This is a series that I’m starting primarily on my Instagram,so if you aren’t following me click here and do that now!
Each week I’m going to share my weekly meal plan with you all and talk you through my strategies to save tons of money and still eat well.
For the week of and a few after you’ll see updates to this page with notes on what worked and what didn’t.
If you want my general meal planning strategy
GENERAL MEAL PLAN NOTES:
- I’m probably not posting these in the exact order I make them because life changes and doesn’t always go as planned.
- I tweak each recipe to fit our likes and nutritional needs. I have a daughter who is allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, and wheat intolerant so we switch those out a lot or I make two different versions.
- I also tend to mix a couple of recipes to get what I want, eventually I’ll have the recipes on here for you all to peruse, but for now, I’ll be linking them below.
- Currently, we shop at Kroger, if you shop somewhere like Aldi the prices would be way lower! Unfortunately, our Aldi never has the food we need and we’ve had to go to Kroger for most things.
HERE IS THIS WEEKS MEAL PLAN!
Pulled Pork Sandwiches, potatoes, or Nachos
Cost= 16.51/ 1.03 per meal
I usually double this because the pork I get is always WAY more than 4 pounds. More like 8 lbs.
This also makes a ton of food. I’ll make this at the beginning of the week and we’ll have it for lunch or dinner in various iterations all week long.
It really helps on weeks that you just know you are not going to have time to cook. Or you can also freeze half of it for another time.
I also wait to make this recipe until pork is on sale for less than chicken would cost, this one I snagged for $1.79 per lb. But I have caught it for $0.99 per lb before and I totally grabbed another for the freezer.
A general rule about stocking up on ingredients: If it is on sale big-time stock up if you can. If it’s not in the budget, don’t sweat it. Stocking up can help but it also can make you spend money you don’t have.
Obviously you can put this on sandwiches, but I also like to do a baked potato or do it up like nachos. Be sure to add some veggies to the side!
Burrito Bowls with black bean cilantro lime rice
Cost: $5.53/ $0.92 per meal
This is very much a make it what you want dinner. Grab all your favorite Burrito fixings and chow down.
Things you could to the bowl:
- Corn
- Avocado/Guacamole
- Tomato
- Chicken
- Cheese
- Anything else your heart desires (or that your budget can handle)
We’ll be excluding chicken from ours since there is black beans in the rice, so the cost does not reflect that here.
Brinner: Eggs, Bacon, and fried potatoes
Cost: $3.03/ $1.01 per meal
This is a night that I know we will not have any left overs, but it is cheap and delicious.
You also don’t really need a recipe here, make the eggs and bacon to your liking. Here is a recipe for fried potatoes just in case you haven’t experienced their gloriousness (I don’t usually use a bell pepper but you can if you like). Also I use russet potatoes because they are cheaper.
Tomato and Spinach pasta
Cost: $3.72 / $0.93 meal
This recipe is one we’ve made for years and is a great way to sneak some spinach in for little ones who won’t eat it on its own.
Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe
TOTAL COST: 28.79
Happy dance because this week is a good one.
I’m using pulled pork a lot this week so there are only 4 meals, I love to make one big thing so there is less work overall. Work smarter not harder people.
Usually, I leave one night as an eat out and one night as a eat whatever is left in the fridge night.
After that, all you’ll need for the week is breakfast and snacks.
I’ll be updating you throughout the week on Instagram on my progress (it will be in my story highlights if you are late!) I’ll also be updating this page the week after, so stay tuned!