ALDI Dairy-Free Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Perdue Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Family Pack: $0.89
- Ahi Tuna Steaks: $8.99
- Morton's of Omaha Beef Tenderloin: $2.99
- Fresh Pork: $3.99
- Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins: $3.99
- MSC Certified Sockeye: $13.99
- Fremont Fish Tilapia Fillets: $8.85
- Fremont Tilapia: $3.99
- Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp 16 oz. Frozen: $9.99 (price listed as flat per 16 oz. bag)
- Seasoned Chicken: $1.15 each

Vegetables on sale:
- Driscoll's Strawberries: $1.89
- Washington Red Apples: $2.79
- Peaches: $1.69
- Baby Bella Mushrooms: $1.29 per 8-oz. pkg.
- Mushrooms: $1.69 per 16-oz. pkg.
- Cucumbers: $2.99 per 11.15-12 oz. pkg.
- Organic Peaches: $3.99 each
- Season's Steamable Medley: $1.79 each
- Coleslaw: $3.99

Note on items excluded from meal plan:
- Morton's of Omaha Beef Tenderloin: price listed as $2.99 with no unit (no "/lb" or "each" stated) - price not listed in usable unit
- MSC Certified Sockeye: $13.99 with no unit stated - price not listed in usable unit
- Fremont Fish Tilapia Fillets: $8.85 with no unit stated - price not listed in usable unit
- Ahi Tuna Steaks: $8.99 with no unit stated - price not listed in usable unit
- Fresh Pork: $3.99 with no unit stated - price not listed in usable unit
- Seasoned Chicken: $1.15 each (dairy status of seasoning unknown; excluded for dietary safety)
- Happy Farms American Cheese Slices: dairy - excluded
- Macaroni Salad: commonly contains dairy - excluded
- Pueblo Fajita: prepared item, dairy status unknown - excluded
- Little Soup Chopped Assorted: prepared item, dairy status unknown - excluded
- Fresh Park Street Deli: prepared item, dairy status unknown - excluded
- Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken: $2.89, dairy status and exact product unclear - excluded
- Earthly Grains: $0.99, product name incomplete - price not listed in usable unit
- Earthly Grains: $3.29, product name incomplete - price not listed in usable unit
- Spicy or Limeade: beverage, not a meal component - excluded
- L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: commonly contains dairy - excluded

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Perdue Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Family Pack: $0.89/lb - roughly 2 lbs for 4 people = $1.78 total, about $0.45 per serving
- Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins: $3.99 flat per pack - roughly $1.00 per serving (4 servings per pack)
- Fremont Tilapia: $3.99 flat per pack - roughly $1.00 per serving (4 servings per pack)
- Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp 16 oz. Frozen: $9.99 flat per 16 oz. bag - roughly $2.50 per serving

Why these meals: The chicken drumsticks at $0.89/lb are the standout deal of the week, giving you a hearty, satisfying dinner for under $2 total on protein alone. Chicken tenderloins and tilapia both come in at $3.99 a pack and each feeds four people comfortably, making them excellent everyday anchors. The shrimp at $9.99 for a 16 oz. bag is the priciest protein per serving this week, so it earns the one premium night - and at $2.50 per person it is still a reasonable splurge compared to what shrimp costs at full price. The flyer is unusually light on proteins with clear pricing units, so the week leans on these four well-priced options plus the steamable vegetable medley and mushrooms to round out plates without padding the total. Skipping the sockeye, ahi tuna, and tilapia fillets (all missing usable price units) keeps the math honest and the week well within range.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Steamable Vegetable Medley
Description: Chicken drumsticks are seasoned with garlic, paprika, and olive oil, then baked in the oven at 425 degrees until the skin is golden and the meat is cooked through, about 40 minutes. A bag of Season's Steamable Medley is microwaved and served alongside for a fast, complete plate.
Sale items used: Perdue Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Family Pack, Season's Steamable Medley
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 40 minutes bake time
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of drumsticks (roughly 6-8 pieces) for 4 people at $0.89/lb = $1.78; use 1 bag of Season's Steamable Medley at $1.79. Total bake-to-table time is about 50 minutes, well within one hour.
Recipes:
- Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks - Bites of Wellness
- Baked Chicken Drumsticks - Slender Kitchen

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Seared Tilapia with Sauteed Baby Bella Mushrooms
Description: Fremont Tilapia fillets are patted dry, seasoned with lemon pepper and garlic, and pan-seared in olive oil over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes per side until golden and flaky. Baby Bella Mushrooms are sliced and sauteed in the same pan with garlic and fresh herbs, served alongside the fish.
Sale items used: Fremont Tilapia, Baby Bella Mushrooms
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack of Fremont Tilapia ($3.99) for 4 servings; use 1 package (8 oz.) of Baby Bella Mushrooms ($1.29) sliced and divided among 4 plates.
Recipes:
- Pan-Seared Tilapia - Low Carb Africa
- Lemon Tilapia with Spinach and Mushrooms - Angela's Kitchen
- Tilapia with Lemony Spinach and Mushrooms - Once A Month Meals

Wednesday
Meal: Stir-Fried Chicken Tenderloins with Mushrooms and Steamable Medley
Description: Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins are sliced into strips and stir-fried in a hot skillet with sliced mushrooms, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until cooked through and lightly browned. The Season's Steamable Medley is microwaved and folded in at the end to add color and bulk to the dish.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins, Mushrooms (16 oz. pkg.), Season's Steamable Medley
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack of Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins ($3.99) for 4 servings; use 1 pack of Mushrooms 16 oz. ($1.69); use 1 bag of Season's Steamable Medley ($1.79).

Thursday
Meal: Garlic Shrimp with Cucumber and Coleslaw Salad
Description: Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp are thawed, then sauteed in olive oil with minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and a squeeze of lemon until pink and just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Sliced cucumbers and coleslaw mix are tossed with a simple dairy-free vinaigrette of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper and served alongside the shrimp.
Sale items used: Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp 16 oz. Frozen, Cucumbers, Coleslaw
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 30 minutes to thaw shrimp in cold water)
Serving note: Use 1 bag (16 oz.) of Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp ($9.99) for 4 servings; use 1 pack of Cucumbers ($2.99) sliced thin; use 1 container of Coleslaw ($3.99) dressed with pantry vinaigrette - specify no dairy dressing. Thaw shrimp in cold water 30 minutes before cooking.
Recipes:
- Cucumber Shrimp Salad - Downshiftology
- Shrimp Salad - Simply Whisked

Friday
Meal: Oven-Baked Chicken Tenderloins with Peach Salsa and Cucumber Slices
Description: Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins are coated in olive oil, cumin, and garlic powder, then baked at 400 degrees for 20-22 minutes until cooked through. A quick fresh peach salsa is made by dicing Peaches with cucumber, a pinch of salt, and fresh herbs, spooned over the tenderloins at the table.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins, Peaches, Cucumbers
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 22 minutes bake time
Serving note: Use 1 pack of Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins ($3.99) for 4 servings; use 2 Peaches ($1.69 for the pack - use half the pack) and half the Cucumbers pack from Thursday's leftovers (already purchased at $2.99 Thursday). Note: Cucumbers pack is shared across Thursday and Friday; only one pack purchased total.
Recipes:
- Baked Peach Salsa Chicken Tacos Recipe - Fresh Water Peaches
- Dairy-Free Salsa Chicken Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Perdue Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Family Pack (2 lbs): $1.78
- Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins (x2 packs): $7.98
- Fremont Tilapia (x1 pack): $3.99
- Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp 16 oz. Frozen (x1 bag): $9.99
- Baby Bella Mushrooms, 8-oz. pkg. (x1): $1.29
- Mushrooms, 16-oz. pkg. (x1): $1.69
- Season's Steamable Medley (x2 bags): $3.58
- Cucumbers (x1 pack): $2.99
- Coleslaw (x1 container): $3.99
- Peaches (x1 pack): $1.69

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Garlic (fresh or minced)
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Red pepper flakes
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Soy sauce (check label for dairy-free)
- Fresh ginger
- Apple cider vinegar
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh herbs (parsley or cilantro)
- Lemon (for juice)