Food City Standard Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Whole Boneless Pork Loin (Food City Fresh): $1.29/lb - 2 lbs feeds 4, roughly $2.58 total - about $0.65/person
- Mixed Pork Chops, Food City Fresh, Bone-In, Family Pack: $1.49/lb - 2.5 lbs feeds 4 (bone-in), roughly $3.73 total - about $0.93/person
- Fresh Split Chicken Breast, Sanderson Farms, Family Pack: $1.99/lb - 2.5 lbs feeds 4, roughly $4.98 total - about $1.25/person
- Ground Round, Food City Fresh, 85% Lean, 3 lbs or more: $6.99/lb - 1.5 lbs feeds 4, roughly $10.49 total (minimum 3 lb purchase required) - about $2.62/person
- Smithfield Marinated Pork Picnic Shoulder Roast, Selected Varieties: $7.99 each flat price - feeds 4 generously, roughly $7.99 total - about $2.00/person
- Cooked Shrimp, Farm Raised, Previously Frozen, 41/50 ct: $7.99/lb - 1.5 lbs feeds 4, roughly $11.99 total - about $3.00/person
- Round Tip Roast, Certified Angus Beef: $7.99/lb - 2 lbs feeds 4, roughly $15.98 total - about $4.00/person
- Salmon Fillets, Fresh: $9.99/lb - 2 lbs feeds 4, roughly $19.98 total - about $5.00/person
- New York Strip Steak, Certified Angus Beef, Family Pack: $14.99/lb - 2 lbs feeds 4, roughly $29.98 total - about $7.50/person
- Prime New York Strip Steak, Certified Angus Beef: $22.99/lb - 2 lbs feeds 4, roughly $45.98 total - about $11.50/person

Why these meals: The pork loin at $1.29/lb is the standout deal of the week - at under $3 to feed four people it is genuinely one of the best values you will find anywhere this summer, and it anchors Monday's dinner with room to spare. Bone-in pork chops at $1.49/lb and Sanderson Farms split chicken breasts at $1.99/lb are similarly exceptional, giving you two more hearty, satisfying dinners for well under $5 in protein each. The Smithfield Marinated Pork Picnic Shoulder Roast at a flat $7.99 is a terrific deal for a full roast that feeds four, and it rounds out the economical nights with a completely different flavor profile - note that it needs a longer oven time, so plan to start it early or get it in by mid-afternoon. For the one premium night, salmon at $9.99/lb is the most accessible of the premium proteins on this flyer and delivers a restaurant-quality dinner for about $5 per person in protein cost, making it a far smarter pick than the strip steaks or shrimp. The New York strips, Prime strip, Round Tip Roast, and shrimp were all deliberately skipped because even at sale prices they would push the weekly total well above the comfortable range for a family of four. The Ground Round was also set aside because the 3 lb minimum purchase would leave a lot of meat unused and inflate the total unnecessarily.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Pan-Seared Boneless Pork Loin Slices with Roasted Specialty Potatoes and Fresh Corn
Description: Thick slices of Whole Boneless Pork Loin are seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika, and black pepper, then seared in a hot skillet until golden and cooked through, resting briefly before serving. Specialty Potatoes are halved and roasted alongside while fresh corn is boiled and buttered for a complete, colorful plate.
Sale items used: Whole Boneless Pork Loin (Food City Fresh), Specialty Potatoes, Selected Varieties, Basket & Bushel, 24 oz, Fresh Corn, 4 pk
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Purchase 2 lbs of Whole Boneless Pork Loin (slice into 8 pieces, 2 per person); 1 bag (24 oz) Specialty Potatoes halved and roasted at 425F for 25 minutes; 1 pack of Fresh Corn (4 ears, one per person). Remember to download the digital coupon before checkout to get the $1.29/lb pork price.

Tuesday
Meal: Baked Bone-In Pork Chops with Classico Marinara Dipping Sauce and American Salad
Description: Mixed Pork Chops are seasoned with Italian herbs, salt, and pepper, then baked at 400F until cooked through with a lightly browned crust, served with warm Classico Pasta Sauce on the side for dipping. A Fresh Express American or Italian Salad rounds out the meal with crisp greens and a simple drizzle of olive oil and vinegar from the pantry.
Sale items used: Mixed Pork Chops, Food City Fresh, Bone-In, Family Pack, Classico Pasta Sauce, Selected Varieties, 15-24 oz, American or Italian Salad, Fresh Express, 9-11 oz
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Purchase 2.5 lbs of Mixed Pork Chops (roughly 4 chops); 1 jar (15-24 oz) Classico Pasta Sauce warmed in a small saucepan; 1 bag Fresh Express American or Italian Salad. The 2/$6.00 deal on Classico means you pay $3.00 per jar - buy just one jar this week.

Wednesday
Meal: Oven-Baked Split Chicken Breasts with Russet Potato Wedges and Food Club Vegetables
Description: Sanderson Farms Fresh Split Chicken Breasts are rubbed with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, then baked at 400F until the skin is crisp and the meat is juicy, about 40 to 45 minutes. Russet potato wedges are seasoned and baked on the same sheet pan during the final 30 minutes, and a can of Food Club Vegetables is heated on the stovetop as a quick, colorful side.
Sale items used: Fresh Split Chicken Breast, Sanderson Farms, Family Pack, Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 10 lb, Food Club Vegetables, Selected Varieties, 14.5-15.25 oz
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: Purchase 2.5 lbs of Fresh Split Chicken Breast (4 pieces); cut 4 medium russet potatoes into wedges from the 10 lb bag (the rest of the bag keeps well for the week); 1 can Food Club Vegetables. Total bake time is about 45 minutes - get the chicken in the oven first, then add potato wedges at the 15-minute mark.

Thursday
Meal: Roasted Smithfield Marinated Pork Picnic Shoulder with Russet Potatoes and That's Smart! Vegetables
Description: The Smithfield Marinated Pork Picnic Shoulder Roast goes into a covered roasting pan at 325F, slow-roasting in its own seasoned marinade until tender and deeply flavored throughout, then sliced and served with pan juices. Russet potatoes are cut into chunks and added to the roasting pan during the final 90 minutes, and a can of That's Smart! Vegetables is warmed on the stovetop to complete the plate.
Sale items used: Smithfield Marinated Pork Picnic Shoulder Roast, Selected Varieties, Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 10 lb, That's Smart! Vegetables, Selected Varieties, 14.5-15.25 oz
Prep time: 20 minutes active prep, approximately 3 to 4 hours total roasting time
Serving note: 1 Smithfield Marinated Pork Picnic Shoulder Roast (feeds 4 with leftovers); cut 4 medium russet potatoes into chunks from the 10 lb bag; 1 can That's Smart! Vegetables. Make-ahead note: start the roast by early afternoon - plan for at least 3.5 hours in the oven at 325F before dinner. The long hands-off cook time means minimal evening effort.

Friday
Meal: Pan-Seared Fresh Salmon Fillets with Blueberry Peach Salsa and Goldminer Bread
Description: Fresh Salmon Fillets are patted dry, seasoned with salt, pepper, and a pinch of garlic, then seared skin-side down in a hot skillet with a little oil until the skin is crisp, flipped, and finished to a flaky medium, about 8 to 10 minutes total. A quick fresh salsa of diced Southern Peaches and Basket & Bushel Blueberries with a squeeze of lemon and fresh herbs from the pantry tops each fillet, and slices of Goldminer Bread are served alongside to soak up the juices.
Sale items used: Salmon Fillets, Fresh, Southern Peaches, Basket & Bushel Blueberries, Pint, Apple or Mixed Berry Braided Strudel, 4 ct, or Selected Varieties Goldminer Bread, 15-24 oz
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Purchase 2 lbs of Salmon Fillets (4 fillets at approximately 0.5 lb each); 1 lb Southern Peaches (about 2 medium peaches, diced); 1 pint Basket & Bushel Blueberries; 1 loaf Goldminer Bread. This is the premium night of the week - salmon at $9.99/lb delivers a restaurant-quality dinner at a fraction of dining-out cost.
Recipes:
- Seared Salmon with Corn & Blueberry Salsa

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Whole Boneless Pork Loin (Food City Fresh) (2 lbs): $2.58
- Mixed Pork Chops, Food City Fresh, Bone-In, Family Pack (2.5 lbs): $3.73
- Fresh Split Chicken Breast, Sanderson Farms, Family Pack (2.5 lbs): $4.98
- Smithfield Marinated Pork Picnic Shoulder Roast, Selected Varieties (x1): $7.99
- Salmon Fillets, Fresh (2 lbs): $19.98
- Specialty Potatoes, Selected Varieties, Basket & Bushel, 24 oz (x1): $2.99
- Fresh Corn, 4 pk (x1): $3.99
- Classico Pasta Sauce, Selected Varieties, 15-24 oz (x1): $3.00
- American or Italian Salad, Fresh Express, 9-11 oz (x1): $2.99
- Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 10 lb (x1): $4.99
- Food Club Vegetables, Selected Varieties, 14.5-15.25 oz (x1): $0.89
- That's Smart! Vegetables, Selected Varieties, 14.5-15.25 oz (x1): $0.89
- Southern Peaches (1 lb): $1.69
- Basket & Bushel Blueberries, Pint (x1): $1.99
- Apple or Mixed Berry Braided Strudel, 4 ct, or Selected Varieties Goldminer Bread, 15-24 oz (x1): $3.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or neutral cooking oil
- Garlic (fresh or powder)
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Italian seasoning or dried herbs (oregano, basil, thyme)
- Salt and black pepper
- Butter (for corn and bread)
- Lemon (for salmon salsa)
- Fresh herbs such as mint or basil (for blueberry peach salsa, optional)
- White or red wine vinegar (for salad dressing)