ALDI Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

SALE ITEMS FOUND

Meats on sale:
- Wavy Ground Beef: $4.99 each
- Marc Angelo Fresh Teriyaki or Carne Asada Beef Skewers: $3.39
- Fresh Organic Chicken Breast: $4.99/lb
- Black Angus Petite Sirloin Steaks: $8.99
- Black Angus Fresh Top Sirloin Steak: $9.99
- Grass-Fed Strip Steak: $11.99
- Grass-Fed Ribeye Steaks: $12.99
- Fresh Salmon Side: $8.29

Vegetables on sale:
- Bagged Mini Sweet Corn: $2.39 for 4-pack
- Cotton Candy Grapes: $4.49 per 2-lb pkg
- Washington Whole Seedless Grapes: $2.79 per 6-pack

Protein ranking before planning (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
1. Wavy Ground Beef - $4.99 flat per package, very economical
2. Marc Angelo Beef Skewers - $3.39 each, likely 2 packs needed, still low cost
3. Fresh Organic Chicken Breast - $4.99/lb, about 2 lbs for 4 people = ~$10, moderate
4. Fresh Salmon Side - $8.29 flat per side, borderline premium but one of the cheaper seafood options
5. Black Angus Petite Sirloin Steaks - $8.99 each, need multiple for 4 people
6. Black Angus Top Sirloin Steak - $9.99 each
7. Grass-Fed Strip Steak - $11.99 each
8. Grass-Fed Ribeye - $12.99 each

Budget decision: Ground beef, chicken breast, and beef skewers land in the economical half. Salmon and all steak cuts are premium. Salmon is the single least expensive premium item on this list, so it earns the one premium night. All steak cuts are excluded entirely.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Bowls
Description: Seasoned ground beef is browned and served over rice with melted cheddar cheese, turning taco night into a scoop-and-eat bowl kids love. This is a build-your-own style meal so kids can customize what goes in their bowl, which makes it extra fun at the table.
Sale items used: Wavy Ground Beef ($4.99), Happy Farms Cheddar ($3.79), Bagged Mini Sweet Corn ($2.39 for 4-pack)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1 package ground beef divided into 4 equal portions, 1 cup shredded cheddar from the block, 4 ears of mini sweet corn (one per person) served on the side
Recipes:
- Easy Ground Beef Taco Bowls
- Ground Beef Taco Bowl
- Ground Beef Taco Bowls

Tuesday
Meal: Oven-Baked Teriyaki Beef Skewers with Corn
Description: The pre-marinated teriyaki beef skewers go straight onto a sheet pan in the oven for an easy hands-off dinner that kids go wild for. Roasted mini sweet corn rounds out the plate for a sweet and savory meal with zero complicated prep.
Sale items used: Marc Angelo Fresh Teriyaki Beef Skewers (x2 packs at $3.39 each), Bagged Mini Sweet Corn ($2.39 for 4-pack)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 packs of skewers split evenly among 4 people, roughly 2 skewers per person depending on pack count, plus 1 ear of mini corn per person
Recipes:
- Sesame Teriyaki Beef Skewers
- Teriyaki Beef Skewers
- Easy Teriyaki Beef Skewers

Wednesday
Meal: Baked Chicken Breast with Cheddar and Corn
Description: Juicy organic chicken breasts are seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder, then topped with melted cheddar in the last few minutes of baking for a cheesy finish kids will ask for again. Mini sweet corn is served alongside and doubles as a fun finger food for younger kids.
Sale items used: Fresh Organic Chicken Breast ($4.99/lb, 2 lbs), Happy Farms Cheddar ($3.79), Bagged Mini Sweet Corn ($2.39 for 4-pack)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs of chicken breast cut into 4 portions of roughly 0.5 lb each, a few slices of cheddar melted on top of each portion, 1 ear of mini corn per person
Recipes:
- Cheddar Baked Chicken
- Kid-Friendly Cheddar Crusted Baked Chicken Strips
- Cheesy Chicken and Corn Casserole

Thursday
Meal: Ground Beef Cheeseburger Sliders
Description: Simple homemade beef patties are shaped small so kids can hold them easily, topped with melted cheddar, and served on soft dinner rolls from the pantry. This is classic backyard burger flavor made fast on a weeknight skillet or grill pan.
Sale items used: Wavy Ground Beef ($4.99), Happy Farms Cheddar ($3.79)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 package ground beef formed into 8 small slider patties (2 per person), cheddar sliced thin and melted over each patty, served on pantry dinner rolls or buns
Recipes:
- Easy Cheeseburger Sliders
- Cheeseburger Sliders
- Cheeseburger Sliders Recipe

Friday
Meal: Sheet Pan Salmon with Roasted Sweet Corn
Description: A fresh salmon side is portioned into four fillets, brushed with a little butter and a mild honey glaze, and roasted on a sheet pan alongside mini sweet corn for an easy one-pan Friday dinner. The mild sweet flavor of the honey-butter glaze keeps it totally kid-friendly and the flaky texture is a great introduction to fish for younger eaters.
Sale items used: Fresh Salmon Side ($8.29), Bagged Mini Sweet Corn ($2.39 for 4-pack)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: One salmon side portioned into 4 equal fillets of roughly 0.5 lb each, 1 ear of mini corn per person, roasted together on one sheet pan at 400 degrees F for 18 to 20 minutes
Recipes:
- Roasted Salmon with Corn and Tomatoes
- Glazed Salmon: with corn, tomatoes, & basil
- Mediterranean Sheet Pan Salmon with Zucchini, Corn, and Tomatoes

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Wavy Ground Beef (x2 packages for Monday and Thursday): $9.98
- Marc Angelo Fresh Teriyaki Beef Skewers (x2 packs for Tuesday): $6.78
- Fresh Organic Chicken Breast (2 lbs for Wednesday at $4.99/lb): $9.98
- Fresh Salmon Side (1 side for Friday): $8.29
- Happy Farms Cheddar (x2 blocks for Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday): $7.58
- Bagged Mini Sweet Corn (x2 four-packs to cover Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday - 16 ears total for 4 nights x 4 people): $4.78
- Simply Nature Organic Chocolate Chip Cookies (x1 for a fun Friday dessert treat): $3.79

Pantry staples needed:
- White rice (for Monday taco bowls)
- Taco seasoning packet
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Butter
- Honey (for salmon glaze)
- Dinner rolls or slider buns (for Thursday burgers)
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Ketchup and mustard (for burgers)