This meal plan is designed for a family of 3. Most meals should be toddler friendly- omitting the mushroom risotto and tomato sandwich. All prices are from Walmart to help keep the costs low. If you want or need to shop other places for better prices that can always be helpful. If you have an Aldi or dollar store nearby you can probably get a lot of these items for cheaper. I live in the second most expensive state for groceries so prices may be cheaper for you. I have not included flour in this plan because such a small amount is used for the gravy. If you don’t have flour, it will cost just a bit more.
Related: Family of 4 Meal Plan
Ingredients
- Flour-
- Biscuits- $1.84
- Milk-$4.12
- Cereal-$1.62 (12 oz)
- Ground beef-$4.52 (1 lb)
- Peas & carrots-$1.10 (12 oz frozen) x2
- Corn-$2.84 (32 oz frozen)
- Noodles-$1.08 (16 oz) x2
- Sauce-$2.52
- Ramen-$3.94
- Tomato-$1.23 x2
- Mayo-$3.34 (18 oz)
- Bread-$1.24 (14 oz)
- Eggs-$6.44 (36 ct)
- Mac & cheese-$.52 x2
- Butter-$5.24
- Alfredo-$2.18 (16 oz)
- Apples-$4.78 (3 lb)
- Banana-$.84 (1 lb)
- Rice-$3.08 (32 oz)
- Beans-$1.24 (1 lb)
- Mushrooms-$5.23 (1 lb)
- Peas-$1.10 (12 oz)
- Garlic-$.75
- Onion-$.90
Total: $65.62
Breakfast
Biscuits & gravy– bake the biscuits and stir butter, and flour together into a roux. Add milk and salt, pepper, and sage for more flavor.
Cereal– pour some into a bowl with milk for a quick breakfast
Scrambled eggs– mix some eggs and cook on the stove
Lunch
Ramen– boil water and cook these noodles. Serve with veggies & fruit for a complete meal
Tomato & Mayo sandwich– spread mayo on bread and add a sliced tomato on top
Egg salad– hard boil eggs. Mash eggs with mayo and spread onto bread
Mac & cheese– cook as the box directs. Serve with veggies & fruit
Dinner
Spaghetti– cook ground beef and boil noodles and top with spaghetti sauce
Simple stroganoff– cook noodles, mushrooms, and ground beef. Top with alfredo
Rice & beans– cook rice. Cook beans, add seasonings for more flavor
Mushroom risotto– cook rice. Cook onions in butter, add garlic and mushrooms
Sides & Snacks
Corn- bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes
Peas & carrots- try adding butter or tomato sauce
Apples– sauteed in butter or eat them plain
Banana- try a smoothie with frozen bananas and milk or saute them in butter with cinnamon or eat plain
Related: A Meal Planning Guide
Sample Meal Plan
- Sunday
- Breakfast– cereal
- Lunch– ramen
- Dinner– simple stroganoff
- Monday
- Breakfast– scrambled eggs
- Lunch– tomato & mayo sandwich
- Dinner– spaghetti
- Tuesday
- Breakfast– cereal
- Lunch– ramen
- Dinner– rice & beans
- Wednesday
- Breakfast– scrambled eggs
- Lunch– Mac & cheese
- Dinner– mushroom risotto
- Thursday
- Breakfast– biscuits & gravy
- Lunch– egg salad
- Dinner– spaghetti
- Friday
- Breakfast– cereal
- Lunch– ramen
- Dinner– beans & rice
- Saturday
- Breakfast– leftovers
- Lunch– leftovers
- Dinner– leftovers
Tips
- If you have a favorite fruit or vegetable, get that, or replace something you don’t like with your favorite fruit or vegetable
- Turn leftovers into sandwiches
- Make sure to serve some fruit and veggies with meals
- Try shopping at Aldi or the dollar store for cheaper costs
