ALDI Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Here's why this week should work for your family: Monday's baked Italian sausage cavatappi with Seasonal Harvest pasta sauce and Wednesday's turkey meatballs with garlic bread are mild, bite-size dinners that kids tend to clear their plates of, and they can help roll the meatballs. Tuesday's chicken thigh rice bowls with black beans, zucchini and mini avocados are hearty without being spicy, and Thursday's beef shawarma naan wraps with guacamole are fun to eat by hand. The 2 lb SnapDragon apple tote at $1.98 covers the apple slices on both Monday and Thursday, and the peaches and blackberries add easy fruit to the other nights. Friday's fried rice and potstickers take only about 20 minutes, so the week ends on an easy night.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Italian Sausage Cavatappi with Seasonal Harvest Pasta Sauce
Description: Browned Mild Italian Links are sliced into bite-size coins and tossed with Reggano Cavatappi and Specially Selected Seasonal Harvest Style Pasta Sauce. Topped with Emporium Selection Shredded Parmesan Cheese Cup and served with sliced SnapDragon apples.
Sale items used: Mild Italian Links, Reggano Cavatappi, Specially Selected Seasonal Harvest Style Pasta Sauce, Emporium Selection Shredded Parmesan Cheese Cup, Pennsylvania SnapDragon Apple Tote
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack Mild Italian Links, 1 box Reggano Cavatappi, 1 jar pasta sauce, 1 Parmesan cup, 1 lb apples (shared with Thursday, 2 lbs total for the week).
Recipes:
- Baked Cavatappi with Sausage
- Cheesy Baked Cavatappi
- Baked Cavatappi with Italian sausage

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Chicken Thigh Rice Bowls with Black Beans and Zucchini
Description: Boneless chicken thighs are cut into pieces and pan-seared until golden, then served over Earthly Grains Instant White Rice with warmed Pueblo Lindo Black Beans and sauteed zucchini. Mild and hearty, with mini avocados on the side for dipping.
Sale items used: Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs, Earthly Grains Instant White Rice, Pueblo Lindo Black Beans, Organic Zucchini, Bagged Mini Avocados
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, 1 pouch rice, 1 can black beans, 1 lb zucchini, 1 pack mini avocados (6).
Recipes:
- Skillet Chicken With Black Beans
- Chicken with Black Beans and Rice
- Skillet Chicken with Black Beans, Rice and Chiles

Wednesday
Meal: Turkey Meatballs with Garlic Bread
Description: Kirkwood Fresh 93% Lean Turkey is rolled into small meatballs and baked until cooked through, then served with L'oven Fresh Garlic or Parmesan Romano Bread (garlic version) and sliced peaches. Kids can help roll the meatballs.
Sale items used: Kirkwood Fresh 93% Lean Turkey, L'oven Fresh Garlic or Parmesan Romano Bread, California Peaches
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1 pack turkey, 1 loaf garlic bread, 1 lb peaches. Bind meatballs with pantry breadcrumbs and egg.
Recipes:
- Easy Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Baked Turkey Meatballs - No Breadcrumbs, Low Calorie
- Garlic Parmesan Turkey Meatballs

Thursday
Meal: Beef Shawarma Naan Wraps with Guacamole
Description: Seasoned beef bites are pan-seared and tucked into warmed Specially Selected Original or Garlic Naan (original version) with Park Street Deli Assorted Fresh Guacamole. Served with SnapDragon apple slices.
Sale items used: Fresh USDA Choice Seasoned Beef Bites for Shawarma, Specially Selected Original or Garlic Naan, Park Street Deli Assorted Fresh Guacamole, Pennsylvania SnapDragon Apple Tote
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs beef bites, 1 naan pack, 1 guacamole, 1 lb apples (the second pound of the 2 lbs for the week).
Recipes:
- Shawarma-Inspired Beef Wraps
- Beef Shawarma Wrap
- Beef Shawarma Wraps

Friday
Meal: Fried Rice and Potsticker Night
Description: Fusia Asian Inspirations Chicken Fried Rice is heated in a skillet and served with pan-heated Fusia Asian Inspirations Potstickers. Finish with fresh blackberries for dessert.
Sale items used: Fusia Asian Inspirations Chicken Fried Rice or Lo Mein, Fusia Asian Inspirations Potstickers, Blackberries
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 Chicken Fried Rice (fried rice version), 1 Potstickers, 2 packs blackberries (12 oz).
Recipes:
- Fried Rice and Frozen Potsticker Dinner
- Potstickers with Teriyaki Fried Rice
- Potsticker Crispy Fried Rice

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Mild Italian Links (x1): $2.95
- Reggano Cavatappi (x1): $1.29
- Specially Selected Seasonal Harvest Style Pasta Sauce (x1): $3.99
- Emporium Selection Shredded Parmesan Cheese Cup (x1): $2.79
- Pennsylvania SnapDragon Apple Tote (2 lbs): $1.98
- Fresh Antibiotic Free Family Pack Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $4.98
- Earthly Grains Instant White Rice (x1): $2.95
- Pueblo Lindo Black Beans (x1): $2.69
- Organic Zucchini (1 lb): $2.39
- Bagged Mini Avocados (x1): $2.89
- Kirkwood Fresh 93% Lean Turkey (x1): $4.89
- L'oven Fresh Garlic or Parmesan Romano Bread (x1): $3.49
- California Peaches (1 lb): $1.49
- Fresh USDA Choice Seasoned Beef Bites for Shawarma (1.5 lbs): $11.24
- Specially Selected Original or Garlic Naan (x1): $4.99
- Park Street Deli Assorted Fresh Guacamole (x1): $2.99
- Fusia Asian Inspirations Chicken Fried Rice or Lo Mein (x1): $5.99
- Fusia Asian Inspirations Potstickers (x1): $3.99
- Blackberries (x2): $3.58

Pantry staples needed:
- Cooking oil, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, egg