Kroger Dairy-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week is built around a few Kroger sales that stretch across more than one dinner. The 3 lb Kroger Spiral Ham at $5.97 covers Monday's glazed ham and Thursday's potato soup, and the 3 lbs of Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef at $14.97 becomes Tuesday's pineapple rice skillet and Wednesday's bacon-topped meatloaf. Everything stays dairy-free, with olive oil for sautéing the apples, a brown sugar and Dijon glaze on the ham, and mashed potatoes to thicken the soup instead of cream. Bruce's Yams show up on Monday and Wednesday, and your two Dole Pineapple split between Tuesday and Friday, so nothing is left over in the fridge. Friday is the treat night, with the Wild-Caught Lobster Tails at $24.00 for four, one tail per person, served with roasted potatoes and a crisp apple-pineapple salad.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Baked Spiral Ham with Cinnamon Bruce's Yams and Sautéed Apples
Description: Kroger Spiral Ham is warmed in the oven with a brown sugar and Dijon glaze until the edges caramelize. It is served with cinnamon-warmed Bruce's Yams and apple slices sautéed in olive oil.
Sale items used: Kroger Spiral Ham, Bruce's Yams, Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lb Kroger Spiral Ham total (about 0.5 lb per person), 1 of the 2 Bruce's Yams, and 1 lb Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples. Glaze with brown sugar and Dijon mustard from your pantry, and skip any glaze packet that comes with the ham. Sauté the apples in olive oil, not butter.

Tuesday
Meal: Ground Beef and Pineapple Rice Skillet
Description: Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef is browned in a large skillet with garlic and ginger, then simmered with Dole Pineapple, soy sauce and cooked rice. It is a sweet-savory one-pan dinner.
Sale items used: Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef, Swanson Broth or Dole Pineapple (Dole Pineapple)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lb Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef, 1 of the 2 Dole Pineapple, and 2 cups uncooked rice (about 6 cups cooked) from the pantry. Drain excess fat after browning. Use the pineapple with its juice for the sauce.
Recipes:
- Pineapple Beef Stir Fry

Wednesday
Meal: Bacon-Topped Beef Meatloaf with Bruce's Yams
Description: A baked meatloaf of Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef, onion and breadcrumbs is glazed with ketchup and topped with strips of Smithfield Bacon. The remaining Bruce's Yams are heated alongside as the side dish.
Sale items used: Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef, Smithfield Bacon, Bruce's Yams
Prep time: 70 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lb Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef, 1 package Smithfield Bacon, and the second Bruce's Yams. The total time is over an hour, so mix and shape the loaf up to a day ahead and refrigerate it, then bake at 375 F for about 50 minutes. Bind with 1 egg and 1/2 cup dairy-free breadcrumbs from the pantry, with no milk.
Recipes:
- Easy Paleo and Keto Meatloaf (Whole30, Nut Free, Dairy-Free)
- Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

Thursday
Meal: Dairy-Free Ham and Potato Soup
Description: Diced Kroger Spiral Ham simmers with potatoes and onion in Swanson Broth until the potatoes are tender. Mashing some of the potatoes thickens the soup with no cream or milk.
Sale items used: Kroger Spiral Ham, Swanson Broth or Dole Pineapple (Swanson Broth)
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 lb Kroger Spiral Ham (diced), 2 Swanson Broth cartons, about 1.5 lb potatoes and 1 onion from the pantry. Check that the Swanson Broth label is dairy-free. Season with thyme, salt and pepper.
Recipes:
- Creamy Dairy Free Potato Soup with Ham.
- Dairy Free Ham and Potato Soup
- Ham and Potato Soup (Dairy-Free)

Friday
Meal: Broiled Lobster Tails with Garlic Olive Oil, Roasted Potatoes and Apple-Pineapple Salad
Description: Wild-Caught Lobster Tails are split, brushed with garlic olive oil and broiled until opaque. They are served with oven-roasted potatoes and a crisp salad of matchstick apple and Dole Pineapple.
Sale items used: Wild-Caught Lobster Tails, Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples, Swanson Broth or Dole Pineapple (Dole Pineapple)
Prep time: 50 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 lobster tails (1 per person, bought as two 2-for-deal sets), 1 lb Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples, the second Dole Pineapple, and about 1.5 lb potatoes from the pantry. Roast the potatoes first for about 40 minutes, then broil the tails for 8 to 10 minutes. Dress the salad with olive oil and vinegar.
Recipes:
- Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Kroger Spiral Ham (3 lbs): $5.97
- Kroger 80% Lean Ground Beef (3 lbs): $14.97
- Smithfield Bacon (x1 package): $3.99
- Wild-Caught Lobster Tails (4 tails, 2 sets of 2): $24.00
- Honeycrisp or Sugarbee Apples (2 lbs): $3.54
- Bruce's Yams (x2): $7.00
- Dole Pineapple (x2): $4.00
- Swanson Broth (x2): $4.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Long-grain rice
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Brown sugar
- Dijon mustard
- Ketchup
- Dairy-free breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- Onions
- Potatoes (about 3 lb total)
- Cinnamon
- Dried thyme
- Vinegar
- Salt and black pepper