Meijer Kid-Friendly Meal Plan
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BUDGET RATIONALE
Why these meals: This week's plan leans on simple, familiar proteins your kids will actually eat, from juicy baked chicken thighs on Monday to a comforting ground beef and potato skillet on Tuesday. Wednesday's marinated pork tenderloin slices up into easy, sweet-flavored medallions, while Thursday brings crispy baked chicken breast strips that are practically made for little hands and dipping. Friday winds things down with a mild baked seafood meal and buttered veggies, a gentle way to introduce seafood without overwhelming picky palates. Potatoes and mini cucumbers each stretch across two nights, so you get more meals out of fewer trips down the produce aisle, and every dish sticks to straightforward seasonings and textures kids already recognize.
5-DAY MEAL PLAN
Monday
Meal: Baked Chicken Thighs with Roasted Potatoes
Description: Juicy baked chicken thighs seasoned simply and roasted alongside golden potato wedges. A classic, no-fuss dinner kids recognize and enjoy.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs, Yellow or Red Potatoes
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken thighs, half of the 5 lb potato bag (about 2.5 lbs) cut into wedges
Recipes:
- Roasted Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
- Roasted Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
- Roasted Chicken Thighs and Potatoes - Dinner in 321
Tuesday
Meal: Ground Beef and Potato Skillet
Description: Browned ground round simmered with diced potatoes in a mild savory gravy, all cooked in one pan. A hearty, familiar comfort meal.
Sale items used: Certified Angus Beef Ground Round, Yellow or Red Potatoes
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs of the ground round package cooked (remainder can be frozen), remaining 2.5 lbs potatoes diced
Recipes:
- Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
- Easy Ground Beef and Potato Skillet
- Easy Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet Recipe
Wednesday
Meal: Sliced Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Cucumber Salad
Description: Oven-roasted marinated pork tenderloin sliced into kid-friendly medallions, served with a cool, crunchy cucumber salad. Sweet marinade flavor kids find approachable.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Marinated Pork Tenderloin or Filet, Seedless Mini Cucumbers
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 1 pkg (18.4-22 oz) marinated pork tenderloin, 1 lb of the 2 lb cucumber bag sliced thin with a light vinegar dressing
Recipes:
- Sesame Pork With Thai Cucumber Salad Recipe
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Marinated Cucumber-Fennel Salad
- Marinated Pork and Potatoes with Cucumber Salad
Thursday
Meal: Crispy Baked Chicken Breast Strips with Cucumber Sticks
Description: Chicken breast cut into strips, lightly breaded and baked until crispy, served with fresh cucumber sticks for dipping. A fun finger-food dinner kids love to help make.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Breasts, Seedless Mini Cucumbers
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 2 lbs chicken breast sliced into strips, remaining 1 lb cucumbers cut into sticks
Recipes:
- Crispy Baked Parmesan Chicken Strips Recipe
- Baked Crispy Chicken Strips
- My kids can't get enough of these crispy baked chicken fingers!
Friday
Meal: Baked Seafood Meal with Buttered Vegetables
Description: A simple baked seafood entree served with warm buttered canned vegetables on the side. Mild flavors make this an easy introduction to seafood night for kids.
Sale items used: Fresh from Meijer Seafood Meal, Meijer Canned Vegetables
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 2 packages (11.5-12 oz each) of the seafood meal to yield 4 servings, 1 can of Meijer Canned Vegetables warmed with butter
Recipes:
- Baked Fish and Vegetables (One Pan Recipe)
- Oven Baked Fish Recipe
- Baked Fish & Vegetables
🛒 Shopping List
SHOPPING LIST
Buy on sale:
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs (2 lbs): $2.98
- Yellow or Red Potatoes (1 bag, 5 lbs, split across two meals): $4.49
- Certified Angus Beef Ground Round (2.25 lb pkg): $15.73
- Fresh from Meijer Marinated Pork Tenderloin or Filet (1 pkg): $5.99
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Breasts (2 lbs): $5.18
- Fresh from Meijer Seafood Meal (2 pkgs): $15.98
- Seedless Mini Cucumbers (1 bag, 2 lbs, split across two meals): $3.99
- Meijer Canned Vegetables (1 can): $0.69
Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil or cooking oil
- Salt, pepper, and mild seasoning (garlic powder, paprika)
- Vinegar (for cucumber salad dressing)
- Flour or breadcrumbs (for chicken strip breading)
- Butter (for canned vegetables)
🏷️ All sale items this week
SALE ITEMS FOUND
Meats on sale:
- California Red Seedless Grapes: $1.99/lb
- Cotton Candy Grapes: $3.99/lb
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Breasts: $2.59/lb
- Fresh from Meijer Family Pack Chicken Thighs: $1.49/lb
- Frederik's by Meijer Ham, Chicken or Turkey: $9.99/lb
- Frederik's by Meijer Cheese: $6.99/lb
- Certified Angus Beef T-Bone Steak: $11.99/lb
- Fresh from Meijer Boneless Pork Tenderloins: $2.79/lb
- Fresh from Meijer St. Louis Style Spareribs: $2.99/lb
- Hormel Black Label or Natural Choice Bacon: $4.99 for 12-16 oz.
- Certified Angus Beef Ground Round: $6.99/lb for 2.25 lb. pkg. or larger
- Certified Angus Beef Round Roast or Steak: $6.99/lb
- Fresh from Meijer Certified Angus Beef Flavored or Seasoned Ground Beef Patties: $10.99 for 4 ct./21.28 oz.
- Fresh from Meijer Marinated Pork Tenderloin or Filet: $5.99 for 18.4-22 oz.
- Holten's Party Pack Burgers: $24.99 for 6 lb. box
- Hormel Fully Cooked Beef Entrée: $9.89 for 15 oz.
- Fresh from Meijer Seafood Meal: $7.99 for 11.5 or 12 oz.
Produce on sale:
- Locally Grown Bulk Rave or SweeTango Apples: $1.49/lb
- Yellow or Red Potatoes: $4.49 for 5 lb. bag
- Small Avocados: $2.49 for 3 ct. bag
- Large Jack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin: $4.99 each
- Honeycrisp Apples: $4.99 for 3 lb. bag
- Seedless Mini Cucumbers: $3.99 for 2 lb. bag
- Fresh from Meijer Apple Cider: $5.99 for Gallon
- Large Cantaloupe Melon: $2.99 each
- Locally Grown Pascal Celery: $1.69 each
Dairy and eggs on sale:
- Fairlife Ultra-Filtered Milk: $4.99 for 52 oz.
- Horizon Organic or DHA Milk: $5.49 for Half gallon
- Almond Breeze Almondmilk or Planet Oat Oatmilk: $2.49 for 64 oz. or 52 oz.
- I Can't Believe It's Not Butter or Brummel & Brown Spread: $3.89 for 15-16 oz. or 8 oz. spray or 15 oz.
- Kraft Philadelphia Soft Cream Cheese: $3.49 for 7-8 oz.
- Kraft Singles: $4.49 for 14.7-16 oz.
Bakery and bread on sale:
- La Terra Fina Dip: $3.99 for 10 oz.
- Lofthouse Cookies: $3.99 for 9.5-13.5 oz.
- Simple Joys Sliced Iced Cake: $4.99 for 14.1 oz.
- Fresh from Meijer 8" Single Layer Carrot Cake: $9.99 for 28 oz.
- Sara Lee Bread: $2.99 for 20 oz.
- Thomas' Bagels: $3.99 for 6 ct./18-20 oz.
- Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Multipack: $8.99 for 20-24 ct./18-20 oz.
- Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Bread or Whole Grain Bread: $3.79 for 22-24 oz. or 24 oz.
- Pace Salsa: $2.99 for 15 oz.
- Pretzel Crisps: $5.89 for 14 oz.
- O-Ke-Doke Popcorn: $2.49 for 7.5-8 oz.
- Pepperidge Farm Pirouette: $5.99 for 13.5 oz.
- Snyder's Gluten Free or Multigrain Pretzels: $2.99 for 8 oz.
- Cape Cod Chips and Snyder's Pretzel Variety Pack: $10.49 for 20 ct./19 oz.
- Lance Gluten Free Crackers: $3.49 for 5 oz.
Pantry on sale:
- Chobani Flip or Protein Greek Yogurt: $7.49 for 4.5-6.7 oz.
- Rao's Pasta Sauce: $5.99 for 15 or 24 oz.
- California Pizza Kitchen Pizza: $7.49 for 13.4-15.8 oz.
- Meijer Purified Drinking Water: $3.99 for 40 pk./16.9 oz. bottles
- Kraft Mayo: $2.99 final price for 30 oz.
- Gimme Seaweed Snacks: $4.99 for 1.02-1.05 oz.
- Kind Protein Bars, Healthy Grains Clusters or Protein Max Granola: $3.99 for 6 ct./7.4-10.58 oz., 11 oz. or 9 oz.
- Meijer Ground Coffee: $11.99 for 24.2-30.5 oz. canister
- Frederik's by Meijer Coffee Pods: $24.99 for 48 ct.
- Log Cabin Syrup: $2.99 for 24 oz.
- Ghirardelli Brownie Mix: $3.99 for 16-20 oz.
- Mott's Applesauce or Fruit Smoothie Pouches: $6.99 for 12 ct./3.2 oz. or 8 ct./4.2 oz.
- Brach's Candy Corn: $4.99 for 20 oz.
- Hershey's Party Size Bagged Candy: $14.99 for 23.8-39 oz.
- Twizzlers Licorice or Jolly Rancher Ropes: $3.99 for 10-16 oz.
- Nerds Gummy Clusters or Trolli or Black Forest Gummies: $7.49 for 18.5-28.8 oz.
- Halloween Snack Size Chocolate Bag: $5.79 for 6.8-11.6 oz.
- Cheez-It, Town House or Club Family Size Crackers or Toasteds Crackers Party Pack: $4.99 for 12-21 oz. or 12 oz.
- Simple Mills Cookies, Crackers or Sweet Thins: $4.49 for 4-5.5 oz.
- La Croix Sparkling Water: $5.49 for 12 pk./12 oz. cans
- oHy Sparkling Water or FIJI Natural Artesian Water: $5.99 for 8 pk./12 oz. cans or 6 pk./16.9 oz. bottles
- Maison Perrier French Kiss Sparkling Juice Beverages: $5.49 for 6 pk./11.15 oz. cans
- vitaminwater: $6.49 for 6 pk./16.9 oz. bottles
- Clearly Canadian or Clearly Zero Sparkling Water Beverages: $6.49 for 6 pk./12 oz. cans
- V8 Splash: $1.99 for 64 oz.
- Capri Sun: $8.99 for 30 ct./6 oz. pouches
- Monster Energy Drinks: $21.99 for 12 pk./16 oz. cans
- Bai Antioxidant Beverages: $6.99 for 6 pk./14 oz. cans
- La Colombe Coffee Beverages: $6.99 for 4 pk./9 oz. cans
- NOS Original: $21.99 for 12 pk./16 oz.
- Meijer Frozen Texas Toast or Garlic Bread: 3 for $12 or $1.99 for 10.5-16 oz.
- Meijer Frozen Skillet Meals: $2.99 for 20-21 oz.
- Meijer Salsa or Queso: $2.99 for 15.5 oz. or 23 oz.
- Meijer BBQ Sauce: $1.89 for 18 oz.
- Meijer Canned Vegetables: $0.69 for 14.5-15.25 oz.
- Meijer Peanut Butter: $2.99 for 28 oz.
- Meijer Granola: $2.99 for 12-13 oz. Stand-up pouch
- Meijer Breakfast Croissants or Biscuits: $6.49 for 4 ct./14.2-17.9 oz.
Frozen on sale:
- Totino's Frozen Pizza Rolls: $9.99 for 100 ct./48.8 oz.
- Tombstone Frozen Pizza: $4.49 for 17.2-27 oz.
- Protein Pints Ice Cream: $2.99 final price for 16 oz.
- Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream: $2.99 final price for 9-14 oz.
- Snickers, Twix or Milky Way Ice Cream Bars: $4.49 for 9.5-12 oz.
- Nestlé Drumstick or Dipped Cones: $4.99 final price for 5-20 ct./13.8-37.5 oz.
🛒 Estimated Shopping Cost
Based on sale prices for items in this plan
Some sale prices require the store's loyalty card or a clipped digital coupon. Check the flyer before you shop.
$55.03
for 4 people · $13.76 per person
📍 Disclaimer: Prices and availability are based on the Meijer weekly sales flyer for the week of September 16, 2026. Flyers are sourced from store websites and weekly flyer aggregator sites. Actual prices may vary by location. Always verify prices at your local store. We are not affiliated with Meijer.