Food City Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week is built around a few ingredients that stretch across several dinners, so one trip to Food City covers a lot of variety. The 10 lb bag of Russet Potatoes ($4.99) becomes Monday's loaded baked potatoes and Tuesday's skillet frittata, and the single 16 oz tub of Food Club Sour Cream ($1.99) is shared by Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Wednesday's butternut soup and Thursday's stuffed acorn squash both come from the same squash purchase, while black beans on Monday, eggs on Tuesday, and chili beans on Thursday keep the protein varied. Friday is a quick shells and cheese night with Italian green beans, so you can finish the week with something easy.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Loaded Baked Russet Potatoes with Black Beans, Tomatoes, and Sour Cream
Description: Russet potatoes are microwaved to start, then finished in a hot oven until the skins are crisp. They are stuffed with warm seasoned Bush's Best Beans, Black Beans, fresh diced tomatoes, and a spoonful of Food Club Sour Cream.
Sale items used: Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 10 Lb; Bush's Best Beans, Black Beans, 15-16 Oz; Tomatoes on the Vine, Fresh; Food Club Sour Cream, Selected Varieties, 16 Oz
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 large russets (about 3 lb) from the 10 lb bag, 2 cans of black beans (drained and warmed with chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder), 0.75 lb tomatoes diced, and 6 oz of the 16 oz sour cream. Start the potatoes in the microwave for 8 minutes, then bake at 425 F for about 30 minutes.

Check the label: some baked beans are cooked with bacon or pork fat.

Recipes:
- Loaded Baked Potatoes With Black Beans and Cajun Seasoning
- Mexican Baked Potatoes
- Southwest Baked Potatoes

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet Potato and Tomato Frittata with Steamed Vegetables
Description: Diced russets are pan-fried in butter until golden, then topped with tomatoes and a dozen beaten eggs and finished in the oven until set. It is served with a side of steamed Food Club Steamin' Easy Vegetables.
Sale items used: That's Smart Large Eggs, Dozen; Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 10 Lb; Tomatoes on the Vine, Fresh; Food Club Steamin' Easy Vegetables or That's Smart Pizza, Frozen, Selected Varieties (use the Steamin' Easy Vegetables)
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: Use 12 eggs (1 dozen), 2 lb russets from the 10 lb bag (diced small), 0.75 lb tomatoes sliced, and 1 bag of Food Club Steamin' Easy Vegetables cooked per package directions. Use an oven-safe skillet and bake at 400 F for about 15 minutes after the stovetop step.
Recipes:
- Potato Tomato Frittata
- Frittata with Tomatoes and Potatoes
- Potato Tomato Spinach Frittata

Wednesday
Meal: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Grilled Cheese on Sourdough and Honeycrisp Apple Slices
Description: Butternut squash is roasted until caramelized, then simmered in That's Smart Broth (use a vegetable broth variety) and blended smooth with a swirl of Food Club Sour Cream. It is served with pan-grilled sandwiches made with Food Club Sliced Cheese on sliced Sourdough Baguette and a side of apples.
Sale items used: Acorn, Butternut or Spaghetti Squash, Fresh (butternut); That's Smart Broth, Selected Varieties, 32 Oz; Food Club Sour Cream, Selected Varieties, 16 Oz; Sourdough Baguette or Half Sourdough; Food Club Sliced Cheese, Selected Varieties, 6-8 Oz; Honeycrisp Apples or D'Anjou Pears
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use 3 lb butternut squash, 1 container (32 oz) of That's Smart Broth, 4 oz of the sour cream, 1 sourdough baguette cut into 8 slices, 1 package of sliced cheese (2 slices per sandwich), and 1.5 lb Honeycrisp apples sliced. Roast the squash at 425 F for about 40 minutes, then simmer and blend while you grill the sandwiches in butter.

Check the label: broth is often made from chicken or beef. Vegetable broth is the safe choice.

Recipes:
- Butternut Squash Soup with Brie Grilled Cheese
- Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- Butternut Squash Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

Thursday
Meal: Chili Bean Stuffed Roasted Acorn Squash with Corn
Description: Acorn squash halves are roasted cut-side down until tender, then filled with hot Bush's Chili Beans and topped with Food Club Sour Cream. A side of buttered Libby's Corn rounds out the plate.
Sale items used: Acorn, Butternut or Spaghetti Squash, Fresh (acorn); Bush's Chili Beans, Selected Varieties, 15.2-16 Oz; Food Club Sour Cream, Selected Varieties, 16 Oz; Libby's Corn or Green Beans, 14.5-15.25 Oz (use the corn)
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use 3 lb acorn squash (2 squashes, 4 halves, one half per person), 2 cans of chili beans (check the label to confirm a variety with no meat), the remaining 6 oz of sour cream, and 1 can of corn drained and warmed with butter. Roast the squash at 400 F for about 40 minutes before filling.
Recipes:
- Southwest Stuffed Acorn Squash with Goat Cheese
- Southwest Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Chili Stuffed Acorn Squash

Friday
Meal: Creamy Stovetop Shells and Cheese with Italian Green Beans
Description: Two boxes of That's Smart Shells & Cheese are cooked on the stovetop and enriched with That's Smart Cream Cheese for an extra creamy sauce. Allen's Italian Green Beans are served on the side.
Sale items used: That's Smart Shells & Cheese, Selected Varieties, 12-14 Oz; That's Smart Cream Cheese, 8 Oz; Allen's Italian Green Beans, Selected Varieties, 28 Oz
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 boxes of shells and cheese prepared per package directions, 1 container (8 oz) of cream cheese stirred in at the end, and 1 bag (28 oz) of Allen's Italian Green Beans cooked per package directions with black pepper and garlic powder.
Recipes:
- Cheesy Shells and Green Beans
- Stovetop Cheesy Green Beans
- Cheesy Green Beans

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Russet Potatoes, Basket & Bushel, 10 Lb (x1 bag): $4.99
- Bush's Best Beans, Black Beans, 15-16 Oz (x2 cans): $2.48
Check the label: some baked beans are cooked with bacon or pork fat.
- Tomatoes on the Vine, Fresh (1.5 lbs): $2.54
- Food Club Sour Cream, Selected Varieties, 16 Oz (x1): $1.99
- That's Smart Large Eggs, Dozen (x1): $1.69
- Food Club Steamin' Easy Vegetables or That's Smart Pizza, Frozen, Selected Varieties (x1, Steamin' Easy Vegetables): $1.00
- Acorn, Butternut or Spaghetti Squash, Fresh (6 lbs total: 3 lb butternut, 3 lb acorn): $5.94
- That's Smart Broth, Selected Varieties, 32 Oz (x1, vegetable variety): $1.59
Check the label: broth is often made from chicken or beef. Vegetable broth is the safe choice.
- Sourdough Baguette or Half Sourdough (x1): $2.49
- Food Club Sliced Cheese, Selected Varieties, 6-8 Oz (x1): $1.69
- Honeycrisp Apples or D'Anjou Pears (1.5 lbs, Honeycrisp Apples): $2.99
- Bush's Chili Beans, Selected Varieties, 15.2-16 Oz (x2 cans): $2.58
- Libby's Corn or Green Beans, 14.5-15.25 Oz (x1 can, corn): $0.99
- That's Smart Shells & Cheese, Selected Varieties, 12-14 Oz (x2 boxes): $2.98
- Allen's Italian Green Beans, Selected Varieties, 28 Oz (x1): $1.99
- That's Smart Cream Cheese, 8 Oz (x1): $1.69

Pantry staples needed:
- Butter
- Cooking oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Garlic powder