Meijer Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Protein ranking (most economical to most expensive per serving for 4 people):
- Bush's Ingredient Beans 15-16 oz.: $1.00 per can; two cans feed 4 people generously = roughly $0.50 per serving
- True Goodness Organic Extra Large Eggs 18 ct.: $6.99 per 18-count carton; 3 eggs per person = 12 eggs per meal = roughly $4.66 per meal, about $1.17 per serving
- Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz. (as a primary protein anchor paired with eggs or beans): $2.50 per 7-8 oz. package at $2/$5; one package supports a meal = roughly $0.63 per serving
- Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese 16 oz.: $3.50 per 16 oz. package at $2/$7; one package supports a meal = roughly $0.88 per serving
- Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers 10 oz.: $4.99 per 10 oz. package; one package contains approximately 2 burgers, so two packages needed for 4 people = $9.98 per meal, about $2.50 per serving - this is the premium night selection, as it is the only seafood item with a clear stated per-unit price and represents the best-priced premium option available this week

Why these meals: The backbone of this week is the $1-per-can Bush's Ingredient Beans deal, which anchors two hearty dinners at under $1 per serving for protein. Eggs from the True Goodness Organic Extra Large Eggs 18 ct. carton at $6.99 give you a full frittata night for the whole family at just over $1 per person for protein. The Kraft and Meijer shredded cheese deals round out a baked potato bar night beautifully, keeping costs low while leaning on the outstanding $1-per-bag Russet Potatoes deal. The one premium night goes to Black Pearl Atlantic Salmon Burgers at $4.99 each, the only seafood item with a clear flat price this week and a genuinely reasonable splurge at $2.50 per serving. The $1-each buy-7-or-more deals on bell peppers, cucumbers, and Meijer Frozen Steamable Vegetables make it easy to load up on produce without blowing the budget, and the Creamette Pasta at $1 per box ties the week together with a satisfying pasta night that keeps the per-person total well within range.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Stovetop Black Bean and Bell Pepper Tacos with Avocado and Shredded Cheese
Description: Seasoned Bush's Ingredient Beans are simmered with diced bell peppers and onion, then spooned into warm tortillas and topped with sliced avocado and Kraft Shredded Cheese for a fast, filling weeknight dinner. The combination of creamy avocado, melted cheese, and savory beans makes this a crowd-pleasing meatless taco night that comes together in about 25 minutes.
Sale items used: Bush's Ingredient Beans 15-16 oz., Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper, Extra Large Avocado, Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz., Vidalia Onions 5 lb. bag
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: Use 2 cans of Bush's Ingredient Beans, 3 bell peppers, 4 avocados, 1 package Kraft Shredded Cheese (7-8 oz.), and roughly 1/4 of the Vidalia Onions bag (about 1.25 lbs used this night). Tortillas are a pantry staple. The buy-7-or-more threshold for bell peppers and avocados is met across the full week's shopping list.
Recipes:
- Easy Black Bean Tacos Recipe: The Best Mexican Beans for Tacos
- Vegetarian Black Bean Tacos
- Spiced Black Bean Tacos with Avocado

Tuesday
Meal: Baked Egg and Mushroom Frittata with Roasted Creamer Potatoes
Description: A dozen eggs are whisked with True Goodness Organic Whole or Sliced White Mushrooms, diced Vidalia onion, and Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese, then baked in a skillet until set and golden on top. The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes are halved and roasted alongside with olive oil and seasoning for a hearty, protein-rich dinner.
Sale items used: True Goodness Organic Extra Large Eggs 18 ct., True Goodness Organic Whole or Sliced White Mushrooms 8 oz., Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese 16 oz., Vidalia Onions 5 lb. bag, The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes 3 lb. bag
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: Use 12 eggs (leaving 6 from the 18-count carton for another use), 2 packages of True Goodness Organic Whole or Sliced White Mushrooms (purchased as a $2/$5 pair), 1 package Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese 16 oz. (one of a $2/$7 pair; the second can be used Wednesday), and roughly 1.5 lbs of creamer potatoes from the 3 lb. bag. Use about 1/4 of the Vidalia Onions bag.
Recipes:
- Easy Roasted Mushroom & Potato Cheese Frittata
- Potato Frittata with Mushrooms and Feta

Wednesday
Meal: Stovetop Creamette Pasta with White Bean Marinara and Melted Meijer Shredded Cheese
Description: Creamette Pasta is cooked al dente and tossed with a quick sauce made from Red Gold Tomatoes, Bush's Ingredient Beans, and Vidalia onion, then finished with the remaining Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese melted over the top. This is a completely different flavor profile from Monday's tacos, built around a rich tomato-and-bean sauce rather than a spiced skillet filling.
Sale items used: Creamette Pasta 12-16 oz., Bush's Ingredient Beans 15-16 oz., Red Gold Tomatoes 14.5-15 oz., Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese 16 oz., Vidalia Onions 5 lb. bag
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: Use 1 box Creamette Pasta (16 oz.), 2 cans Bush's Ingredient Beans, 2 cans Red Gold Tomatoes, and the second 16 oz. Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese package from Tuesday's pair. Use about 1/4 of the Vidalia Onions bag. The buy-7-or-more threshold for Creamette Pasta, Bush's Beans, and Red Gold Tomatoes is met across the full week's shopping list.

Thursday
Editor's note: The Thursday meal didn't turn out as intended....

Friday
Meal: Loaded Baked Russet Potato Bar with Sargento Cheese Slices, Chobani Yogurt, and Bell Pepper Salsa
Description: Large Russet Potatoes are baked until fluffy and set out as a build-your-own bar, with Sargento Natural Cheese Slices, Chobani Yogurt as a sour cream substitute, and a quick fresh salsa of diced bell peppers, Seedless Mini Cucumbers, and Vidalia onion. This interactive dinner is a completely different format from every other night this week and lets everyone customize their own plate.
Sale items used: Russet Potatoes 5 lb. bag, Sargento Natural Cheese Slices 5-8 oz., Oikos, Light & Fit or Chobani Yogurt 4.5-5.3 oz., Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper, Seedless Mini Cucumbers 1 lb. bag, Vidalia Onions 5 lb. bag
Prep time: 60 minutes
Serving note: Use 4 large Russet Potatoes from the 5 lb. bag (purchased as one of the buy-7-or-more $1 bags), 1 package Sargento Natural Cheese Slices (one of a $2/$6 pair), 4 individual Chobani Yogurt cups (part of the buy-7-or-more $1 deal), 2 bell peppers, and the remaining Seedless Mini Cucumbers. Bake potatoes at 400 degrees F for 50-55 minutes; prep the salsa and toppings while they bake so the meal is table-ready right at 60 minutes.
Recipes:
- Baked Potato Bar

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Bush's Ingredient Beans 15-16 oz. (x7 cans to meet buy-7-or-more threshold, used across Monday and Wednesday): $7.00
- Red Gold Tomatoes 14.5-15 oz. (x2 cans, counted within the 7-item buy to meet threshold): $0.00 (cost absorbed in the 7-item $1 each purchase above; see note - total 7 items at $1 each = $7.00 already captured; Red Gold Tomatoes are part of that same $1-each deal and 2 cans are included in the 7-count)

Recalculating to be precise - the $1 each when you buy 7 or more deal covers multiple qualifying items together. The shopper buys 7 or more qualifying items across the participating categories and pays $1 each. Here is the clean breakdown:

Buy on sale:
- Bush's Ingredient Beans 15-16 oz. + Red Gold Tomatoes 14.5-15 oz. + Creamette Pasta 12-16 oz. + Russet Potatoes 5 lb. bag + Seedless Mini Cucumbers 1 lb. bag + Red, Yellow, Orange or Aloha Bell Pepper + Kraft Dressing 8 oz. + Oikos, Light & Fit or Chobani Yogurt 4.5-5.3 oz. (buy-7-or-more mix: 4 cans Bush's Beans, 2 cans Red Gold Tomatoes, 1 box Creamette Pasta, 1 bag Russet Potatoes, 2 bags Seedless Mini Cucumbers, 5 bell peppers, 1 bottle Kraft Dressing, 4 Chobani Yogurt cups = 20 items at $1 each): $20.00
- True Goodness Organic Extra Large Eggs 18 ct. (x1 carton): $6.99
- True Goodness Organic Whole or Sliced White Mushrooms 8 oz. (x2 packages at $2/$5): $5.00
- Meijer Chunk or Shredded Cheese 16 oz. (x2 packages at $2/$7): $7.00
- Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz. (x1 package, part of $2/$5 pair - buying 2 to get deal, second used as extra): $5.00
- Deleted a meat item that got in here by mistake....
- Aunt Millie's Stadium Buns 6-8 ct./14-15 oz. (x2 packages at $2/$5): $5.00
- Sargento Natural Cheese Slices 5-8 oz. (x2 packages at $2/$6): $6.00
- The Little Potato Company Creamer Potatoes 3 lb. bag (x1 bag): $4.99
- Vidalia Onions 5 lb. bag (x1 bag): $4.99
- Locally Grown Bulk Sweet Corn (x4 ears at $4/$1): $1.00

Pantry staples needed:
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder or fresh garlic
- Cumin and chili powder (for Monday's taco beans)
- Flour tortillas (for Monday's tacos)
- Italian seasoning or dried basil and oregano (for Wednesday's pasta sauce)
- Butter (for baked potatoes and corn)
- Lime juice or fresh limes (for taco topping)