THRIFTY – Weekly Meal Plan Feb. 18- 24, 2018

The theme for the week, is “thrifty.” Last week, we did a big buy at BJ’s to stock up on items. We refilled our addiction with a big box of Dunkin’ Donuts K-Cups (don’t judge me – I’m allowed an indulgence or two!), two large jars of peanut butter and two of jelly, a large supply of frozen fruit for my smoothies, a four count of butter, and so on. While the cost per ounce was great, the final bill was not — $185! OMG! This was way more than the typical $100 per week we were spending, so I knew that we’d have to stay to a bare bones budget in the next two weeks to even it out! If I was to indulge in my Dunkin Donuts (about $45 for a 72 count box), I had to cut back elsewhere.
That doesn’t mean we have to eat ramen, though! If we did, I’d have a rebellion on my hands from everyone except my teenage son…He’d love that!
Nope, with a bit of creativity and the wise use of what we had on hand, I knew I could swing a $75 week.
Weekly Meal Plan
February 18- 24, 2018
Dinners:
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Sunday: Baked Panko-Crusted Cod, Lemon Glazed Carrots
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Monday: Manishewitz Split Pea Cello Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
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Tuesday: Hummous with Kalamata Olives, Pita and Veggies (celery sticks, carrot sticks,and cucumber slices)
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Wednesday: Leftover’s night
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Thursday: Skinnytaste Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken served over rice
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Friday: Pork Loin with Sweet Potatoes
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Saturday: Hambeen’s 15 Bean Soup
Ingredients Needed for the Recipes:
- Sunday: Cod in freezer, carrots on hand, need one lemon
- Monday – All ingredients on hand
- Tuesday – Canned chickpeas & kalamata olives on hand, need tahini, celery, cucumbers
- Thursday – Frozen corn and black beans on hand, need 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast, 14.4 oz. can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, fresh cilantro, 13.3 oz. fat free chicken broth; on hand can of black beans.
- Friday – pork roast in the freezer and sweet potatoes in the pantry
- Saturday – Hambeen’s 15 Bean Soup Mix in pantry

Hummous with Pita and Olives!
Shopping Plan
Basics to Stock Up On: 1 gal. milk ($2,79)*, 16 oz. spring salad mix (3.99), 64 fl. oz. half and half ($3.98), whole wheat bread ($1.88), saffron yellow rice ($1.18), 12 eggs ($1.78), 2 pudding mixes (.68-.98 each), 3 cake mixes ($3), 45 oz. jar of Orville Redenbacher popcorn kernels ($4.98), white grape juice ($4.28), passion fruit juice ($1.38), spinach (2.68)
Ingredients to buy: One lemon (.50 cents), one cucumber (.68 cents),14.4 oz. can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies (.88 cents), fresh cilantro (.98 cents), chicken broth (.98), yellow rice ($1.18 per pouch/bought 3), 15 oz. tahini ($6.47), pita bread ($2.50 each/ bought 3), deli meunster and cheddar ($7.50), skinless boneless chicken breasts(about $7).