ALDI Vegetarian 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

Vegetarian Planning Note: All meat and seafood sale items are non-vegetarian and will not be used this week. Protein for all 5 nights will come from vegetarian sale items and pantry staples - specifically eggs, beans, cheese, peanut butter, hummus, and nuts, which are excellent everyday budget proteins that fit the dietary requirement perfectly.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Sweet Corn and Cheddar Frittata with Hummus Toast
Description: A hearty oven-baked frittata loaded with roasted mini sweet corn kernels and melted Happy Farms cheddar makes a satisfying and protein-rich vegetarian dinner. Served alongside toasted bread slathered with Simply Hummus, this meal is comforting, quick, and full of flavor.
Sale items used: Bagged Mini Sweet Corn ($2.39 for 4-pack), Happy Farms Cheddar ($3.79), Simply Hummus ($2.59)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use all 4 mini ears of corn (kernels cut off), 8 large eggs total (from pantry), and about 1.5 cups shredded cheddar divided across the frittata for 4 people. Each person gets a generous wedge plus 2 slices of toasted bread with hummus.
Recipes:
- Spinach, Cheddar, and Corn Frittata
- Summer Vegetable Frittata with Sweet Corn
- Tomato and Corn Frittata (Vegetarian!)

Tuesday
Meal: Peanut Noodles with Shredded Vegetables and Granola Crunch Topping
Description: A bold and creamy peanut sauce made from Simply Nature Creamy Peanut Butter is tossed with cooked noodles and a colorful mix of shredded pantry vegetables for a satisfying Asian-inspired dinner. Topped with a small handful of Millville Granola for unexpected crunch and a drizzle of soy sauce and lime from pantry staples, this dish is filling and packed with plant protein.
Sale items used: Simply Nature Creamy Peanut Butter ($4.39 for 16 oz), Millville Granola Varieties ($2.69)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use approximately 3/4 cup peanut butter total for the sauce (stretched with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and water from pantry), 12 oz dried noodles from pantry, and about 2 tablespoons granola per person as a topping for 4 servings.
Recipes:
- Peanut Noodles with Extra Veggies
- Peanut Noodles Recipe
- 15 Minute Peanut Noodles

Wednesday
Meal: Black Bean and Cheddar Stuffed Sweet Corn Cakes
Description: Masa or cornmeal corn cakes (made pantry-style) are pan-fried golden and stuffed with seasoned canned black beans and melted Happy Farms cheddar for a deeply satisfying Mexican-inspired dinner. A cool side of Simply Hummus works as an unexpected but delicious creamy dipping sauce alongside fresh grape slices for balance.
Sale items used: Happy Farms Cheddar ($3.79), Simply Hummus ($2.59), Washington Whole Seedless Grapes ($2.79 per 6-pack, using 1 pack)
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Make 8 corn cakes total (2 per person) using cornmeal from pantry, fill each with about 2 tablespoons black beans (from pantry or canned) and 1 tablespoon shredded cheddar. Serve with a small bowl of hummus and a small cluster of grapes per person.
Recipes:
- Black Bean Cakes
- Southwestern Black Bean Cakes Recipe
- Spicy Corn Cakes with Black Bean Salsa

Thursday
Meal: Spiced Lentil and Peanut Stew with Granola Flatbread Topping
Description: A warming red lentil stew simmered with pantry spices (cumin, turmeric, garlic, onion, and tomato) gets a swirl of creamy peanut butter stirred in at the end for richness and added plant protein - a technique common in West African and South Asian cooking. Served in deep bowls over rice from pantry staples, this is one of the most filling and nutritious meals of the week.
Sale items used: Simply Nature Creamy Peanut Butter ($4.39, using remaining portion), Millville Granola Varieties ($2.69, using remainder as a crunchy garnish)
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 cups dry red lentils (from pantry) simmered in vegetable broth, stir in 1/4 cup peanut butter per batch, and serve over 2 cups dry rice cooked (from pantry) yielding about 1.5 cups cooked rice per person. Top each bowl with 1 tablespoon granola for crunch and texture.
Recipes:
- Vegan Lentil Flatbread
- Red Lentil Flatbreads
- Easy Lentil Flatbread

Friday
Meal: Sweet Corn Elote Bowls with Cheddar, Hummus Crema, and Mixed Nuts
Description: A festive end-of-week bowl featuring charred mini sweet corn (a second pack used this week), crumbled Happy Farms cheddar, and a creamy hummus-based sauce standing in for the traditional crema, all served over a base of seasoned rice or pantry beans. Topped with crushed Mixed Nuts with Blue Corn for crunch and extra protein, this bowl is vibrant, satisfying, and celebrates the best vegetarian sale items of the week.
Sale items used: Bagged Mini Sweet Corn (second 4-pack, $2.39), Happy Farms Cheddar (remaining portion, $3.79 already purchased), Simply Hummus (remaining portion, $2.59 already purchased), Mixed Nuts with Blue Corn or Multigrain ($5.29)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Char 4 mini ears of corn on a grill pan or under broiler, slice kernels off for each bowl. Each of 4 bowls gets 1 corn portion, a drizzle of hummus thinned with lime juice and garlic, a generous handful of shredded cheddar, and about 2 tablespoons of crushed mixed nuts on top.
Recipes:
- Copycat Sweetgreen Corn Elote Bowl Recipe
- Elote Bowl (Esquites)
- Easy Elote Bowl

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Bagged Mini Sweet Corn x2 (two 4-packs for Monday and Friday): $4.78
- Happy Farms Cheddar x2 (two blocks to cover Monday, Wednesday, and Friday generously): $7.58
- Simply Hummus x2 (two containers for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday): $5.18
- Simply Nature Creamy Peanut Butter x1 (16 oz, covers Tuesday and Thursday): $4.39
- Millville Granola Varieties x1 (covers Tuesday and Thursday topping): $2.69
- Washington Whole Seedless Grapes x1 (one 6-pack for Wednesday side): $2.79
- Mixed Nuts with Blue Corn or Multigrain x1 (for Friday bowl topping): $5.29

Pantry staples needed:
- Eggs (1 dozen, for Monday frittata)
- Dried red lentils (for Thursday stew)
- Canned black beans (for Wednesday corn cakes)
- Long grain white rice (for Thursday and Friday bowls)
- Dried noodles or spaghetti (for Tuesday peanut noodles)
- Cornmeal or masa harina (for Wednesday corn cakes)
- Vegetable broth (for Thursday stew)
- Soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice (for Tuesday and Friday)
- Garlic, onion, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, smoked paprika
- Olive oil or neutral cooking oil
- Salt and pepper
- Crusty bread or sandwich bread (for Monday hummus toast)