot of and can freeze for later use.
Note: Always look for the cheapest option, whether it’s store brand or on sale, but don’t get fooled into buying more if you won’t be able to freeze it or use it quickly.
Note: Make adjustments to the snacks, fruit, and vegetables to suit your family’s tastes. The fruits and veggies should also be adjusted based on price.
After you’ve done your initial grocery trip, your weekly trips should look something like this:
This brings your total cost for weekly groceries to about:
Lowest Prices: $35.25 – $94.75
Highest Prices: $44.25 – $106.75
You’ll be purchasing your meats monthly and freezing them for later use. With all purchases included, your monthly spending should be about $399 – $466 (Totals will differ based on taxes and items purchased).
I hope this guide has helped alleviate some of the stress of figuring out your budget AND feeding your family healthful, delicious meals!
Disclaimer: These statements are the opinion of the author. The information provided in this post is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal, or other professional advice. Read and/or use any of the information from this post at your own risk. Some or all of the links displayed on this site may be affiliate links.
