I set out on a challenge: feed a family of four (adults!) breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a whole week for under $200. That's just $50 per person, or around $2.38 per meal!
I kept it simple with easy recipes, minimal fuss, and a focus on whole foods (with a few sneaky processed treats thrown in).
This shopping list covers all ingredients, with the exception of spices. If you already have staples like maple syrup or mayonnaise, you can significantly reduce your costs.
Here's the Game Plan:
- Simple Menu: No fancy cooking required. Think scrambled eggs, grilled cheese, roast beef, stir-fries, and more!
- Smart Shopping: I scoured the grocery store for the best deals and focused on affordable cuts of meat and veggies.
- Leftover Love: Maximize your meals by using leftovers creatively.
Let's Get Cooking!
Day 1:
- Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs & Toast 🍳🍞
- Lunch: Grilled Cheese & Soup 🧀🍲
- Dinner: Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans 🥩🥔💚
Day 2:
- Breakfast: Pancakes with Syrup & Fruit 🥞🍓
- Lunch: Tuna Salad Sandwiches & Veggie Sticks 🥪🥕
- Dinner: Homemade Vegetable Soup with Crusty Bread 🍲🥖
- Dice carrots, celery and green beans.
- Sauté vegetables in a pot with a little margarine.
- Add canned corn, vegetable broth, seasonings and canned black beans.
- Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- I used 6 cups broth and seasoned with Taco Seasoning.
Day 3:
- Breakfast: Yogurt with Granola & Berries 🥣🍓
- Lunch: Leftover Soup & Side Salad 🥗
- Dinner: Baked Chicken with Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli 🍗🥔🥦
- Preheat oven to 375'.
- You will bake all 4lbs of chicken - the leftovers will be used in future meals.
- Toss chicken with melted margarine or oil, season to your liking.
- Arrange on a baking sheet with diced potatoes and broccoli.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until chicken is cooked through
Day 4:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal with Banana & Syrup 🥣🍌
- Lunch: Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps 🌯
- Dinner: Beef Stir-Fry over Rice 🍚
- Cook rice according to package directions.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet; drain excess fat.
- Add mixed vegetables, soy sauce and any desired spices to the skillet.
- Cook until vegetables are tender.
- Serve over rice.
Day 5:
- Breakfast: Cereal with Milk & Banana 🥣🍌
- Lunch: Chicken Salad Wraps 🌯
- Shred leftover chicken.
- Mix shredded chicken with mayonnaise.
- Spread mixture onto a tortilla, add lettuce, and roll up.
- Dinner: Pizza Night! 🍕
Day 6:
- Breakfast: Bagels with Cream Cheese & Fruit 🥯🍓
- Lunch: Egg Salad Sandwiches 🥪
- Dinner: BBQ Chicken Drumsticks with Coleslaw & Corn 🍗🌽
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brush chicken drumsticks with BBQ sauce and bake for 30-40 minutes.
- Prepare coleslaw by mixing shredded cabbage with mayonnaise.
- Boil corn on the cob until tender.
Day 7:
- Breakfast: French Toast & Berries 🍞🍓
- Lunch: Leftover BBQ Chicken Sandwiches 🥪
- Dinner: Spaghetti & Meatballs 🍝
- Preheat oven to 375'.
- Combine 1lb ground beef with 1 egg and desired seasonings.
- Arrange on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes until cooked through.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
- Heat marinara sauce in a saucepan.
- Add meatballs to the sauce.
- Toss cooked spaghetti with sauce
The Verdict:
I did it! I fed my family of four for a week for under $200.
Tips for Success:
- Plan your meals: This helps you create a shopping list and avoid impulse buys.
- Shop smart: Look for sales and consider store brands.
- Get creative with leftovers: Turn them into new meals!
- Don't be afraid to substitute: If something's out of stock, find a similar and affordable alternative.
Most importantly, have fun cooking and enjoy your delicious and budget-friendly meals!
Here's the Grocery List with Cost Breakdown:
Prices may vary by location. The prices listed are at the time I was shopping at Walmart so your costs may differ - hopefully even cheaper!.
- Bananas (6)$0.58/lb $1.00
- Berries (2 pints) $4.97 x 2 = $9.94
- Broccoli (1 head) $3.47
- Carrots (1 bag) 3lbs $3.47
- Celery (1 bunch) $2.97
- Romaine Lettuce (2 heads or 1 bag) Bag was cheaper $3.97
- Cucumber (1-2) $1.97 x2 = $3.97
- Green Beans (300g or 1 bag frozen) Frozen cheaper $2.57
- Potatoes (5 pounds) $4.97 (but 10lbs $5.97)
- Corn on the cob - 4s $4.97 but Frozen Corn was cheaper $2.57
- Coleslaw mix (1 bag, for slaw) $2.77
- Eggs (2 dozen) GV Large $3.93 x2 = $7.86
- Chicken (4 pounds - your choice in cuts) Breast $4.87/lb (2x$24 packs) = $19.48
- Chicken drumsticks (2 pounds) $3.36/lb = $6.72
- Lean ground beef (2 pounds) $7.48/lb = $14.86
- Canned tuna (2 cans) GV $0.97 x2 = $1.94
- Roast Beef (2 pounds) - AAA Sirloin Tip $8.99/lb = $17.98
- Frozen Pizza - GV Mega 4 Meat 1.07kg (the Ninja Turtle one) $10.47
- Cream cheese (1 small tub) GV 227g $2.97
- Milk (2 liters) Sealtest 2L $5.34 (but the 4L $6.08)
- Margarine / Butter (1 pound) GV Margarine 427g $2.88
- Cheese (for Grilled Sandwiches) GV Slices 12s $4.17
- Yogurt (large tub) Yoplait Source 630g $1.94
- Bread (2 loaves) $1.97 x2 = $3.94
- Bagels (1 package of 6) $1.97
- Crusty bread (1 loaf, for soup night) Sourdough $3.47
- Tortillas / wraps (1 package) 10s $3.77
- Pancake mix - Hungry Jack 907g $3.27
- Oatmeal (1 box or bag) GV 1kg $2.77
- Rice (white or brown, 1-2 pounds) GV 900g $3.97
- Spaghetti (1 pound) - Primo $0.97
- Marinara or pasta sauce (1 jar) Catelli 600ml $1.97
- Canned soup (2 cans) Campbell's Condensed (on sale!) $0.77 x2 = $1.54
- Vegetable broth (making 6L) - cubes were cheapest Knorr 8s $1.47
- Black beans (1 can) $1.47 (but are 4/$5 = $1.25ea)
- Corn (1 can) GV $1.27
- Maple syrup (1 small bottle) GV 750ml $2.97
- BBQ sauce (1 bottle) - Sweet Baby Rays 425ml $3.47
- Frozen Mixed Vegetables (1/2 bag, for stir-fry) $2.57
- Cereal - GV Crispy Rice 340g $2.67
- Granola (1 bag) - GV 560g $3.97
- Soy sauce (1 bottle) GV 450ml $1.97
- Mayonnaise (For Chicken, Egg & Tuna Sandwiches) GV 890ml $4.27
- Salad dressing (Caesar or vinaigrette) GV 475ml $2.77
My Total : $194.79
There's plenty of room to save even more!
- Swap the Roast: Opt for a pound of ground beef instead and make a delicious meatloaf. This would save $10.50.
- Skip the Bagels: Enjoy oatmeal or cereal twice instead. This would save you $4.94.
- Embrace Bananas: Substitute berries with more bananas. You could save about $8.94.
- Ground Beef Switch: Choosing the medium ground beef in tubes instead of lean ground beef would save you around $4.53.
With these simple changes, you could potentially save an additional $24.38, bringing your total cost down to $165.87.