Budget Meal Plan- A week's worth of dinners for 4, under $100 (Download below)
Groceries are expensive! I remember when I used to be able to buy a week's worth of groceries for my husband and I for under $75, including alcohol and plenty of meat. Prices have gone up since then, and even more recently, food prices rose with inflation, but did not go down when inflation eased (how does that happen?).
In order to keep groceries to a decent amount, you need to 1) know how to cook so you don't buy as much prepared food, and 2) plan ahead. A good meal plan is a must.
Below I have a sample meal plan for a week that will (depending on were you live) cost you around $100 for a week for a family of four. When I priced out the ingredients where I live (Arkansas) and used generic brands, it came out to a little under $80. So even in a more expensive part of the country, it should still not be much more than $100 if you use bargain brands.
The meals:
Chili (Con Carne). Beans and meat, a one-pot wonder.
Salmon and Risotto. I cook the risotto in the pressure cooker, and the salmon in the air fryer- they both cook in about 8 minutes! I usually buy bulk frozen salmon. You can splurge on fresh, or use a lower-cost alternative: shrimp works well.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. You can make your own tomato soup, but canned soup is inexpensive, and adding a little fresh basil does wonders. My recipe for the best grilled cheese ever is here: https://www.provecho.bio/@annabelleslife/the-best-grilled-cheese-ever
Baked Potatoes & Spinach Salad. How underrated are baked potatoes! Hard-boiled eggs in the salad add some protein.
Huevos Rancheros. If you are going to have breakfast for dinner, make it one of the most delicious breakfasts.
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