Food City Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This is a vegetarian-friendly flyer that leans heavily on pantry staples, and the real stars this week are the deeply discounted canned beans at $0.89 a can and the That's Smart! Mac & Cheese at just $0.59 a box - those two items anchor four of the five nights and keep costs remarkably low. Luck's Beans show up twice across the week in completely different preparations (a smoky skillet and a hearty pasta), so you get variety without paying twice for a premium ingredient. Tillamook Sliced Cheese at $1.99 earns the one slightly elevated night as a loaded baked potato topper, which is still a very modest splurge compared to anything meat-based. The Classico Pasta Sauce 2-for-$6 deal and the $3.99 Fresh Corn 4-pack round out the week with fresh summer flavor, and the Russet Potatoes 10-lb bag at $4.99 does heavy lifting across multiple meals so nothing goes to waste. Skipping the frozen entrees and premium frozen items keeps the total well-shaped for a family of four.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Smoky Skillet Beans and Corn over Russet Potatoes
Description: Luck's Beans are simmered in a savory spiced tomato base alongside sweet fresh corn cut from the cob, then ladled over fluffy baked russet potatoes for a filling, protein-rich dinner. The combination of creamy beans, starchy potato, and bright corn makes this a complete and satisfying late-summer meal.
Sale items used: Luck's Beans (15 oz), Fresh Corn (4 pk), Russet Potatoes (Basket & Bushel, 10 lb)
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 cans of Luck's Beans, 4 ears of corn (the full 4-pk), and 4 medium russet potatoes from the 10-lb bag. Bake potatoes at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes; while they bake, simmer beans and corn in a skillet for about 15 minutes. The 10-lb bag will carry over for Thursday and Friday meals.

Tuesday
Meal: Cheesy Bean and Salad Sub Rolls with Tillamook Sliced Cheese
Description: Toasted bakery sub rolls are filled with seasoned Luck's Beans mashed lightly into a hearty spread, then layered with Tillamook Sliced Cheese and fresh greens from a Fresh Express salad kit used as a topping. This is a quick, satisfying handheld dinner that comes together in under 20 minutes.
Sale items used: Sub Rolls, Fresh Baked in the Bakery (4 ct), Luck's Beans (15 oz), Tillamook Sliced Cheese, American or Italian Salad, Fresh Express (9-11 oz)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 sub rolls (the full 4-ct pack), 2 cans of Luck's Beans, 1 pack of Tillamook Sliced Cheese, and 1 bag of Fresh Express salad (9-11 oz) used as a fresh topping inside the rolls. Each person gets one loaded sub roll.
Recipes:
- Veggie Subs with Seasoned Tofu
- Easy Spicy Bean Lunch Wrap

Wednesday
Meal: Classico Marinara Pasta with Sauteed Canned Vegetables
Description: A jar of Classico Pasta Sauce is simmered with Food Club canned vegetables and tossed with pasta for a classic Italian-style dinner that is hearty and deeply flavored. Served with That's Smart! Saltine Crackers on the side for a bit of crunch, this meal is weeknight-simple and budget-friendly.
Sale items used: Classico Pasta Sauce, Selected Varieties (15-24 oz), Food Club Vegetables, Selected Varieties (14.5-15.25 oz), That's Smart! Saltine Crackers (16 oz)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 jar of Classico Pasta Sauce and 2 cans of Food Club Vegetables. Serve over 12 oz of dried pasta from pantry. Pass the Saltine Crackers at the table as a side. The 2-for-$6 Classico deal means you buy 2 jars; the second jar is reserved for pantry use later.
Recipes:
- Garden Veggie Pasta

Thursday
Meal: Loaded Baked Russet Potatoes with Tillamook Sliced Cheese and Corn
Description: Large russet potatoes are baked until tender, then split and loaded with melted Tillamook Sliced Cheese and fresh corn kernels sauteed in butter for a simple, satisfying dinner. A side of Fresh Express salad rounds out the plate with crisp greens and makes this feel like a proper restaurant-style loaded potato night.
Sale items used: Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel (10 lb), Tillamook Sliced Cheese, Fresh Corn (4 pk), American or Italian Salad, Fresh Express (9-11 oz)
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 large russet potatoes from the 10-lb bag, 1 pack of Tillamook Sliced Cheese, 4 ears of corn (the full second 4-pk), and 1 bag of Fresh Express salad. Bake potatoes at 400 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes; saute corn kernels in a skillet for 5 minutes while potatoes finish. This is the slightly elevated night thanks to the Tillamook Cheese, though it remains very affordable overall.

Check the label: some baked beans are cooked with bacon or pork fat.

Recipes:
- Loaded Baked Potatoes Recipe with Creamy Corn & Baked Beans

Friday
Meal: That's Smart! Mac and Cheese Bake with Specialty Potatoes and Blueberries
Description: Four boxes of That's Smart! Macaroni & Cheese are prepared and combined into a single baking dish, then finished in the oven for a few minutes to create a creamy, golden-topped mac and cheese bake served alongside roasted Specialty Potatoes. Fresh blueberries served in a bowl make a bright, sweet finish to close out the week.
Sale items used: That's Smart! Macaroni & Cheese, Selected Varieties (6.25 oz), Specialty Potatoes, Basket & Bushel (24 oz), Basket & Bushel Blueberries, Pint
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 boxes of That's Smart! Macaroni & Cheese (one per person), 1 basket (24 oz) of Specialty Potatoes halved and roasted at 425 degrees F for 25 minutes alongside the mac bake, and 1 pint of Basket & Bushel Blueberries served fresh as dessert. Prepare mac per box directions, combine in a greased 9x13 dish, and bake 10 minutes until set.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Luck's Beans, 15 oz (x4 cans): $3.56
- Fresh Corn, 4 pk (x2 packs): $7.98
- Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 10 lb (x1 bag): $4.99
- Sub Rolls, Fresh Baked in the Bakery, 4 ct (x1 pack): $3.99
- Tillamook Sliced Cheese (x2 packs): $3.98
- American or Italian Salad, Fresh Express, 9-11 oz (x2 bags): $5.98
- Classico Pasta Sauce, Selected Varieties, 15-24 oz (x2 jars): $6.00
- Food Club Vegetables, Selected Varieties, 14.5-15.25 oz (x2 cans): $1.78
- That's Smart! Saltine Crackers, 16 oz (x1 box): $1.79
- Specialty Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 24 oz (x1 basket): $2.99
- Basket & Bushel Blueberries, Pint (x1 pint): $1.99
- That's Smart! Macaroni & Cheese, Selected Varieties, 6.25 oz (x4 boxes): $2.36

Pantry staples needed:
- Dried pasta (12 oz, for Wednesday)
- Olive oil or butter (for sauteing corn and roasting potatoes)
- Garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper (for Monday bean skillet)
- Milk and butter (for That's Smart! Mac & Cheese preparation)