Meijer Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Chicken thighs at $1.49/lb are the standout deal of the week and anchor two dinners without repeating the same format - one night as a simple pan-cooked meal over creamer potatoes and another built into a cheesy pasta bake. Boneless pork loin chops at $3.99/lb (final price) give you a third economical night with a different protein entirely. The Smithfield Pork Loin Filet at a flat $6.99 covers a fourth night with a lean, oven-finished cut that kids love sliced thin. The Schweid & Sons Certified Angus Beef Patties at $11.49 for four patties earn the one premium night - smash-style beef burgers on Aunt Millie's buns are a Friday crowd-pleaser and still cost less per serving than any steak or salmon option on this flyer. The strip steak and salmon were both skipped because even on sale they would have pushed the per-person total well above the comfortable range for a family week.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Cooked Chicken Thighs with Creamer Potatoes and Bell Peppers
Description: Bone-in chicken thighs are seasoned and cooked in a skillet until the skin is golden and the meat is cooked through, then served alongside halved creamer potatoes and sliced bell peppers sauteed in the same pan. Everything comes together in one skillet, making cleanup easy and the flavors simple enough for even the pickiest eaters at the table.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs All natural, The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes 1.5 lb. bag, Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of chicken thighs (about 4 to 5 thighs) for 4 people. Use 1 bag (1.5 lbs) of The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes, halved. Use 3 bell peppers from the buy-7-or-more deal. The BOGO deal on creamer potatoes means you pay for one bag and get one free - buy 2 bags total and save the second bag for Thursday night.

Tuesday
Meal: Baked Pork Loin Chops with Buttered Egg Noodle Pasta and Vidalia Onion
Description: Boneless pork loin chops are seasoned and baked in the oven until juicy and cooked through, served with egg noodle-style pasta tossed in butter and a handful of sweet Vidalia onion cooked soft. Kids love the mild sweetness of the onion and the familiar comfort of buttered noodles alongside a tender chop.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Chops Boneless, Frederik's by Meijer Gourmet Pasta 12-16 oz., Bulk Vidalia Onions
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of boneless pork loin chops (4 chops, roughly 6 oz. each) for 4 people at $3.99/lb, totaling $5.99. Use 1 package of Frederik's by Meijer Gourmet Pasta. Use approximately 0.5 lb of Bulk Vidalia Onions at $1.29/lb.

Wednesday
Meal: Cheesy Chicken Tenderloin and Pasta Bake
Description: Boneless chicken tenderloins are cut into bite-sized pieces, tossed with cooked pasta, Kraft shredded cheese, and a can of Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup thinned with a splash of broth, then baked until bubbly and golden on top. This is the kind of cheesy, saucy casserole that kids ask for again and again, and it comes together with pantry staples that are all on sale this week.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Boneless Chicken Tenderloins All natural, Creamette Pasta 12-16 oz., Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz., Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup 10.5-10.75 oz., Swanson Broth 14.5 oz.
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of boneless chicken tenderloins for 4 people. Use 1 box of Creamette Pasta. Use 2 packages of Kraft Shredded Cheese at 2 for $5 (both packages used across the week - one here, one reserved for Friday burgers). Use 1 can of Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup and 1 can of Swanson Broth, both from the buy-7-or-more deal at $1 each - plan to buy 7 total pantry items from that deal to unlock the price.

Thursday
Meal: Oven-Roasted Smithfield Pork Loin Filet with Creamer Potatoes and Bolthouse Carrot Sides
Description: The Smithfield Pork Loin Filet is seasoned simply and roasted in the oven until cooked through, then sliced into medallions and served with the reserved creamer potatoes (roasted alongside) and Bolthouse Carrot Sides steamed or microwaved according to package directions. The mild, slightly sweet pork pairs perfectly with the tender little potatoes and carrots, making this a plate kids will clean without complaint.
Sale items used: Smithfield Pork Loin Filet or Tenderloin 19.2-27.2 oz., The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes 1.5 lb. bag (free bag from Monday's BOGO), Bolthouse Carrot Sides 10-14 oz.
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: One package of Smithfield Pork Loin Filet (19.2-27.2 oz.) feeds 4 people at $6.99 flat. Use the free second bag of The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes saved from Monday's BOGO deal - no additional cost. Use 1 package of Bolthouse Carrot Sides at $2.49. Make-ahead note: the pork filet can be seasoned and refrigerated up to 24 hours ahead to save time on a busy Thursday evening.

Friday
Meal: Smashed Beef Burger Patties on Aunt Millie's Buns with Kraft Shredded Cheese
Description: Schweid & Sons Certified Angus Beef Patties are cooked in a hot skillet, pressed flat for a crispy seared crust, and served on Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns with Kraft shredded cheese melted on top and kid-friendly toppings like ketchup on the side. Friday burger night is a guaranteed hit with kids, and the Certified Angus Beef patties give you restaurant-quality flavor at home for a fraction of the cost.
Sale items used: Schweid & Sons Certified Angus Beef Patties 4 ct./21.2 oz. pkg., Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns 6-8 ct./14-15 oz., Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz., Heinz Tomato Ketchup 38 oz.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: One package of Schweid & Sons Certified Angus Beef Patties contains 4 patties, exactly one per person. Use 1 package of Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns (the 2 for $5 deal requires buying 2 packages - use the second package for lunches or sandwiches during the week). Use the second package of Kraft Shredded Cheese reserved from Wednesday. Use 1 bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup at $3.99.
Recipes:
- Smash Burger Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs All natural (2 lbs): $2.98
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Chops Boneless (1.5 lbs at $3.99/lb final price): $5.99
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Boneless Chicken Tenderloins All natural (1.5 lbs): $5.99
- Smithfield Pork Loin Filet or Tenderloin 19.2-27.2 oz. (x1 package): $6.99
- Schweid & Sons Certified Angus Beef Patties 4 ct./21.2 oz. pkg. (x1 package): $11.49
- The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes 1.5 lb. bag (x2 bags, BOGO - pay for 1, get 1 free): $0.00 - note: BOGO base price not listed in flyer; item cannot be priced. Substituting with Russet Potatoes 5 lb. bag at $1 when you buy 7 or more instead.
- Russet Potatoes 5 lb. bag (x1 bag, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper (x3 peppers, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $3.00
- Bulk Vidalia Onions (0.5 lb at $1.29/lb): $0.65
- Bolthouse Carrot Sides 10-14 oz. (x1 package): $2.49
- Frederik's by Meijer Gourmet Pasta 12-16 oz. (x1 package): $2.99
- Creamette Pasta 12-16 oz. (x1, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz. (x2 packages, 2 for $5): $5.00
- Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup 10.5-10.75 oz. (x1, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Swanson Broth 14.5 oz. (x1, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns 6-8 ct./14-15 oz. (x2 packages, 2 for $5): $5.00
- Heinz Tomato Ketchup 38 oz. (x1): $3.99

Note on buy-7-or-more items: To unlock the $1 price on Bell Peppers, Russet Potatoes, Creamette Pasta, Campbell's Soup, and Swanson Broth, you need to buy at least 7 qualifying items from that promotion. The 3 bell peppers + 1 potato bag + 1 pasta + 1 soup + 1 broth = 7 items, which qualifies.

Pantry staples needed:
- Cooking oil (vegetable or canola)
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Butter
- Italian seasoning or dried herbs for pasta bake