This meal plan is designed to feed at least a family of 4 for parents with little to no time for cooking and prep work. I designed it so that my own toddlers at ages 2.5 and 1 would eat it. My children have a tough time eating foods requiring spoons, so all of these recipes are great to use your hands for! They also don’t particularly like sandwiches, so I haven’t included any sandwiches in this. If your kids like sandwiches, you can definitely change up this meal plan to include some of their favorites. This is just a starting point for planning meals. If you don’t have toddlers and are looking for a cheap meal plan, check out my post on two weeks of cheap meals for $50. If you need help with budgeting, check out my post on how to create a budget.
These prices are for the second most expensive state for groceries. The only state that beats my state’s prices for groceries is Hawaii. If you don’t live in Hawaii your prices may be cheaper than mine. All prices are from Walmart. There shouldn’t be a need for any seasonings and most toddlers don’t really like seasonings anyways.
Related: How To Go Out To Eat With Toddlers
Ingredients
- Chicken nuggets– $9.12 (70 oz great value. If you want more veggies get chicken nuggets that have cauliflower and carrots added in)
- Spaghetti x2- $1.64 (1 lb great value)
- Spaghetti sauce x2– $2.56 (24 oz traditional great value )
- Hot dogs $1.18 (12 oz bar s)
- Alfredo– $1.50 (16 oz great value)
- Ground meat– $3.18 (1 lb beef)
- Egg noodles x2- $2.86 (16 oz great value)
- Bagels– $1.58 (20 oz great value)
- Cheese– $5.34 (32 oz shredded great value)
- Ramen– $1.92 (8 packs chicken)
- Crackers– $1.06 (thin wheat great value)
- Lunch meat– $2.68 (9 oz Turkey)
- Tortillas– $1.98 (great value 10 count)
- Mac & cheese x3- $1.02 (great value)
- Butter– $.98 (16 oz imperial)
- Milk– $1.97 (½ gallon great value)
- Eggs– $2.78 (18 count great value)
- Yogurt– $1.92 (32 oz great value)
- Bread– $.88 (20 oz great value)
- Peanut butter– $4.48 (64 oz great value)
- Peas– $2.22 (32 oz frozen great value)
- Corn– $2.22 (32 oz frozen great value)
- Grapes– $4.36 (2 lbs red seedless)
- Strawberries– $4.74 (2 lbs)
- Bananas– $1.86 (6)
- Apples– $4.27 (3 lb gala)
Total: $70.30
Breakfast
Scrambled eggs-fry up some eggs serve with toast if you want, or eat just eggs
Yogurt– top with some chopped apples, or banana. If you happen to have oats, sprinkle some on top. My kids have a squeasy pouch they use to eat yogurt
Toast– toast some bread and add peanut butter and or banana on top
Apple & pb– slice an apple and spread some peanut butter on top
Lunch
Ramen– cook some ramen, add some toppings as you and your kids like. Check out this post for ideas
Crackers, cheese, lunch meat– kinda like a lunchable, or a charcuterie board, serve with some vegetables or fruit
Quesadillas– heat up some quesadillas on the stove and fill with cheese. Serve with a side of veggies
Mac & cheese– cook a box up on the stove top. Check out this post on how to mix up mac & cheese
Dinner
Chicken nuggets- heat up some nuggets and serve with some veggies, coat them in a sauce if you want
Spaghetti– cook noodles and top with sauce. Cut up chicken nuggets and add them in for a tasty complete meal
Hot dogs– dice them up in mac & cheese, serve inside a piece of bread cold or with cheese and cook like a grilled cheese. You can also chop up a hot dog and eat it inside of scrambled eggs
Simple Stroganoff- cook some ground beef, noodles and top with alfredo, or cook the alfredo with the ground beef to give it more flavor
Ziti– cook some noodles and top with spaghetti sauce, cheese, and peas
Pizza– cut your bagels in half and top with sauce, cheese and other toppings you might have on hand. Bake in the oven at 400 for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Check out this post if you want to make them in an air fryer
Leftover- eat whatever you have left in whatever combination you can think of. Get creative!
Sides & Snacks
Peas- try adding some butter or tomato sauce for a tasty side
Corn- try baking some in the oven at 400 for 20-30 minutes
Grapes- try freezing them for a tasty treat
Strawberries- try making a smoothie with frozen strawberries, bananas, and milk
Bananas- try a smoothie with just bananas and milk
Apples- eat them with peanut butter, sauteed in butter, or just plain
Sample Meal Plan
- Sunday
- Breakfast– yogurt
- Lunch– ramen
- Dinner– chicken nuggets
- Monday
- Breakfast– scrambled eggs
- Lunch– crackers, cheese, lunch meat\
- Dinner– spaghetti
- Tuesday
- Breakfast– toast
- Lunch– ramen
- Dinner– hot dogs
- Wednesday
- Breakfast– scrambled eggs
- Lunch– Mac & cheese
- Dinner– stroganoff
- Thursday
- Breakfast– apples & pb
- Lunch– quesadillas & peas
- Dinner– spaghetti
- Friday
- Breakfast– toast
- Lunch– crackers, cheese, lunch meat
- Dinner– pizza
- Saturday
- Breakfast– leftovers
- Lunch– leftovers
- Dinner– leftovers
Tips
- If your kids have a favorite fruit or vegetable, get that for them, or replace something they don’t like with their favorite fruit or vegetable
- See if your toddlers want to help with preparing the meals
- If your toddler doesn’t like a food listed, try having a food they do like more frequently
- Turn leftovers into sandwiches for adults
- Make sure to serve some fruit with meals
- If you have the time, buy a block of cheese and shred it to save a little bit of money
- Change up this meal plan to include sandwiches if your family loves them
