Meijer Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Eckrich or Bar-S Meat Franks: $1 each - 2 packs feeds 4 generously, roughly $0.50/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs: $1.49/lb - 2 lbs feeds 4, roughly $0.75/serving
- Bob Evans Breakfast Sausage Roll, Links or Patties: $3.49 each - 1 roll feeds 4, roughly $0.87/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Boneless Chicken Tenderloins: $3.99/lb - 1.5 lbs feeds 4, roughly $1.50/serving
- Meijer Ground Beef: $18.87 for 3 lb. roll - 1.5 lbs needed for 4, roughly $3.15/serving (using half the roll at $9.44)
- Certified Angus Beef Patties: $11.49 for 4 ct./21.2 oz. pkg. - 1 pack feeds 4, roughly $2.87/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Spareribs: $2.79/lb - 3 lbs feeds 4, roughly $2.09/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Chops Boneless: $3.99 each - 4 chops feeds 4, roughly $4.00/serving (one chop per person)
- Smithfield Pork Loin Filet or Tenderloin: $6.99 each - 1 filet feeds 4, roughly $1.75/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Seasoned Atlantic Salmon Portions: $8.99 each - 4 portions needed, roughly $8.99/serving
- Certified Angus Beef Top Round Steak Boneless: $7.99/lb - 1.5 lbs feeds 4, roughly $3.00/serving
- Certified Angus Beef Ground Round: $7.29/lb - 1.5 lbs feeds 4, roughly $2.74/serving
- Certified Angus Beef Boneless Strip Steak: $13.99/lb - 1.5 lbs feeds 4, roughly $5.25/serving

Corrected ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Eckrich or Bar-S Meat Franks: $1 each - 2 packs, roughly $0.50/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs: $1.49/lb - 2 lbs, roughly $0.75/serving
- Bob Evans Breakfast Sausage Roll, Links or Patties: $3.49 each - 1 roll, roughly $0.87/serving
- Smithfield Pork Loin Filet or Tenderloin: $6.99 each - 1 filet, roughly $1.75/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Boneless Chicken Tenderloins: $3.99/lb - 1.5 lbs, roughly $1.50/serving
- Certified Angus Beef Patties: $11.49 for 4 ct. - 1 pack, roughly $2.87/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Spareribs: $2.79/lb - 3 lbs, roughly $2.09/serving
- Certified Angus Beef Ground Round: $7.29/lb - 1.5 lbs, roughly $2.74/serving
- Certified Angus Beef Top Round Steak Boneless: $7.99/lb - 1.5 lbs, roughly $3.00/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Pork Loin Chops Boneless: $3.99 each - 4 chops, roughly $4.00/serving
- Certified Angus Beef Boneless Strip Steak: $13.99/lb - 1.5 lbs, roughly $5.25/serving
- Fresh from Meijer Seasoned Atlantic Salmon Portions: $8.99 each - 4 portions, roughly $8.99/serving

Why these meals: This week's five dinners lean hard on three of the most wallet-friendly proteins on the flyer. Chicken thighs at $1.49/lb are the best deal in the meat case, and boneless chicken tenderloins at $3.99/lb are a close second that kids love. Meat franks at $1 each make a fun, fast weeknight hot dog night that the whole family will cheer for. The Smithfield Pork Loin Filet at $6.99 flat for the whole piece works out to under $2 per person and earns its spot as a slightly elevated midweek dinner. The one premium night goes to the Certified Angus Beef Patties at $11.49 for a four-count pack, which is actually the most controlled way to do a burger night since you get exactly four portions with no waste, and it comes in well below the strip steak or salmon in per-serving cost. The salmon portions at $8.99 each (meaning $8.99 per individual portion) were deliberately skipped because four portions would cost nearly $36 for protein alone, which would blow the weekly ceiling on a single night.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Stovetop Chicken Thigh and Creamer Potato Skillet
Description: Bone-in chicken thighs are browned in a skillet until golden and cooked through, then served alongside tender creamer potatoes and a simple pan sauce made with chicken broth. Kids love the juicy, pull-apart thighs and buttery little potatoes that need no chopping.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs, The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes, Swanson Broth, Meijer Frozen Steamable Vegetables
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 lbs of chicken thighs (roughly 4 thighs) and 1 bag of The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes. Steam 1 bag of Meijer Frozen Steamable Vegetables on the side. Use 1 can of Swanson Broth for the pan sauce.
Recipes:
- Cast Iron Chicken Thighs and Potatoes

Tuesday
Meal: Grilled Certified Angus Beef Patty Burgers on Stadium Buns
Description: Four Certified Angus Beef Patties are cooked on a grill or grill pan until juicy and done through, then loaded onto soft stadium buns with Sargento cheese slices, ketchup, and any toppings kids want. It is a classic backyard-style burger night that children aged 5 to 12 will build and eat happily.
Sale items used: Certified Angus Beef Patties (4 ct./21.2 oz. pkg.), Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns or Bread, Sargento Cheese Slices, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Seedless Mini Cucumbers
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 package of Certified Angus Beef Patties (4 count, feeds 4 exactly). Use 1 pack of Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns or Bread (the $2 for 5 deal - buy 1 pack). Use 1 pack of Sargento Cheese Slices (1 pack from the $2 for 2 deal). Slice 2 Seedless Mini Cucumbers for a side snack. Use 1 bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.
Recipes:
- Homemade Burgers Recipe – Cooking with Kids for Family Dinner Fun
- 20-Minute Grilled Beef Burger Patties (Juicy & Tender!)

Wednesday
Meal: Baked Chicken Tenderloin Strips with Kraft Mac and Cheese
Description: Boneless chicken tenderloins are coated in a simple seasoned breadcrumb mixture and baked in the oven until golden and cooked through, served alongside creamy Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. This is a homemade chicken tender night that kids will love even more than the drive-through version.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Boneless Chicken Tenderloins, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Meijer Frozen Steamable Vegetables
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1.5 lbs of boneless chicken tenderloins. Prepare 2 boxes of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (2 boxes at $1 each feeds 4 well as a side). Steam 1 bag of Meijer Frozen Steamable Vegetables on the side.
Recipes:
- Chicken Tender Mac and Cheese Bake — Crispy, Cheesy Casserole Dinner
- Crispy Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Baked Chicken Tenders

Thursday
Meal: Pan-Seared Smithfield Pork Loin Filet with Bell Peppers and Rice Side
Description: A Smithfield Pork Loin Filet is sliced into medallions and pan-seared until browned and cooked through, then served with sauteed bell peppers and a Knorr Rice Side prepared on the stovetop. The colorful peppers and savory rice make this a visually fun plate that kids enjoy.
Sale items used: Smithfield Pork Loin Filet or Tenderloin, Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper, Knorr Pasta or Rice Side
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 Smithfield Pork Loin Filet or Tenderloin (1 package, feeds 4). Use 2 Bell Peppers (2 at $1 each). Prepare 1 Knorr Pasta or Rice Side (1 package at $1 each).

Friday
Meal: Stovetop Hot Dogs with Buns, Cheese, and Watermelon
Description: Eckrich or Bar-S Meat Franks are heated on the stovetop and served in stadium buns with Sargento cheese slices and ketchup for a fun, kid-approved Friday dinner. A big slice of cold seedless watermelon on the side makes it feel like a summer cookout right at the kitchen table.
Sale items used: Eckrich or Bar-S Meat Franks, Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns or Bread, Sargento Cheese Slices, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Locally Grown Large Seedless Watermelon
Prep time: 15 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 packs of Eckrich or Bar-S Meat Franks (2 at $1 each, roughly 2 franks per person). Use 1 pack of Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns or Bread (1 pack from the $2 for 5 deal). Use 1 pack of Sargento Cheese Slices (second pack from the $2 for 2 deal). Serve 1 Locally Grown Large Seedless Watermelon cut into wedges for the table.
Recipes:
- These Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs Put Regular Hot Dogs to Shame! Easy Recipe!

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $2.98
- The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes (x1 bag): $1.00
- Swanson Broth (x1 can): $1.00
- Meijer Frozen Steamable Vegetables (x2 bags, one for Monday and one for Wednesday): $2.00
- Certified Angus Beef Patties (x1 pack, 4 ct./21.2 oz.): $11.49
- Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns or Bread (x2 packs at $2 for 5 deal, 2 packs = $4.00): $4.00
- Sargento Cheese Slices (x2 packs at $2 for 2): $2.00
- Heinz Tomato Ketchup (x1 bottle): $3.99
- Seedless Mini Cucumbers (x2): $2.00
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Boneless Chicken Tenderloins (1.5 lbs): $5.99
- Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (x2 boxes): $2.00
- Smithfield Pork Loin Filet or Tenderloin (x1): $6.99
- Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper (x2): $2.00
- Knorr Pasta or Rice Side (x1): $1.00
- Eckrich or Bar-S Meat Franks (x2): $2.00
- Locally Grown Large Seedless Watermelon (x1): $5.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or cooking oil (for searing and browning)
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Breadcrumbs (for chicken tenders coating)
- Butter (for mac and cheese and pan sauce)
- Milk (for mac and cheese)