Lidl Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week gives you a different kid-friendly favorite each night, from Monday's sheet-pan chicken drumsticks that kids can eat by hand to Friday's shrimp macaroni and cheese with sweet corn. Green beans show up on both Monday and Tuesday, and the single 3 lb pack of Granny Smith apples ($2.49) covers Wednesday's roasted apples and Thursday's apple slices, so you buy once and use it twice. The same jar of poultry seasoning ($0.49) flavors Monday's chicken and Wednesday's pork loin, which keeps the shopping list short. Wednesday's Smithfield pork loin ($4.48) turns a weeknight into a Sunday-style dinner, and Thursday's eggs, turkey bacon and biscuits are a quick 25-minute night when you want something easy.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Sheet-Pan Chicken Drumsticks and Sweet Potato Wedges with Green Beans
Description: Chicken drumsticks and sweet potato wedges roast together on one sheet pan with a light sprinkle of poultry seasoning until the chicken is golden and the potatoes are soft and sweet. Warm cut green beans on the side keep it easy, and the drumsticks are fun for kids to eat by hand.
Sale items used: Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks, family pack; sweet potatoes, 1 lb; cut green beans, 14.5 oz; poultry seasoning, 1.05 oz
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: Use 3 lb of drumsticks (about 3 per person), 2 packs of sweet potatoes (2 lb total) cut into wedges, 1 can of cut green beans, and about 1 tsp poultry seasoning. Roast at 400°F for 40-45 minutes until the chicken reaches 165°F.
Recipes:
- Chicken with Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes Sheet Pan
- Sheet Pan Chicken Drumsticks, Potatoes & Green Beans
- Easy Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potato & Green Beans Magic

Tuesday
Meal: Homestyle Meatballs in Brown Gravy over Mashed Potatoes with Green Beans
Description: Frozen homestyle meatballs simmer in a mild brown gravy and are spooned over creamy instant mashed potatoes. A side of cut green beans rounds out a cozy, familiar dinner.
Sale items used: frozen meatballs, Italian style and homestyle, 26-28 oz; brown gravy mix, 0.87 oz; instant mashed potatoes, 4 oz; cut green beans, 14.5 oz
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use the full pack of frozen meatballs (choose the homestyle kind), 2 packets of brown gravy mix prepared per package directions, 2 pouches of instant mashed potatoes, and 1 can of cut green beans. Simmer the meatballs in the gravy for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
Recipes:
- Meatballs and Gravy
- Gravy-Smothered Meatballs
- Amazing Homemade Meatballs and Gravy Recipe

Wednesday
Meal: Roast Pork Loin with Roasted Apples and Carrots and Stuffing
Description: A Smithfield half boneless pork loin roasts in the oven with wedges of Granny Smith apple and baby carrots until the pork is juicy and the apples are soft and lightly sweet. Sliced thin and served with a simple stovetop stuffing, it is a Sunday-style dinner on a weeknight.
Sale items used: Smithfield half boneless pork loin; Granny Smith apples, 3 lb; Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz; stuffing mix, 6 oz; poultry seasoning, 1.05 oz
Prep time: 65 minutes
Serving note: Use about 2.5 lb of pork loin, 3 apples (about 1.5 lb, saving the rest of the 3 lb pack for Thursday), the full 16 oz of baby carrots, 1 box of stuffing mix made on the stove, and about 1 tsp poultry seasoning (the same jar as Monday). Roast at 400°F for 45-55 minutes until the pork reaches 145°F, then rest 10 minutes before slicing. To save time, season the pork and cut the apples in the morning and refrigerate.
Recipes:
- Roast Pork Loin with Apples
- Pork Loin Roast
- The Ultimate Roast Pork Loin with Apples Recipe

Thursday
Meal: Breakfast-for-Dinner Scrambled Eggs with Turkey Bacon, Biscuits, and Apple Slices
Description: Fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy baked turkey bacon, and warm buttermilk biscuits make a playful dinner that kids love. Crisp Granny Smith apple slices add a fresh crunch.
Sale items used: Hillandale jumbo white eggs, grade A, 12 ct; Dulano uncured turkey bacon, 12 oz; jumbo buttermilk biscuits, 16 oz; Granny Smith apples, 3 lb
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 10 eggs from the 12 ct carton, the full 12 oz pack of turkey bacon, the full 16 oz pack of jumbo buttermilk biscuits baked per package directions, and the remaining 1.5 lb of apples (about 3) sliced. Bake the biscuits and turkey bacon in the oven while you scramble the eggs.
Recipes:
- Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit Sandwich
- Stuffed Breakfast Biscuits
- Loaded Breakfast Biscuits

Friday
Meal: Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese with Sweet Corn
Description: Thawed cooked shrimp are chopped into bite-size pieces and stirred into creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese just before serving. Buttery sweet corn on the side makes it a kid-pleasing Friday treat.
Sale items used: Lidl Preferred Selection frozen cooked shrimp ring tray with cocktail sauce; macaroni & cheese, original, 7.25 oz; whole kernel sweet corn, no salt added, 15.25 oz
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 shrimp ring tray (thawed in the fridge during the day or under cold water, then chopped), 3 boxes of macaroni & cheese prepared per package directions, and 1 can of sweet corn heated with a little butter. Fold the shrimp into the finished macaroni to warm through, and keep the cocktail sauce on the side for adults who want it.
Recipes:
- Three Cheese Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese
- Shrimp Mac and Cheese - It's Gourmet!
- Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Butcher's Specialty fresh chicken drumsticks, family pack (3 lbs): $2.97
- sweet potatoes, 1 lb (x2 packs): $0.98
- cut green beans, 14.5 oz (x2 cans): $1.00
- poultry seasoning, 1.05 oz (x1): $0.49
- frozen meatballs, Italian style and homestyle, 26-28 oz (x1 pack): $4.49
- brown gravy mix, 0.87 oz (x2 packets): $0.38
- instant mashed potatoes, 4 oz (x2 pouches): $1.58
- Smithfield half boneless pork loin (2.5 lbs): $4.48
- Granny Smith apples, 3 lb (x1 pack): $2.49
- Peak Harvest baby carrots, 16 oz (x1 pack): $0.89
- stuffing mix, 6 oz (x1 box): $0.89
- Hillandale jumbo white eggs, grade A, 12 ct (x1 carton): $2.11
- Dulano uncured turkey bacon, 12 oz (x1 pack): $3.79
- jumbo buttermilk biscuits, 16 oz (x1 pack): $1.49
- macaroni & cheese, original, 7.25 oz (x3 boxes): $1.47
- Lidl Preferred Selection frozen cooked shrimp ring tray with cocktail sauce (x1 tray): $9.99
- whole kernel sweet corn, no salt added, 15.25 oz (x1 can): $0.99

Pantry staples needed:
- cooking oil
- butter or margarine
- milk
- salt and black pepper
- cinnamon and sugar or brown sugar (for the roasted apples)