Food City Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: Since you're shopping at Food City for four, this week sticks to mild, familiar flavors kids tend to like: pork chops with cinnamon apples on Monday, mini meatloaf muffins on Tuesday, crispy flounder strips on Wednesday, sheet-pan sausage on Thursday, and a hamburger noodle skillet on Friday. The 3 lb package of Ground Round at $20.97 is split across Tuesday and Friday, so one purchase covers two dinners. Honeycrisp Apples ($3.98 for 2 lbs) show up on Monday and Thursday, and the Specialty Potatoes (2 packages for $6.00) cover Tuesday and Thursday. The Half Loaf Italian Bread at $2.00 does double duty as the crumbs for Tuesday's meatloaf muffins and Wednesday's flounder strips.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Cinnamon Honeycrisp Apples and Buttered Rice
Description: Center cut pork chops are browned in a skillet and finished in a few minutes, then served with sweet, soft cinnamon apples. Buttered rice on the side keeps the flavors mild and familiar for kids.
Sale items used: Boneless Pork Chops, Center Cut; Honeycrisp Apples
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs Boneless Pork Chops, Center Cut (about 4 chops, 0.5 lb per person) and 1 lb Honeycrisp Apples (about 2 to 3 apples, sliced). Cook 1.5 cups dry rice from the pantry.
Recipes:
- Pan-Seared Pork Chops and Fried Cinnamon Apples
- Pork Chops with Apples
- Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops

Tuesday
Meal: Mini Meatloaf Muffins with Mashed Specialty Potatoes
Description: Ground Round, diced sweet onion, and bread crumbs are pressed into a muffin tin and baked, so each kid gets their own little meatloaf with a ketchup topping. They are served with creamy mashed Specialty Potatoes.
Sale items used: Ground Round (3 lbs or more), 85% Lean; Sweet Onions; Half Loaf Italian Bread; Specialty Potatoes, 24 Oz
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs Ground Round (half of the 3 lb package), 0.5 lb Sweet Onions, about 3 slices from the Half Loaf Italian Bread (torn into crumbs), and 1 package Specialty Potatoes, 24 Oz (peeled and mashed with butter and milk from the pantry). Bake the muffins at 375 F for about 25 minutes.
Recipes:
- Mini Meatloaf Muffins
- Easy Meatloaf Recipe | Mini Meatloaves With Mashed Potatoes
- Meatloaf Muffins - melissassouthernstylekitchen.com

Wednesday
Meal: Crispy Baked Flounder Strips with Roasted Butternut Squash
Description: Fresh Flounder Fillets are cut into finger-sized strips, coated in Italian bread crumbs, and baked until crisp. Butternut squash cubes roast alongside until sweet and tender.
Sale items used: Fresh Flounder Fillets; Half Loaf Italian Bread; Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs Fresh Flounder Fillets, the remaining Half Loaf Italian Bread (toasted and crumbed with salt, garlic powder, and egg from the pantry), and 2 lbs Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash (choose butternut, peeled and cubed). Bake both at 425 F for about 20 minutes.

Thursday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Sausage with Roasted Specialty Potatoes and Honeycrisp Apples
Description: Smithfield sausage, halved Specialty Potatoes, and apple wedges roast together on one pan for easy cleanup. The apples turn sweet and soft, which balances the savory sausage.
Sale items used: Smithfield Sausage Links or Patties; Specialty Potatoes, 24 Oz; Honeycrisp Apples
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 packages Smithfield Sausage Links or Patties (your choice of links or patties), 1 package Specialty Potatoes, 24 Oz (halved), and 1 lb Honeycrisp Apples (cut in wedges). Toss the potatoes in oil, salt, and pepper first and roast at 425 F for about 35 minutes.
Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Sausage with Roasted Onion, Potatoes, and Apples Recipe
- Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage with Apples
- Sheet Pan Potato, Apple, and Sausage

Friday
Meal: Hamburger Noodle Skillet with Sweet Onions
Description: Ground Round and diced sweet onion are browned in one big skillet, then simmered with a ketchup-based sauce and tender pasta. It is a cozy one-pot dinner that kids tend to finish.
Sale items used: Ground Round (3 lbs or more), 85% Lean; Sweet Onions
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs Ground Round (the other half of the 3 lb package) and 0.5 lb Sweet Onions. Add 12 oz elbow pasta, ketchup, and water or broth from the pantry.
Recipes:
- Amish Hamburger Noodle Casserole
- Onion Noodle Burger Skillet
- Skillet Beef & Onion Hamburger Noodles Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Boneless Pork Chops, Center Cut (2 lbs): $7.98
- Ground Round (3 lbs or more), 85% Lean (3 lbs): $20.97
- Fresh Flounder Fillets (1.5 lbs): $14.99
- Smithfield Sausage Links or Patties (x2 packages): $5.98
- Honeycrisp Apples (2 lbs): $3.98
- Sweet Onions (1 lb): $1.29
- Butternut, Spaghetti or Acorn Squash (2 lbs): $1.98
- Specialty Potatoes, 24 Oz (x2 packages, 2 for $6.00): $6.00
- Half Loaf Italian Bread (x1): $2.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Long-grain rice
- Elbow pasta (12 oz)
- Ketchup
- Eggs
- Butter
- Milk
- Cooking oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Ground cinnamon
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder