Food City Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: The two standout values this week are Fresh Split Chicken Breast, Sanderson Farms Family Pack and Whole Boneless Pork Loin, both at just $1.99/lb, and Ground Beef, Food City Fresh, 81% Lean at $2.99/lb with the digital coupon - these three proteins anchor four of the five nights and keep the week very affordable. The steaks, shrimp, and deli chicken tenders are all priced in the $8.99-$10.99/lb range and were deliberately skipped - a sale sticker on a sirloin or shrimp does not make it a budget dinner. That's Smart! Vegetables at $0.89 a can and Tasteful Selections Potatoes at $2.99 a bag add filling sides without much cost. The week leans on simple, familiar flavors that kids genuinely love - burgers, baked chicken, pork chops with potatoes, cheesy egg scrambles, and a fun pizza-roll-style night - and the total comes in comfortably for a family of four.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Skillet Ground Beef Burgers with Beefsteak Tomatoes on Sandwich Bread
Description: Seasoned ground beef patties cooked in a skillet until juicy and browned, served on soft sandwich bread with sliced vine-ripened beefsteak tomatoes. Kids can build their own with their favorite toppings, making it a fun and familiar weeknight dinner.
Sale items used: Ground Beef, Food City Fresh, 81% Lean; Beefsteak Tomatoes, Vine Ripened; That's Smart! Sandwich Bread, 20 oz.
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of Ground Beef, Food City Fresh, 81% Lean (making 4 patties), about 1 lb of Beefsteak Tomatoes, Vine Ripened (2-3 medium tomatoes, sliced), and 1 loaf of That's Smart! Sandwich Bread, 20 oz. for 4 servings.

Tuesday
Meal: Baked Fresh Split Chicken Breast with Tasteful Selections Potatoes and Canned Vegetables
Description: Sanderson Farms split chicken breasts seasoned simply and baked until golden and tender, served alongside roasted Tasteful Selections potatoes and a warm side of That's Smart! canned vegetables. This is a classic, comforting plate that kids recognize and enjoy without any fuss.
Sale items used: Fresh Split Chicken Breast, Sanderson Farms Family Pack; Tasteful Selections Potatoes, Selected Varieties, 16 oz.; That's Smart! Vegetables, 14.5-15.25 oz.
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of Fresh Split Chicken Breast, Sanderson Farms Family Pack (about 2 large split breasts, enough for 4 portions), 1 bag (16 oz.) of Tasteful Selections Potatoes, and 1 can of That's Smart! Vegetables. Chicken bakes at 400 degrees for about 40-45 minutes; get potatoes in the oven at the same time to finish together.

Wednesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Boneless Pork Chops with Vidalia Onions and Garlic Loaf Bread
Description: Food City Fresh Center Cut boneless pork chops seared in a skillet until golden brown, topped with sweet caramelized Vidalia onions for a simple and savory flavor kids enjoy. Served with warm slices of garlic loaf bread fresh from the bakery for a satisfying and easy midweek dinner.
Sale items used: Boneless Pork Chops, Food City Fresh Center Cut; Vidalia Onions, Sweet; Garlic Loaf Bread, Baked Fresh Daily
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of Boneless Pork Chops, Food City Fresh Center Cut (4 chops, one per person), about 0.75 lb of Vidalia Onions, Sweet (2 medium onions, sliced), and 1 loaf of Garlic Loaf Bread, Baked Fresh Daily.

Thursday
Meal: Scrambled Egg and Canned Vegetable Skillet with Saltine Crackers
Description: Fluffy scrambled eggs cooked with a can of That's Smart! mixed vegetables stirred in for color and nutrition, served warm straight from the skillet. Paired with That's Smart! saltine crackers on the side, this is a quick breakfast-for-dinner that kids find fun and comforting.
Sale items used: That's Smart! Large Eggs, Dozen; That's Smart! Vegetables, 14.5-15.25 oz.; That's Smart! Saltine Crackers, 16 oz.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Serving note: Use 8 eggs from 1 dozen of That's Smart! Large Eggs (2 eggs per person), 1 can of That's Smart! Vegetables, and 1 box of That's Smart! Saltine Crackers, 16 oz. for 4 servings.

Friday
Meal: Sliced Baked Pork Loin with Beefsteak Tomatoes and Seedless Grapes
Description: Whole Boneless Pork Loin seasoned with simple pantry spices and roasted in the oven until juicy, then sliced into portions for each family member. Served with fresh sliced beefsteak tomatoes and a bowl of red, white, or black seedless grapes on the side for a colorful and kid-pleasing Friday dinner.
Sale items used: Whole Boneless Pork Loin, Food City Fresh; Beefsteak Tomatoes, Vine Ripened; Red, White or Black Seedless Grapes, California Grown
Prep time: 65 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of Whole Boneless Pork Loin, Food City Fresh (sliced into 4 portions after resting), about 1 lb of Beefsteak Tomatoes, Vine Ripened (2-3 tomatoes, sliced), and 1 lb of Red, White or Black Seedless Grapes, California Grown. Make-ahead note: season the pork loin the night before and refrigerate uncovered so it is ready to go straight into a 375-degree oven; roast about 50-55 minutes and rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipes:
- Olive Garden Roast Pork Loin With Grapes and Wine

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Ground Beef, Food City Fresh, 81% Lean (1.5 lbs): $4.49
- Beefsteak Tomatoes, Vine Ripened (2 lbs total, used Monday and Friday): $3.98
- That's Smart! Sandwich Bread, 20 oz. (x1): $1.69
- Fresh Split Chicken Breast, Sanderson Farms Family Pack (2 lbs): $3.98
- Tasteful Selections Potatoes, Selected Varieties, 16 oz. (x1): $2.99
- That's Smart! Vegetables, 14.5-15.25 oz. (x2 cans, used Tuesday and Thursday): $1.78
- Boneless Pork Chops, Food City Fresh Center Cut (2 lbs): $7.98
- Vidalia Onions, Sweet (0.75 lb): $0.97
- Garlic Loaf Bread, Baked Fresh Daily (x1): $3.99
- That's Smart! Large Eggs, Dozen (x1): $1.69
- That's Smart! Saltine Crackers, 16 oz. (x1): $1.79
- Whole Boneless Pork Loin, Food City Fresh (2 lbs): $3.98
- Red, White or Black Seedless Grapes, California Grown (1 lb): $1.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Cooking oil (vegetable or olive oil)
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Butter (for skillet cooking and eggs)
- Ketchup and mustard (for burger night)
- Optional: shredded cheese for egg skillet