Publix Kid-Friendly Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: This week's plan is built around familiar kid-friendly dinners, with a different protein each night: Ground Chuck cheeseburgers on Monday, Pork Picnic on Tuesday, Butterball Ground Turkey patties on Wednesday, egg and cheese English muffin sandwiches on Thursday, and Parmesan chicken cutlets on Friday. Two shopping-list items do double duty, so you can buy once and use them twice. One bag of Publix Russet Potatoes at $3.99 becomes oven wedges on Monday and mashed potatoes on Tuesday, and one pack of Sargento Cheese Slices at $3.50 covers Monday's burgers and Thursday's sandwiches. Tuesday's Pork Picnic roasts mostly hands-off for about three hours, so you can start it in the afternoon and still have leftovers for easy lunches. Friday is the easiest night, with baked cutlets, a Publix Salad Kit at $3.00 and warm Chicago Italian Bread.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Cheeseburger Night with Oven Potato Wedges
Description: Ground Chuck patties are pan-cooked and served on Hamburger Buns with Sargento Cheese Slices and sliced Beefsteak Tomato. Publix Russet Potatoes are cut into wedges and baked until crisp.
Sale items used: Ground Chuck, Hamburger Buns, Sargento Cheese Slices, Beefsteak Tomato, Publix Russet Potatoes
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 1 lb Ground Chuck (4 patties), 1 pack Hamburger Buns, 1 pack Sargento Cheese Slices (2 for $7.00 deal, buy 1 for $3.50), 0.5 lb Beefsteak Tomato, 1 bag Publix Russet Potatoes.
Recipes:
- Easy Potato Wedge Burger Bowls
- Classic Cheese Burger with Potato Wedges
- Basic Burgers and Potato Wedges

Tuesday
Meal: Slow-Roasted Pork Picnic with Brussels Sprouts and Mashed Potatoes
Description: Publix Pork Picnic is oven-roasted low and slow until tender and sliced or shredded for the family. Served with roasted Brussels Sprouts and mashed Publix Russet Potatoes.
Sale items used: Publix Pork Picnic, Brussels Sprouts, Publix Russet Potatoes
Prep time: 3 hours 15 minutes, mostly hands-off
Serving note: 2 lbs Publix Pork Picnic (assumed total weight), 1 pack Brussels Sprouts (2 for $5.00 deal, buy 2 packs to use the deal and save leftovers is not needed; buy 1 at $2.50), potatoes from the same bag as Monday. Timing note: roast in the afternoon at 325 F for about 3 hours; leftovers make easy lunches.

Wednesday
Meal: Turkey Meatball-Style Skillet Patties with Butter Squash
Description: Butterball Ground Turkey is formed into small mild patties and pan-seared until golden. Served with roasted Fall Hard Squash and sliced Granny Smith Apples on the side.
Sale items used: Butterball Ground Turkey, Fall Hard Squash, Granny Smith Apples
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serving note: 1 package Butterball Ground Turkey (2 for $8.00 deal, buy 1 at $4.00), 2 lbs Fall Hard Squash, 1 lb Granny Smith Apples.
Recipes:
- Ground Turkey Butternut Squash Skillet

Thursday
Meal: Egg and Cheese English Muffin Sandwich Dinner
Description: Scrambled Pete & Gerry's Eggs and Sargento Cheese Slices are tucked into toasted GreenWise English Muffins. Served with Publix Green Beans and Red or White Seedless Grapes.
Sale items used: Pete & Gerry's Eggs, GreenWise English Muffins, Sargento Cheese Slices, Publix Green Beans, Red or White Seedless Grapes
Prep time: 20 minutes
Serving note: 1 carton Pete & Gerry's Eggs, 1 pack GreenWise English Muffins, 1 pack Sargento Cheese Slices (from the pack bought Monday, shared), 1 pack Publix Green Beans, 1 lb Red or White Seedless Grapes.
Recipes:
- Egg and Cheese English Muffin Sandwich
- English Muffin Egg Sandwich
- English Muffin Breakfast Sandwiches

Friday
Meal: Baked Publix Parmesan Chicken Breast Cutlets with Salad
Description: Publix Parmesan Chicken Breast Cutlets are baked until hot and crisp and served with a Publix Salad Kit. Chicago Italian Bread is warmed alongside for dipping in mild sauce-free olive oil.
Sale items used: Publix Parmesan Chicken Breast Cutlets, Publix Salad Kits, Chicago Italian Bread
Prep time: 35 minutes
Serving note: 1.5 lbs Publix Parmesan Chicken Breast Cutlets (assumed total weight), 1 Publix Salad Kit (2 for $6.00 deal, buy 1 at $3.00), 1 loaf Chicago Italian Bread.
Recipes:
- Parmesan Chicken Cutlet With Simple Arugula Salad
- Crispy Parmesan Chicken Cutlets
- Parmesan Chicken Cutlets

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Ground Chuck (1 lb): $4.99
- Hamburger Buns (1 pack): $3.49
- Sargento Cheese Slices (1 pack): $3.50
- Beefsteak Tomato (0.5 lb): $1.00
- Publix Russet Potatoes (1 bag): $3.99
- Publix Pork Picnic (2 lbs): $4.98
- Brussels Sprouts (1 pack): $2.50
- Butterball Ground Turkey (1 package): $4.00
- Fall Hard Squash (2 lbs): $1.98
- Granny Smith Apples (1 lb): $1.99
- Pete & Gerry's Eggs (1 carton): $4.99
- GreenWise English Muffins (1 pack): $1.99
- Publix Green Beans (1 pack): $2.99
- Red or White Seedless Grapes (1 lb): $2.99
- Publix Parmesan Chicken Breast Cutlets (1.5 lbs): $11.99
- Publix Salad Kits (1 kit): $3.00
- Chicago Italian Bread (1 loaf): $2.99

Pantry staples needed:
- Butter, milk, salt, pepper, olive oil, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing as desired