Meijer Dairy-Free Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks All natural: $0.99/lb - about 2.5 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $2.48 total, $0.62/person
- Fresh from Meijer Whole Pork Shoulder Butt Roast Bone in: $1.79/lb - about 3 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $5.37 total, $1.34/person
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Assorted Chops Bone in: $1.99/lb - about 2 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $3.98 total, $1.00/person
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Breasts All natural: $2.29/lb - about 2 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $4.58 total, $1.15/person
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Center Cut Chops Bone in: $2.99/lb - about 2 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $5.98 total, $1.50/person
- Meijer Breakfast Sausage Roll, Links or Patties 12-16 oz: $2.79 each - 1 package feeds 4 as a component = $2.79 total, $0.70/person
- Eckrich 2 Pc. Sausage Ropes 10-14 oz., Smok-Y Links 8.3 oz., Sausage Links 13-14 oz. or Li'l Smokies 12-14 oz: $2.29 each - 2 packages feeds 4 = $4.58 total, $1.15/person
- Johnsonville Fresh Brats 19 oz: $4.79 each - 1 package (about 5 brats) feeds 4 = $4.79 total, $1.20/person
- Fresh from Meijer St. Louis Style Spareribs Fresh, never frozen: $3.49/lb - about 3 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $10.47 total, $2.62/person
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Back Ribs Fresh, never frozen: $3.79/lb - about 3 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $11.37 total, $2.84/person
- Pork Shoulder Boneless Country Style Ribs: $3.49/lb - about 2 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $6.98 total, $1.75/person
- Fresh from Meijer 80% Lean Ground Beef 3 lb. pkg. or larger: $4.99/lb - about 1.5 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $7.49 total, $1.87/person
- Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers 10 oz: $4.99 each - 2 packages (8 burgers) feeds 4 = $9.98 total, $2.50/person
- Certified Angus Beef Boneless Ribeye Steak: $13.99/lb - about 2 lbs feeds 4 = roughly $27.98 total, $7.00/person

Why these meals: Chicken drumsticks at $0.99/lb are the standout deal of the week and anchor one dinner at under $3 for all four people. Pork loin assorted chops at $1.99/lb and Eckrich sausage links at $2.29 per package give two more very affordable nights, and ground beef at $4.99/lb rounds out a satisfying fourth economical dinner. The single premium night goes to Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers at $4.99 per package - two packages feed four people for about $10, which is genuinely the most reasonable premium option on this flyer compared to ribeye at nearly $28 for four servings. The ribeye was deliberately skipped because even on sale it would blow the weekly budget on a single night. Sweet corn at 4 ears for $1 and bell peppers and cucumbers at $1 each (when buying 7 or more across the week) keep the vegetable side costs minimal and make this a very strong value week overall.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Roasted Bell Peppers and Sweet Corn
Description: Chicken drumsticks are seasoned with pantry spices and baked in the oven until the skin is golden and the meat is cooked through, served alongside roasted bell peppers and boiled sweet corn on the cob. This is a classic, crowd-pleasing dinner that delivers maximum flavor at the lowest cost of the week.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks All natural ($0.99/lb), Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper ($1 each when you buy 7 or more), Locally Grown Bulk Sweet Corn ($4/$1)
Prep time: 15 minutes active, 45 minutes oven time
Serving note: Buy 2.5 lbs of chicken drumsticks (roughly 8-10 pieces for 4 people). Buy 4 bell peppers and 4 ears of sweet corn. These items are part of the buy-7-or-more produce deal, so plan to pick up at least 7 qualifying produce items across the week to unlock the $1 price on peppers and corn.
Recipes:
- Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks - Bites of Wellness

Tuesday
Meal: Skillet-Seared Pork Loin Assorted Chops with Sauteed Mushrooms and Russet Potatoes
Description: Bone-in pork loin assorted chops are seasoned and seared in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through, then topped with sauteed mushrooms and served with boiled or pan-fried russet potato wedges. The mushrooms add an earthy richness that pairs naturally with the pork without any dairy.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Assorted Chops Bone in ($1.99/lb), True Goodness Organic Whole or Sliced White Mushrooms 8 oz ($2/$5), Russet Potatoes 5 lb. bag ($1 each when you buy 7 or more)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Buy 2 lbs of pork loin assorted chops (roughly 4 chops). Buy 2 packages of mushrooms at $2.50 each as part of the $2/$5 deal. Buy 1 bag of russet potatoes (5 lbs, use about half this week). Russet potatoes are part of the buy-7-or-more produce deal.

Wednesday
Meal: Grilled Johnsonville Fresh Brats with Avocado, Cucumber, and Aunt Millie's Buns
Description: Johnsonville fresh brats are grilled over medium heat until cooked through with a snappy casing, then served on Aunt Millie's stadium buns with sliced avocado and mini cucumber rounds for a fresh, satisfying summer dinner. The creamy avocado stands in for any dairy-based condiment and keeps everything bright and dairy-free.
Sale items used: Johnsonville Fresh Brats 19 oz ($4.79 each), Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns 6-8 ct./14-15 oz. or Bread 22 oz ($2/$5), Extra Large Avocado ($1 each when you buy 7 or more), Seedless Mini Cucumbers 1 lb. bag ($1 each when you buy 7 or more)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Buy 1 package of Johnsonville Fresh Brats (19 oz, approximately 5 brats - 4 for dinner, 1 extra). Buy 1 package of Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns as part of the $2/$5 deal (pair with a second package another day or buy 2 to hit the deal). Buy 4 avocados and 1 bag of mini cucumbers. Avocados and cucumbers are part of the buy-7-or-more produce deal.

Thursday
Meal: Ground Beef and Bush's Bean Skillet with Red Gold Tomatoes over Creamette Pasta
Description: Ground beef is browned in a skillet, then simmered with Bush's beans and Red Gold diced tomatoes to create a hearty, protein-packed one-pan sauce served over cooked Creamette pasta. This is a filling, budget-friendly dinner with bold flavor from pantry spices and no dairy needed.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer 80% Lean Ground Beef 3 lb. pkg. or larger ($4.99/lb), Bush's Ingredient Beans 15-16 oz ($1 each when you buy 7 or more), Red Gold Tomatoes 14.5-15 oz ($1 each when you buy 7 or more), Creamette Pasta 12-16 oz ($1 each when you buy 7 or more)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Buy a 3 lb. package of ground beef and use 1.5 lbs for this meal (freeze the remaining 1.5 lbs). Buy 1 can of Bush's beans, 1 can of Red Gold tomatoes, and 1 box of Creamette pasta. These pantry items are part of the buy-7-or-more deal, so plan to pick up at least 7 qualifying pantry items across the week to unlock the $1 price.

Friday
Meal: Pan-Seared Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers with Wholly Guacamole and Seedless Mini Cucumbers
Description: Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers are pan-seared in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden on the outside and cooked through, then served open-faced or on Aunt Millie's bread with a generous spoonful of Wholly Guacamole and fresh cucumber slices. This is the premium night of the week, delivering restaurant-quality salmon at a fraction of the cost of fresh fillets.
Sale items used: Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers 10 oz ($4.99 each), Wholly Guacamole 7.5 oz. Deli Dept. only ($2.99 each), Seedless Mini Cucumbers 1 lb. bag ($1 each when you buy 7 or more), Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns 6-8 ct./14-15 oz. or Bread 22 oz ($2/$5)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Buy 2 packages of Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers (each package is 10 oz and contains 2 burgers, so 2 packages = 4 burgers for 4 people). Buy 1 container of Wholly Guacamole. Use the second package of Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns purchased as part of the $2/$5 deal on Wednesday. Buy 1 bag of mini cucumbers (can share with Wednesday's meal if bought together).

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks All natural (2.5 lbs): $2.48
- Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper (4 peppers at $1 each, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $4.00
- Locally Grown Bulk Sweet Corn (4 ears at $4/$1, so 4 ears = $1.00): $1.00
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Assorted Chops Bone in (2 lbs): $3.98
- True Goodness Organic Whole or Sliced White Mushrooms 8 oz (x2 packages at $2/$5): $5.00
- Russet Potatoes 5 lb. bag (x1 bag, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Johnsonville Fresh Brats 19 oz (x1 package): $4.79
- Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns 6-8 ct./14-15 oz. or Bread 22 oz (x2 packages at $2/$5): $5.00
- Extra Large Avocado (x4 at $1 each, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $4.00
- Seedless Mini Cucumbers 1 lb. bag (x1 bag, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Fresh from Meijer 80% Lean Ground Beef 3 lb. pkg. or larger (3 lb. package, use 1.5 lbs this week): $14.97
- Bush's Ingredient Beans 15-16 oz (x1 can, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Red Gold Tomatoes 14.5-15 oz (x1 can, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Creamette Pasta 12-16 oz (x1 box, part of buy-7-or-more deal): $1.00
- Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers 10 oz (x2 packages): $9.98
- Wholly Guacamole 7.5 oz. Deli Dept. only (x1 container): $2.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or vegetable oil (for searing and roasting)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Salt and black pepper
- Italian seasoning or dried oregano
- Cumin (for the bean and beef skillet)
- Chili powder (for the bean and beef skillet)
- Ketchup or hot sauce (optional, for brats)