family for an average of $5 except on special
occasions. We don’t have to eat beans and rice to
accomplish this goal! I shop the grocery sales each
week. Then I plan my menu based on the foods I have already at home (at a great price). I balance more expensive meals with less expensive ones. We typically only cook a main dish 4 or 5 times a week. Each
main dish cooked will serve 4-6, and the
leftovers will be for easy dinners on the weekend, or to freeze
for another week. This cuts down on cleaning,
cooking, and meal planning– saving us lots of time!
1 lb. ground turkey @ 1.67
taco seasoning @ free
tomato @ .60
tortilla chips @ .25
cheese and rotel for dip @ 1.31
lettuce @ .11
1 can corn @ .54
2 sliced apples @ .80
Total Cost $5.28
Grilled Chicken, Pineapple, Sweet Peas, Cinnamon Sugar Toast, Roasted Potatoes
1 lb. chicken breasts @ 1.66
misc. seasonings for chicken
1 can pineapple @ .83
1 can sweet peas @ .45
3 slices of bread for toast @ .12
butter, cinnamon and sugar for toast
2 potatoes @ .40
butter and garlic salt for potatoes
Total Cost: $3.47
Spaghetti, Cheese Toast, Green Beans, Corn
4 servings spaghetti @ .50
1/2 jar sauce @ .34
4 ears of corn @ .60
1 can green beans @ .25
4 pieces of bread @ .16
4 slices of block mozzarella @ .24
garlic salt
Total Cost = $2.09
Chicken Nachos, Peaches, Green Beans, Pineapple
1 lb. pulled chicken @ 1.29
1/2 lb. shredded cheddar and mozzarella @ 1.25
2 peaches @ .80
1 can green beans @ .25
1 can pineapple @ .93
chips @ .99
1/2 can rotel @ .44
Total Cost: $5.95
Onion/Bacon/Chicken (suggested by reader Amanda), oranges, chips and cheese dip, salad
1 lb. chicken @ 1.29
1/4 lb. bacon @ .67
1 small onion @ .20
2 oranges @ .78
chips @ .50
velveeta @ 1.00
1/2 can rotel @ .44
1/4 head lettuce @ .25
croutons @ .20
dressing @ .10
Total Cost: $5.43
Little Caesar’s Pizza, Apples
1 pizza @ 5
2 apples @ .80
total cost $5.80
Average cost of the meals we’re cooking this week: $4.67.
This post is part of Menu Plan Monday over at OrgJunkie.