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Could you feed your family for a week, healthy low processed foods from the dollar store for $50?
Yes, yes you can!
Normally, I don’t think of the dollar store as a food source except for snacks and drinks but the other day I had time to wander the aisles and I found rice, quinoa, apple sauce and so much more. All for $2 or less, a bag of quinoa for $2 is a great deal.
So I was curious…
Could I feed our family for a week for $50 from the dollar store. Could I create 7 breakfast, 7 lunches, snacks, desserts and 7 dinners for $50 without buying pre-made processed soups, meals in a can, mac and cheese and etc.
Well to my surprise you can feed a small family for $50 7 days worth of meals from the dollar store.
Here is my dollar store meal plan:
Breakfast:
- Bag of oatmeal $2
- Box of cereal $2
- Tetra package of almond milk $2
- Tetra package of dairy milk $2
- Package of dried fruit $2
Between the oatmeal and the cereal there will be 7 mornings of breakfast meals for our family. I have included two different types of milk given my families dietary needs and I was also surprised the dollar store had almond milk.
Snacks:
- 1 – 6 pack of apple sauce $2
- Package of nuts $2
- 2 – Veggie stick chips $1
- Package of beef jerky $2
- 1 – 6 pack of fruit cups $2
- 1 package of whole grain cookies $2
What can I say I have boys and boys like to snack. These snacks represent additions to lunch, afternoon snacks and desserts.
Lunch:
- 2 cans of tuna $1 each
- 2 cans of salmon $1 each
- 1 bottle of mayonnaise $1
- 1 package of a dozen buns $2
For lunches I have chosen simple tuna or salmon sandwiches and dinner left overs.
Dinners:
- 1 package of quinoa $2
- 1 package of rice $2
- 4 cans of assorted beans $1 each
- 1 can chicken $1
- 4 can mixed vegetables $1
- 1 can of crushed tomatoes $1
- 1 Tetra package vegetable broth $2
- 2 cans of tomato sauce $1
- 1 package of spaghetti $2
- 1 package of penne noodles $2
For dinners I have chosen to make spaghetti noodles and tomato sauce, chili (using 1 can crushed tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce and 2 cans of beans), a beans and rice dish, quinoa and mixed vegetables, homemade chicken and vegetable rice soup, quinoa rice bean and vegetable dish and a pasta salad dinner with vegetables.
Granted there are no fresh fruits, vegetables or meats in this meal plan. There is also no processed spaghetti in a can or mac and cheese. I choose to make the dinner meals from scratch not purchase pre-made in a can meals, opting instead for healthier low cost meals for my family.
If you are choosing to do a dollar store meal plan this isn’t your only choice of foods. I found jams, honey, hummus, coconut water, flavored rice, numerous spices, bread products and meal mixes. I suggest you wander the aisles of your local dollar store and see what they have available to you. Your dollar store may have fresh fruits and vegetables.
You can feed a family for a full week breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert for $50 from the dollar store. This does not take away from the fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and meats you could be buying at your local farmers market or grocery store. This simply gives you another alternative in a hard economy, that you can provide healthier meals for your family at lower cost. This also shows that you can eat healthier low cost meals to the meals in a can and mac and cheese alternatives you might find at the dollar store.
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