Food City Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: The backbone of this week is built around the $0.79 pantry-priced canned goods (Old El Paso tomatoes, corn, seasoning mix), the $3.99 bag of russet potatoes, and the $0.79/lb sweet potatoes, which together give you four filling, varied dinners at very low cost per serving. Eggs and beans from your pantry anchor the protein on the most economical nights, and the Food Club Sliced Cheese at $1.79 a pack adds richness to two of those meals without adding much cost. Impossible Foods earns the one premium spot this week at an effective $4.99 for the 14 oz. package (part of the Buy 5 Save $5 deal), making it the best-value premium plant-based protein on the flyer and a genuinely fun Friday treat. The Birds Eye Vegetables at $0.49 per bag (also part of the Buy 5 Save $5 deal) are a standout find and stretch the vegetable variety across the week beautifully. Skipping the frozen pizzas, enchiladas, and other packaged entrees keeps the total honest and the meals fresher.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Russet Potato Bar with Sour Cream, Sliced Cheese, and Steamed Broccoli
Description: Fluffy baked russet potatoes are loaded at the table with cool Food Club Sour Cream, melted Food Club Sliced Cheese, and tender steamed Birds Eye broccoli for a hearty, hands-on dinner. Each person builds their own loaded potato, making this a crowd-pleasing, zero-fuss weeknight meal.
Sale items used: Basket & Bushel Russet Potatoes (10 lb.), Food Club Sour Cream (16 oz.), Food Club Sliced Cheese (Selected Varieties, 6.84-8 oz.), Birds Eye Vegetables (Frozen, Selected Varieties, 10-12 oz.)
Prep time: 55 minutes (mostly oven time, 10 minutes active)
Serving note: Use 4 large russet potatoes (roughly 2 lbs.) from the 10 lb. bag. One 16 oz. container of Food Club Sour Cream, one pack of Food Club Sliced Cheese, and one 10-12 oz. bag of Birds Eye broccoli serves 4. Bake potatoes at 400 degrees for 45-50 minutes; steam vegetables in the last 10 minutes.
Recipes:
- Baked Potatoes with Broccoli Cheese Sauce

Tuesday
Meal: Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Tomatoes on the Vine and Salsa
Description: Cubed sweet potatoes are pan-roasted with Old El Paso Seasoning Mix until caramelized, then piled into Old El Paso Taco Shells with seasoned black beans, diced fresh tomatoes, and La Mexicana Salsa. The combination of smoky-sweet filling and crunchy shells makes a satisfying, colorful taco night that is completely different from a typical ground-meat version.
Sale items used: Sweet Potatoes (North Carolina Grown), Old El Paso Seasoning Mix (1-1.5 oz.), Old El Paso Taco Shells (4.6-7.4 oz.), Old El Paso Tomatoes (14.5-15.35 oz.), La Mexicana Salsa or Queso (14-16 oz.), Tomatoes on the Vine (Virginia Grown)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Purchase 2 lbs. of sweet potatoes at $0.79/lb ($1.58 total). Buy 2 packs of Old El Paso Taco Shells at the 2/$3.00 deal (8 shells per pack, 4 shells per person). Use one can of Old El Paso Tomatoes, one packet of Old El Paso Seasoning Mix, and one jar of La Mexicana Salsa. Dice 0.5 lb. of Tomatoes on the Vine ($0.85) for fresh topping. Black beans from pantry.

Wednesday
Meal: Cottage Cheese and Corn Frittata with Baby Cut Carrots
Description: Eggs are whisked with Breakstone's Cottage Cheese and stirred together with sweet Food Club Corn, diced Vidalia Onion, and a handful of Food Club Sliced Cheese, then cooked in a skillet until set into a thick, golden frittata. Served alongside crisp Baby Cut Carrots, this is a protein-rich, skillet-cooked dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Sale items used: Breakstone's Cottage Cheese (24 oz.), Food Club Corn (14.5-15.35 oz.), Vidalia Onions (Bland Farms), Food Club Sliced Cheese (Selected Varieties, 6.84-8 oz.), Baby Cut Carrots (Bolthouse, 1 lb.)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: One 24 oz. container of Breakstone's Cottage Cheese (effective price $2.99 with Buy 5 Save $5 deal - buy 5 to unlock savings), one can of Food Club Corn ($0.79), 0.5 lb. of Vidalia Onion ($0.50), one pack of Food Club Sliced Cheese, and one 1 lb. bag of Baby Cut Carrots serves 4. Use 6 eggs from pantry. Note: the Buy 5 Save $5 deal requires purchasing 5 qualifying items; pair with 4 Birds Eye Vegetables bags used this week to complete the deal.

Thursday
Meal: Smoky Tomato and Onion Shakshuka with Crusty Sub Rolls
Description: Vidalia Onions and Old El Paso Tomatoes are simmered together with Old El Paso Seasoning Mix into a rich, spiced tomato sauce, then eggs are cracked directly into the pan and cooked until the whites are just set and the yolks are still runny. Served straight from the skillet with warm Sub Rolls for scooping, this North African-inspired egg dish is deeply savory and completely different in flavor and format from the frittata earlier in the week.
Sale items used: Vidalia Onions (Bland Farms), Old El Paso Tomatoes (14.5-15.35 oz.), Old El Paso Seasoning Mix (1-1.5 oz.), Sub Rolls (Baked In-Store, 4 ct.)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 0.75 lb. of Vidalia Onions ($0.74), two cans of Old El Paso Tomatoes ($1.58), and one packet of Old El Paso Seasoning Mix ($0.79). One 4 ct. pack of Sub Rolls ($3.99) gives each person one roll. Use 8 eggs from pantry (2 per person). Add olive oil, garlic, cumin, and paprika from pantry.
Recipes:
- Best Shakshuka Recipe

Friday
Meal: Pan-Seared Impossible Foods Patties with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Steamed Birds Eye Vegetables
Description: Impossible Foods patties are seared in a hot skillet until deeply browned on both sides, then served alongside oven-roasted sweet potato wedges seasoned with pantry spices and a side of steamed Birds Eye vegetables. This is a satisfying, restaurant-quality plant-based dinner that rounds out the week on a high note without any complicated technique.
Sale items used: Impossible Foods (Frozen, Selected Varieties, 14 oz.), Sweet Potatoes (North Carolina Grown), Birds Eye Vegetables (Frozen, Selected Varieties, 10-12 oz.)
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: One 14 oz. package of Impossible Foods (effective $4.99 with Buy 5 Save $5 deal) contains enough for 4 servings. Roast 1.5 lbs. of sweet potatoes ($1.19) cut into wedges at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes while searing the patties. Use one 10-12 oz. bag of Birds Eye Vegetables steamed per package directions. Season sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and smoked paprika from pantry.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Basket & Bushel Russet Potatoes (10 lb.) x1: $3.99
- Food Club Sour Cream (16 oz.) x1 (with digital coupon): $1.49
- Food Club Sliced Cheese (6.84-8 oz.) x2 (with digital coupon): $3.58
- Birds Eye Vegetables (Frozen, 10-12 oz.) x4 (Buy 5, Save $5 - see note): $1.96
- Sweet Potatoes (North Carolina Grown) - 3.5 lbs. total across Tuesday and Friday: $2.77
- Old El Paso Seasoning Mix (1-1.5 oz.) x3: $2.37
- Old El Paso Taco Shells (4.6-7.4 oz.) - 2 packs at 2/$3.00: $3.00
- Old El Paso Tomatoes (14.5-15.35 oz.) x3: $2.37
- La Mexicana Salsa or Queso (14-16 oz.) x1: $2.49
- Tomatoes on the Vine (Virginia Grown) - 0.5 lb.: $0.85
- Vidalia Onions (Bland Farms) - 1.25 lbs. total: $1.24
- Baby Cut Carrots (Bolthouse, 1 lb.) x1: $1.69
- Breakstone's Cottage Cheese (24 oz.) x1 (Buy 5, Save $5 - pair with 4 Birds Eye bags): $2.99
- Sub Rolls (Baked In-Store, 4 ct.) x1: $3.99
- Impossible Foods (Frozen, 14 oz.) x1 (Buy 5, Save $5 - included in deal above): $4.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Eggs (14 total - 6 for frittata, 8 for shakshuka)
- Black beans (one 15 oz. can)
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper