ALDI Kid-Friendly 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
- 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
- Coleslaw: $3.99
- Season's Steamable Medley: $1.79 each

Other food items on sale:
- Happy Farms American Cheese Slices: $3.95
- L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: $2.45
- Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken: $2.89 for 5.8-10 oz.
- Earthly Grains: $0.99 (price not listed for specific product)
- Earthly Grains: $3.29 (price not listed for specific product)
- Little Soup Chopped Assorted: $6.99
- Pueblo Fajita: $1.85
- Macaroni Salad: $3.99
- Fresh Park Street Deli: $2.29 (price not listed for specific product)
- Spicy or Limeade: $3.59 for Four 12-oz.

Items with incomplete pricing information (excluded from meal plan):
- Earthly Grains: $0.99 - price not listed (no product name)
- Earthly Grains: $3.29 - price not listed (no product name)
- Fresh Park Street Deli: $2.29 - price not listed (no product name)
- MSC Certified Sockeye: $13.99 - price not listed (no unit, lb, or pack size stated)
- Ahi Tuna Steaks: $8.99 - price not listed (no unit, lb, or pack size stated)
- Fremont Fish Tilapia Fillets: $8.85 - price not listed (no unit, lb, or pack size stated)
- Morton's of Omaha Beef Tenderloin: $2.99 - price not listed (no unit, lb, or pack size stated)
- Fresh Pork: $3.99 - price not listed (no unit, lb, or pack size stated)

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Perdue Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Family Pack: $0.89/lb - approximately 2 lbs for 4 people = $1.78 total, about $0.45 per serving
- Seasoned Chicken: $1.15 each - 4 pieces for 4 people = $4.60 total, about $1.15 per serving
- Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins: $3.99 (flat pack price) - 1 pack for 4 people = $3.99 total, about $1.00 per serving
- Fremont Tilapia: $3.99 (flat pack price) - 1 pack for 4 people = $3.99 total, about $1.00 per serving
- Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp 16 oz. Frozen: $9.99 (flat 16 oz. pack price) - 1 pack for 4 people = $9.99 total, about $2.50 per serving

Note on ranking order: Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins and Fremont Tilapia both come in at $3.99 flat pack and are treated as equal per-serving cost. Shrimp at $9.99 for a single 16 oz. pack is the clear premium item this week among proteins with usable pricing units.

Why these meals: The drumsticks at $0.89/lb are the standout deal of the week and anchor one of the most fun, hands-on dinners kids love. The Seasoned Chicken at $1.15 each and the Kirkwood Chicken Tenderloins at $3.99 a pack give you two more easy, familiar chicken nights that kids will eat without complaint, and together they keep those nights well under $5 in protein. The Fremont Tilapia at $3.99 flat is a genuinely economical fish option that rounds out the week with a mild, kid-approved flavor. The Argentine Red Shrimp at $9.99 for a 16 oz. frozen bag is the priciest protein with a clear pricing unit on this flyer, so it earns the one premium night, and even then it is a reasonable splurge since the bag covers all four servings. The Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken box, Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, and the Steamable Medley stretch each dinner further without pushing the total past a comfortable range for a family of four.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Perdue Chicken Drumsticks with Steamable Veggie Medley
Description: Juicy chicken drumsticks are seasoned with pantry spices and baked until golden and crispy, making them perfect finger food that kids love to grab and eat. A bag of Season's Steamable Medley cooks right in the microwave for a quick, colorful side that rounds out the plate.
Sale items used: Perdue Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Family Pack, Season's Steamable Medley
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 45 minutes bake time
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of drumsticks for 4 people (roughly 2 drumsticks per person). Cook 1 bag of Season's Steamable Medley per package directions. Total time is 60 minutes; pop the drumsticks in the oven first and prep everything else while they bake.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken Legs and Vegetables

Tuesday
Meal: Pan-Cooked Kirkwood Chicken Tenderloins on Hawaiian Sweet Roll Sliders with American Cheese
Description: Chicken tenderloins are cooked in a skillet until golden and juicy, then tucked into soft Hawaiian sweet rolls with a slice of melty American cheese for a kid-favorite slider dinner. The sweet, pillowy rolls make these feel like a treat, and kids can assemble their own for extra fun.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins, L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Happy Farms American Cheese Slices
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack of Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins for 4 people. Use 1 pack of L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (serve 2-3 rolls per person). Use 4 slices of Happy Farms American Cheese Slices (one per slider serving).

Wednesday
Meal: Seasoned Chicken with Coleslaw and Cucumber Slices
Description: Ready-to-cook Seasoned Chicken pieces are baked or pan-cooked until done through, served alongside creamy coleslaw and cool, crisp cucumber slices for a simple, familiar plate kids enjoy. The mild seasoning and crunchy sides make this an easy weeknight win with almost no prep.
Sale items used: Seasoned Chicken, Coleslaw, Cucumbers
Prep time: 10 minutes active, 30 minutes cook time
Serving note: Use 4 pieces of Seasoned Chicken (1 per person at $1.15 each). Serve 1 pack of Coleslaw family-style alongside. Use 1 pack of Cucumbers, sliced into rounds.
Recipes:
- Shredded BBQ Chicken & Coleslaw + Quick Pickles Cucumbers
- Cool Cucumber Slaw | Blue Jean Chef

Thursday
Meal: Skillet Fremont Tilapia with Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken
Description: Mild tilapia fillets are pan-seared in a skillet with a little butter and lemon until flaky and tender, paired with a box of Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken that cooks up fluffy and savory in just minutes. The mild fish and seasoned couscous is a combo even picky eaters tend to enjoy.
Sale items used: Fremont Tilapia, Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 pack of Fremont Tilapia for 4 people. Cook 1 box of Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken per package directions. Start the couscous first since it needs to rest, then sear the tilapia while it sits.
Recipes:
- Sweet and Spicy Tilapia over Couscous with Green Beans

Friday
Meal: Sauteed Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp with Baby Bella Mushrooms over Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Description: Frozen Argentine red shrimp are thawed and sauteed in a skillet with sliced Baby Bella mushrooms, garlic, and butter until the shrimp are pink and the mushrooms are tender, then spooned over split Hawaiian sweet rolls for a fun, slightly fancy Friday dinner kids will love. The sweet rolls soak up the buttery pan sauce and make every bite satisfying.
Sale items used: Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp 16 oz. Frozen, Baby Bella Mushrooms, L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 bag (16 oz.) of Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp, thawed. Use 1 package (8 oz.) of Baby Bella Mushrooms, sliced. Use the remaining Hawaiian Sweet Rolls from Tuesday's pack, or open a second pack if needed (plan calls for 1 additional pack). Thaw shrimp in cold water for 15 minutes before cooking.
Recipes:
- King's Hawaiian Shrimp Rolls
- Garlic Shrimp Hawaiian Rolls | Heinen's Grocery Store

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Perdue Fresh Chicken Drumsticks Family Pack (2 lbs): $1.78
- Season's Steamable Medley (x1): $1.79
- Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Tenderloins (x1 pack): $3.99
- L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (x2 packs): $4.90
- Happy Farms American Cheese Slices (x1 pack): $3.95
- Seasoned Chicken (x4): $4.60
- Coleslaw (x1): $3.99
- Cucumbers (x1 pack): $2.99
- Fremont Tilapia (x1 pack): $3.99
- Earthly Grains Couscous Chicken (x1): $2.89
- Fremont Argentine Red Shrimp 16 oz. Frozen (x1): $9.99
- Baby Bella Mushrooms (x1 pkg, 8 oz.): $1.29

Pantry staples needed:
- Butter
- Garlic (minced or fresh)
- Salt and pepper
- Paprika or garlic powder (for drumsticks)
- Cooking oil or nonstick spray
- Lemon juice (for tilapia)